Chris Karelus began swimming with FSPY in 1993 as a 13-year-old who had just moved from Poland for his father’s job. Chris continued his swim career at the University of Delaware. During breaks from college at the University of Delaware, he worked at FSPY as a part time coach. He became the head coach of FSPY in 2010 and has consistently promoted a sense of family and teamwork.
Coach Karelus has always he has maintained a “Team First” mantra. When he won the 2016 Nationals Coach of the Meet Award at Long Course YMCA Nationals, he was quick to share the recognition with his swimmers and fellow coaches. “It is not an individual award,” reflected Chris. To him, it recognized the collective effort and spirit of the entire Y community, which he strives to instill in his fellow coaches and swimmers.

Swimming has been a big part of Allie’s life since she was very young. Her swim team career began at the Highland Swim Club when she was 6 years old, and she swam there every summer for 13 years. At 10, she joined the FSPY swim team and began swimming year-round. She swam with FSPY throughout high school and was also a member of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School team for 4 years. After graduating high school, she attended Susquehanna University and was a member of the Crusaders’ varsity swim team.

When she was 17, Allie began her coaching career at Highland Swim Club where she was an assistant coach for 5 years. After graduating college, she joined the coaching staff at FSPY. The coaches and teammates that Allie has worked with throughout her life have made a huge impact on her life, and, as a coach for the team she once swam for, she hopes to do the same, as she shares the passion she has for swimming with the FSPY family.

Allie was worked for the North Plainfield School District as a Preschool Special Ed Teacher since 2006. When she is not teaching or coaching, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Allie has gained a love for traveling and is currently planning her next big adventure!

Kelsey joined FSPY in September, 2016.  She started her swim career at the Metuchen-Edison YMCA (MEY) and swam there from 5 to 18 years old.  She later swam for Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ.  2017 marks Kelsey’s 5^th year as a swim coach, having coached at MEY for 3 years prior to FSPY. 

Kelsey is currently working towards a Master’s Degree in school counseling from Montclair State University and will start practicum at Colonia High School in the Fall 2017.   She is also the head coach for the Metuchen Municipal Pool summer team and substitute teaches in the Metuchen school district.  Outside the pool, Kelsey enjoys running and working out.  She also enjoys going to the beach and spending time with family and friends.

Coach Kelsey says, “Swimming is so challenging, yet so rewarding and I definitely wouldn't be the person I am today without it. I learned so much both in and out of the pool from my coaches and teammates and made memories that will last a lifetime. As a coach, I hope to help swimmers not only learn about the sport but themselves too and to have the same positive experiences I had.”
 

Sharkey joined FSPY in September 2019. Prior to coaching at FSPY, she coached at the Westfield YMCA and YMCA of Montclair Dolphins. She swam competitively for 11 years at the Metuchen-Edison YMCA. Sharkey was a NCAA Division III swimmer in the Eastern College Athletic Conference for all four years of college for the Pride at Springfield College, where she majored in psychology.

Sharkey has been working at the YMCA of Montclair in Finance. She also has worked in many different departments with the YMCA including the Geyer Family Center and Camp at the Lake. Outside the pool, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with family and friends. Sharkey is looking forward to another great season.

 

Bobby started his swimming career as a member of a local YMCA swim team for 14 years. He graduated from Rutgers University in 2008 with a degree in Business Economics, and is a Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator holding licenses in 10 different states. 

His coaching career began in 2008 by accident: as a favor to his sister, who needed someone to help coach a spring clinic at a local YMCA, he began working with the 13 and overs to help develop their competitive swimming skills. This resulted in a growing passion and love for coaching, so after spending two years with that team he joined the coaching staff at FSPY in 2010 as a Head Age Group Coach for the 13-14's.

In 2014 Bobby expanded his role, taking on responsibilities as the Head Age Group Coach for the 11-12s and as a full-time assistant coach. After his time at FSPY, Bobby spent time as the Head Coach of the Hunterdon County YMCA Swim Team from 2016-2018, and as a Site Director for the Freehold and Old Bridge sites of the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County Swim Team from 2018-2020. 

In 2020, him and his wife re-located to the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, where they resided until moving back to New Jersey in 2025. During his time is Georgia, Bobby was an assistant coach at the Midway site of SwimAtlanta in Cumming, GA. 

During his 17 year coaching career, Bobby has led many swimmers to success, including YMCA National Top 16 Finishers, YMCA State Champions and NJ State Record Holders. In 2015, under his guidance, the FSPY 13/14 age group placed 2nd overall at NJ YMCA State Championships, including a 1st place overall finish for the 13/14 Girls.  

Away from the pool, Bobby is married to Ali Bartus, a former coach, and they have a young son, Leo, and a miniature dachshund named Clyde. Aside from his time spent on his professional career, Bobby is an avid sports and racing fan, and enjoys a night on the couch just as much as a crazy multi-session championship swim meet. 

FSPY has always felt like home for Bobby, as the coaches, athletes and families provided so much support during his previous 6 year stint with the team. In rejoining the coaching staff, his goal is help develop the next generation of athletes, while helping the team level up and reach new and unprecendented heights in the years to come. 

Shane joined FSPY in September, 2016.  He started his swim career at the Metuchen-Edison YMCA (MEY) and later swam for the College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ.  2017 marks Shane’s 4^th year as a swim coach.  In addition to coaching FSPY, Shane is also the head swim coach for the middle and high school teams at Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, NJ.

Shane’s interests outside the pool include warm weather, working out and cooking.

Coach Shane says “I coach not only because swimming has been a part of my life since I was 5 years old, but also because I was fortunate to have an amazing coach (Ryan Patterson) growing up and I hope to help my swimmers in and out of the pool like she did for me.”

Kyle became a coach for FSPY in March 2020, but swimming has been in her life for as long as she can remember. She swam in the summers from age 5-6 years old for Westfield Memorial Pool and Nomahegan Swim Club. She was also a member of the Westfield YMCA swim team through her sophomore year of high school before joining FSPY. She enjoyed swimming for Westfield High School, and eventually went on to swim for some time at Vassar College. Combined with a few years of lifeguarding at various pools, you might notice that Kyle has spent quite a bit of her life around the water (and wouldn’t change a thing!).  Although a Human Resources professional by day, Kyle is so grateful to be back at FSPY as a coach in her free time. Swimming gave her so much, and she wants to pay it forward. A huge animal lover, Kyle will always be happy to share a picture of her latest foster dog.