MIDLAND DOLPHINS COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Buffy Hall (GMCC and NE)
Coach Hall swam for the Midland Dolphins for 10 years, Jefferson Swim Team and the Dow High Swim Team. She has been coaching for over 30 years and is a USA certified coach. She coaches the Jefferson Girls and Boys Swim Teams. Coach Hall coached the MHS Girls Swim Team for 7 years. During the summer, Coach Hall manages and coaches at the Midland Country Club (With Coach Andrea) where she has worked for 38 years. Coach Hall graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in art education and has a masters from SVSU. She has been teaching elementary art for 28 years for Midland Public Schools. She teaches at Woodcrest. Coach Hall’s favorite stroke is butterfly.
Assistant Coach Andrea DuBois (GMCC)
Coach Andrea swam on the Jefferson Swim Team and the Dow High Swim Team. She has been coaching for the Midland Dolphins for five years. Coach Andrea coaches, the Jefferson Girls and Boys Swim Teams and the Midland Country Club Swim Team. In the summer, Coach Andrea manages the Midland Country Club with Coach Hal and Coach Annal. Coach Andrea teaches English at Bullock Creek High School. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in education and has a masters from SVSU. Coach Andrea’s favorite stroke is backstroke.
Assistant Coach Lauren Hall (NE)
Coach Lauren swam for the Midland Dolphins, Jefferson, Dow High and four years at Albion College. She has been coaching for the Midland Dolphins for four years. Coach Lauren teaches Spanish at Jefferson Middle School. Coach Lauren is a USA certified coach. Lauren’s favorite stroke is breaststroke.
Assistant Coach Claire Halamar (GMCC)
Coach Claire is from Frankfort, IL where she grew up swimming & playing water polo from a young age. She earned her teaching degree from Central Michigan University in 2020 and earned her masters degree from CMU in 2022. Coach Claire is currently the head coach of the Dow High Boys' Swim Team and teaches IB Psychology at Dow High. She is a USA certified Coach H's favorite thing to coach is sprint freestyle.
Assistant Coach Aly Ackman (NE)
Coach Aly and her husband Luke moved to Midland October, 2021. Coach Aly swam for 20 years, five of which were on Team Canada where she represented her country internationally earning several medals. She swam all distances of freestyle throughout her career, specializing in mid-distance, and dabbling in back and fly. She graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Kinesiology, captain of the varsity team, and with a few school records. She is a certified personal trainer specializing in training swimmers on land. Coach Aly is a USA certified coach. Coach Aly likes distance freestyle.
Assistant Coach Beth Raymer (GMCC)
Coach Beth grew up in Midland, MI and started swimming for the Midland Dolphins around 8 years old. She also swam for Bay City Western High School. Coach Beth coached for the Midland Dolphins from 2014-2018, 6 years for the Midland Country Club and coached the JMS boys and girls swim team several years ago. Coach Beth has an undergraduate degree from CMU in Social Work and a master’s in social work from Wayne State University. Coach Beth recently started working at Dow High School as a Student Support Specialist. In the fall Coach Beth is the head coach of the Northeast Boys Swim Team with Coach Gabe. Coach Beth’s favorite stroke is Backstroke.
FILL IN WHEN NEEDED
Assistant Coach Susie Soderberg
Coach Susie was a USA competitive swimmer for thirteen years, competing in Michigan, Indiana, and Texas. She spent seven of those years in Midland swimming with the Midland Dolphins Swim Team. Outside of the pool, she is a stay at home mom and home educator. Seven of her nine children swim for the Midland Dolphins. Coach Susie will fill in when needed. Coach Susie’s favorite stroke is butterfly.
Assistant Coach Anna McGee
Coach Anna swam for Midland Dolphins and Midland High School. This is her second year as head coach of the Midland High Girls Swim Team. Coach Anna graduated from Central Michigan University and has a masters in Speech-Language Pathology. She works at the Midland County ESA Coach Anna is a USA certified coach. Coach Anna will coach at NE on Fridays after MHS practice when she is available. Coach Anna’s favorite stroke is backstroke.
Assistant Coach Gabe Raymer
Coach Gabe grew up in Caro, MI where he swam for the Caro Tiger Sharks and Caro High School. He swam one summer for the Midland Dolphins before his Junior year of High School. Coach Gabe graduated from Ferris State University and works for Dow Chemical Co. Coach Gabe also coaches the Northeast Middle School Boys Swim Team with Coach Beth. Coach Gabe’s favorite stroke is Freestyle.
President - Karl Rishe:
My name is Karl Rishe and I am delighted to serve on the Dolphins parent board. I have two swimmers Cal and Reagan. We have been with the dolphins since 2018. I do my best to make it to each group and make sure our coaches are taken care of. I love it when a swimmer forgets something on deck and I find it (push-up time!). I take great pride that our club is a place for all swimmers. I am happy to connect if you have questions or you would like to work to make the experience better for our swimmers.
Vice President - Katie Stracke
My name is Katie Stracke. My swimmers are Benjamin and Keillor- both swim platinum. We have been a Dolphins family since January of 2022. We had a learning curve when it came to learning about this sport and I am passionate about helping new families learn the ropes! I can be found on deck- usually with a puppy of some kind.
Treasurer - Adam Bellingham:
Hi, my name is Adam Bellingham. My son Jensen swims with the Dolphins in the Senior group as well as Dow High. We’ve been a Dolphins family since 2018, right after we moved to Michigan. I like to run around topless in the summer…driving some old Jeep…with my shirt on. I'm happy to receive any questions, howeer the answer may be “let me find out for you”; I’ll do my best to get you an answer.
Secretary - Kris Kurzer:
Although Kris wasn't a swimmer himself, he's fallen in love with the sport as a parent of one. Being a part of the Dolphins, he's watched his son Ransom grow into a stronger and more confident person. We've found our swim family with this incredibly supportive and close knit group. He's also an avid reader, music lover, and proud owner of a large comic book collection.
Athlete Representative Noah Buist:
Noah is a senior at Dow High and a captain of the Boys Swim Team.
Director - Sarah Pfenninger:
Sarah is a lifetime resident of Midland and lives with her husband Lance, and 2 children Mya (15) and Max (12). Mya has swam with the Midland Dolphins since age 6 and will join Senior group upon entering High School. Max is heavily involved in baseball and plays year round both locally and via a travel team. Sarah is a graduate from SVSU in Elementary Education and is currently a stay at home Mom. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, baking, and spending summers in Tawas at their condo. Sarah has served as Director previously and hopes to continue supporting all swimmers, parents and coaching staff.
Director - Garrett Turner
My name is Garrett Turner. My swimmer is Graham who swims platinum and my 4 year old daughter Daphne will soon be in blue 1. We have been a Dolphins family since January of 2020. I have taught math at Dow High since the fall of 2004. Over the years, I have coached tennis, wrestling, baseball, soccer and basketball, as well as officiated wrestling. My goal is to help kids love whatever activity it is they are participating in. My hope is when your swimmer finishes a session, they can't wait to start the next one.
Director - Membership Committee Chair - Craig Austin (He/Him):
Craig is a former college, HS, and youth swimmer. He has 16 years of experience on non-profit youth sports operating boards and coaching and has held numerous positions including coach, member at large, youth advocate, coach administrator, VP, and Regional Commissioner. What he really likes to do is coach, to see the smiling faces when learners accomplish a new goal or have fun learning a new skill that they are challenged with. Craig works for Dow, is married to Jennifer Austin (She/Her), and has 5 perfectly amazing children.
