Meet Our Coaches!
Francesco Peta
Head Coach / Senior 2
Email: [email protected]
Patty Horton
Junior 1 / Junior 2 / Senior 2
Coach Patty began her year round swimming career many years ago, competing for the Ridgewood YMCA and then as a member of the Montclair YMCA Marlins. During her highschool years, she was a four time NJ state record holder in the 200 meter breastroke. Coach Patty was fortunate enough to attend Junior Nationals held in Lincoln, Nebraska, during the summer before freshman year of college. Coach Patty was a four year swimmer at West Chester State College (now university) in Pennsylvania. She was also voted captain by her teammates her senior year. Coach Patty ressurrected her coaching career in 2006 by working as an 8 & under coach for the Ridgewood YMCA Breakers. The following year, working with the 10 and under age group, she had many Y state and JO level contenders. For the next several years, as a coach on the sharks, Coach Patty's swimmers became state champions, place winners at the Zones Championships, and went on to compete at YMCA Nationals & Junior Nationals. In 2018, Coach Patty was awarded as one of the Top 50 age group coaches in the country.
Email: [email protected]
Jillian Calocino
Shark School / Group 1 / Senior 2
Jill started coaching the sharks in 2020, coming back after being a swimmer on the sharks herself. At her time on the sharks, Jill was a 9 time national qualifier, specializing in distance freestyle and butterfly. Jill furthered her swimming career at Seton Hall University, where she held two team records and placed top 3 in the 1650 freestyle at the Big East Tournament her freshman, sophomore, and junior year. While studying and swimming at SHU, Jill got her degree in Elementary and Special Education. In addition to coaching, Jill teaches 5th & 6th grade ELA/Math in an inclusive special education setting.
Email: [email protected]
Matthew Smits
Senior 1 / Senior 2
Coach Matt started coaching the Sharks in 2017 during his summer breaks from college. He returns after swimming on the sharks from 2007-2017 where he qualified for YMCA Nationals 3 times specializing in distance freestyle and backstroke. Matt attended and swam at Rowan University where he placed top 8 in the METs Conference in the 1650 his freshman, sophomore, and junior years as well as helping Rowan to win conference titles all 4 years. While attending Rowan University Matt received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. After graduating from Rowan University Matt spent a year as an assistant coach for both the Men and Women’s Swim Teams. After moving back to North Jersey Matt became an EMT for the town of Oakland and was hired at the Wyckoff Family YMCA as a Full Time Assistant Coach for the Sharks and the Lifeguard Coordinator/ RedCross Instructor for the aquatics department.
Email: [email protected]
Kyle Gluchanicz
Shark School / Group 1 / Junior 1 / Senior 1
Email: [email protected]
Adam Van Brandenburg
Group 2 / Group 3
Email: [email protected]
Chelsea Novakoski
Sharks School / Group 1
Email: [email protected]
Nicole Salzano
Sharks School / Group 1 / Group 2 / Group 3
Nicole started her swim career at the age of 5 1/2 for the Ridgewood YMCA (RY). She also was a part of the Lakeland Hills YMCA (LHY) as well. She was on the YMCA National Team on both teams. She had a LHY record in the 200 backstroke short course yards. She swam all 4 years at Bryant University in Rhode Island. She was voted team Captain by her teammates for both her junior and senior year. She won Most Valuable Swimmer at Bryant 3 out of the 4 years of college.
Email: [email protected]
