Winona Swim Club Coaching
The coaches for the Winona Swim Club are committed to the following:
Lifelong swimmers: We are committed to creating a team environment where swimmers feel safe and accepted. We want all swimmers to experience great achievements with minimal pressure. We provide swimmers with the skills necessary to create successful high school, college, and lifelong swimmers. If that is what the athlete desires. We believe that especially young swimmers should have the options to experience all sports. We encourage all athletes to take time off and explore other interests. We do not want to see our swimmers “burn out” as a result of high intensity, high pressure coaching.
Healthy Bodies / Healthy Adults: It is our goal to prepare swimmers for a lifetime of healthy living. We invite swimmers, families, and friends to participate in outdoor events including running, biking and walking. We strive to educate swimmers on healthy eating and consistent sleep schedules. We want to empower swimmers to make healthy choices both at the pool and at home. We want to ensure their bodies get the fuel they need for both academic and athletic pursuits
Injury Prevention: We accomplish this goal through education, quality swimming, dryland training, and a focus on technique. This is why many, many practices focus on drills and small parts of each stroke. We need to focus on small parts of the stroke and build it back up to ensure quality swims
Competitive Drive: By minimizing the external pressures to succeed, swimmers can find a love for the sport that will intrinsically drive them. This will allow the swimmer to take ownership through dedication, focus, and a strong desire to compete and improve their times and races.
Organizational Skills: We encourage swimmers to participate in activities outside of the pool. From other extracurricular activities to other sports, swimmers can learn time management skills that allow them to complete school work and family responsibilities, as well as athletic and extracurricular endeavors.
Coaching Staff
Chris Mayer
Head Coach Age Group
[email protected]
I started swimming when I was in 5 grade with the YMCA Winfins I then joined the USA team (Winona Waves, now the Wizards!) the summer between 5-6 grade and swam with them until I graduated high school. I swam Varsity on the Winona Senior High School team from 7 grade until graduation making all conference each year, top 8 in section 8 through 12, all state twice as well as All American. I swam one year for the Stevens Point Pointers.My best strokes were Freestyle, Butterfly and Backstroke, sadly I was too pigeon toed and couldn't do the breaststroke kick, but I could do the upper body well! As Coach, I focus a lot on stroke development and corrections. Anyone can swim a thousand yards after enough practice. However I strive to teach our swimmers to swim those yards more effectively and efficiently, which then increases both their speed and strength in the water. My final goals for each swimmer are for them to decrease their current times, allow them to continually progress as they age and for them to have an enjoyable time! Practice can get a little monotonous without a little fun here and there!
Ali Peterson
Head Coach Senior Age Group and Novice Age Group
[email protected]
I started swimming competitively in 3 grade, but have been around the water my entire life. I swam for the New Hope Neptunes YMCA team, as well as Osseo Junior High team and Osseo Senior High Swim team. I swam long distance 200 and 500 freestyle as well as the 200IM, and 200 butterfly. In senior high I started coaching the New Hope YMCA team and the Osseo Junior High swim team. I have recently finished my degree in Recreation and Tourism with a minor in Mass communications at Winona State University. I graduated in spring 2013 and I now work as a social media marketer for local businesses. I also am the lead instructor for the Swim Academy, swim lesson program. I have been instructing swim lessons for 6 years and have my Water Safety Instructor Certification. I teach a wide range of ages and abilities. My goal for all participants of the swim academy is to give them the tools, knowledge and skill sets for them to continue swimming with the swim club.
