USA Swimming National Select Camp- Assistant Coach Women's Team- 2011 

USA Swimming National Select Camp- Assistant Coach Men's Team- 2014

NCSA National Team, Ireland-
Assistant Coach Men's Team- 2015

USA Swimming Zone Select Camp Coach- Eastern Zone- 2009

PVS Board of Directors - 
Coaches Representative 2005- 2009

PVS Zone Assistant Head Coach- 2004

PVS Zone Assistant Coach- 4 Terms

USA Swimming Coach- 20+ Years 

National Team, National Prep, and Senior Prep Coach

I am happy to be starting my twelfth year coaching with Machine.  This is my third year as the head site coach at Audrey Moore where I have the pleasure to work with the National Prep, Senior, and Age group programs.  We are in the process of building an amazing group, and we had numerous Junior Olympic, Sectional,  Zone, and Junior National qualifiers.  I am a native Virginian and I was an NVSL swimmer  with the North Springfield Dolphins.  I also swam for Thomas Jefferson High School.  Teaching swimming has been a passion for me for a long time, so I taught lessons and coached swimming during my college years. I got back into coaching when my sons decided that they wanted to join our local team.   This led to me coaching in the NVSL for thirteen years and joining the Machine family.  I graduated from James Madison University where I majored in Business.  I continue to have a great passion and love for this sport, and look forward to another rewarding season. 

National Team, National Prep, and Senior Coach

A competitive swimmer from age 6 through my late 20s, I competed in summer league, YMCA, club, HS, College and Open Water swimming. I was also a 6 year Cross Country and 3 year Track athlete, and briefly a student of dance.

My coaching career began as a summer league assistant in 1983 at the age of 15. At 17 I was hired for my first head coaching position. Since then I've worked in virtually every venue for teams large and small, where I’ve coached all ages and ability levels, from learn-to-swim to Senior National qualifiers to Masters. I have also specialized in open water swimming, drawing on my own experience as an open water swimmer.

I've coached in USA Swimming programs in the Middle Atlantic, Potomac Valley and Virginia Swimming LSC’s, including a couple I built from the ground up, Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth Beach, DE and Flying Gull Aquatic Club in Potomac Valley Swimming. I’ve also developed several swim schools, including Montgomery County MD’s SwiMontgomery program and most recently H2okie Aquatics Stroke School in Blacksburg, VA. For a period of 4 years I worked in both competitive swimming and commercial architecture as an intern for Bignell Watkins Hasser Architects P.C. in Annapolis MD. Additionally, I have 25+ years of experience in aquatic facility management.

My coaching philosophy can best be described as holistic. My intention is to provide a path for swimmers of all levels of ability to enjoy the sport while managing a program capable of producing athletes at the highest levels of the sport. I strive for an imaginative and fun learning environment, emphasize smart training and focus on the realization of individual potential. To me the most important objective of coaching youth sports is to promote the wellness and growth of children with the passion, humility and equanimity required to impart both the extrinsic and intrinsic values of the sport.

My hobbies include mountain biking, hiking, skiing, graphic design, disc golfing, and music. In 1991 I bicycled from Seattle to Los Angeles to Dover, DE, spanning 4500 miles. In 1995 I reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. I live with my wife Katie, who is a health coach and son Ben. We also have a dog and 2 cats who graciously let us live with them.

Age Group and Senior Coach

My love for the water and the sport of swimming began as a very young child. My mom was so afraid of the water she wanted to make sure her children became comfortable with it as soon as possible. My sister and I spent every minute of our summers in Missouri in the pool, creeks and ponds. By age 7, I began swimming for my neighborhood summer team and that fall began swimming year-round with our local AAU/US Swim team, Rockwood Swim Club. I continued swimming competitively all the way through high school. In Missouri, high school level swimming was very competitive and the seasons lasted 5 months long ending in a State Championship meet. I traveled to three state championship meets during my high school experience competing in 200 IM, 100 BR and both Medley and Free Relays.

As an adult, I found myself continually returning to the water to both play and swim. I learned to water ski, paddle outrigger canoes in Hawaii and Guam, scuba dive and surf. I also competed in NOVA for NCAP as a master swimmer during 2006-2008. My coaching career began in 2009 in Guam when the Navy base was looking for a coach and swim instructor for our children and adults. I logged many hours in the base pools teaching and coaching and loved every minute of it. Two years later we moved to Hawaii and I became head coach for the Hickam Hurricanes on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In 2014, we moved back to NOVA and I started my first year with Machine. I’m back this year to coach again and I’m looking forward to working with your swimmers. I strongly believe in developing all facets of a young swimmer; learning proper technique, building strength, learning to race and fostering a love for the sport. See you on deck!

Age Group and High Performance Coach

My name is Blair Piddington and I have been coaching Machine since 2002.  I grew up swimming at the Vienna Aquatic Club when I was 5 and ended up joining YORK where I swam until I was 18.  I am the head coach of Vienna Aquatic Club where we alternate between Division 1 and 2.  After high school I went to George Mason and swam on the team for my four years in school.  My main events were the breastroke events and the 200 IM.  I earned an undergraduate degree from GMU with a concentration in Sports Management.  I coached full time with Machine where I worked with all ages and abilities.  I ended up going back to school and getting a degree in Education where I am licensed to teach Health and Physical Education for grades k-12.  I am currently a teacher at Eagle View Elementary in Fairfax where I am starting my 4th year.  I also recently started graduate school at GMU where I am earning a Master’s degree in ITS (Integration of Technology in Schools).   On a side note, if you see me hobbling around on deck I tore my ACL at the start of summer and had it repaired on August 22nd.  It is getting better every day!

I am the head age group site coach for Oak Marr where I work in the mornings from 6:30-8:00 am on Mondays through Friday.  I mainly coach the Orange(high performance as well as 3x per week) and Silver groups, but will work with the mini’s and their coaches that are at the practice.  I absolutely love coaching and am very competitive in trying to get the very best out of each swimmer.  I am a firm believer in teaching each swimmer and getting better every day.  We get better through a lot of hard work and doing things correctly.  I want my swimmers and my group to really become a close nit group where they push each other and encourage each other by being there every day and having fun.  I am always trying to learn and become a better coach, which is something that is always pushed and stressed through Machine.

I can’t wait for another year at Machine because I believe this is the best Swim Team in the entire country.  We have coaches of all different experiences who work together and create a positive atmosphere.  We will continue to get better and continue to turn heads on deck with our energy and fast swimming!  See you all on deck!

High Performance Coach

Born and raised in Bethesda, MD, I grew up swimming summer league and USS with M.A.C. I started coaching during my college summers at Mohican Pool. After graduating from the University of Maryland I spent five years teaching before coaching full time. I believe that kids swim their fastest when they are having fun. Hard works puts you in the position to be successful but the joy of racing is what makes this sport great.

This will be my 38th year of coaching a USS team and my 8th year with Machine Aquatics. I worked as the Swimming Professional at the Chevy Chase Club for 15 years. For the last 21 years, I have been the Director of Aquatics at the Madeira School, McLean, VA. Additionally, I have served two terms as the PVS Distance Coordinator, am a four-time Virginia State Independent Schools Coach of the Year and was 2007 Recipient of the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association's David H. Robertson Award for Coaching Excellence.

Micro Machine Coach

Native Washingtonian, originally from Alexandria, Virginia. Grew up swimming competitively at Little Hunting Park Club, one of the eight founding pools of Northern Virginia Swimming League (NVSL).

NVSL Swimming Coach at Chesterbrook Swim and Tennis Club, for 10 years. Developed swimmers during Chesterbrook's winning streak of NVSL Triple Crowns (Divisional Relays, All Star Relays, and Dual Meet Titles).

USA Swimming Coach, for 16 years, ASCA Level Two.  Coached Mini Fish, Age Group, and Advanced Age Group, two years, for The Fish.  Coached one year for York Swim Club. Currently coaching for Machine Aquatics as Original Machine Coach (2001) and Head Developmental Coach specializing in stroke technique.  Have worked there with all levels of swimmers.

Graduate, University of Wisconsin @ Madison, magna cum laude. Earned Bachelor's degree in Psychology with focus on developmental psychology.

Graduate, Virginia Tech's School of Architecture and Design, magna cum laude. Earned professional degree in Landscape Architecture. Awarded Certificate of Honor for Excellence in the Study of Landscape Architecture by American Society of Landscape Architects' President and Board of Trustees.

Wife and Mother of three former NVSL and USA Swimming athletes.

National Prep, Senior Prep, and High Performance Coach

I am a full-time teacher in Prince George’s County, Maryland where I teach Advanced Placement World History and Modern World History. I have been teaching since 1998 and I thoroughly enjoy teaching. I started coaching summer league swimming in 1990 and soon found myself coaching year round in Potomac Valley in 1992. I coached with the Fairland Aquatic Swim Team form 1992-1998. While with FAST I served as an Assistant Coach with the PVS Zone Team and I served as an Assistant Coach with a Potomac Valley National Age Group Camp. When I started teaching in 1998 I transferred to the Rockville Montgomery Swim Club at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Swim Center where I coached the Advanced Seniors Group until the Summer of 2013. This fall will be my third season with Machine Aquatics at the University of Maryland where I will primarily be working with the High Performance Groups.

Senior Prep, High Performance, and Age Group Coach

I grew up swimming in the NVSL for Tuckahoe and swam with Sea Devils year round from age 9 through 18.  I played water polo at James Madison University where I was an Art major.

I started coaching for Tuckahoe when I was 17 and continued to coach for them through college.  I have been a Head Coach for several NVSL teams, most recently with Highlands for the past four  summers.  This will be my 11th year coaching in PVS and my third with Machine.  

I grew up swimming in the NVSL for Tuckahoe and swam with Sea Devils year round from age 9 through 18.  I played water polo at James Madison University where I was an Art major.

I started coaching for Tuckahoe when I was 17 and continued to coach for them through college.  I have been a Head Coach for several NVSL teams, most recently with Highlands for the past four  summers.  This will be my 11th year coaching in PVS and my third with Machine.  

I spent several years working in the Special Education Department at Langley High School. I'm a big fan of the Nationals and Kansas basketball.  I love to paint, draw, play guitar, and see bands play in my spare time.

I spent several years working in the Special Education Department at Langley High School. I'm a big fan of the Nationals and Kansas basketball.  I love to paint, draw, play guitar, and see bands play in my spare time.

National Team and National Prep This will be my first season with Machine Aquatics after spending the past two years at Nitro Swimming in Austin, TX. At Nitro, I was a lead National Development Coach, lead TAGS 1 Coach, and assisted with the National Group and various age group levels. During this time, I created well rounded swimmers in and out of the pool. 

Competitively, I have coached swimmers to the TAGS, Sectional, and Junior National level. While assisting with the National Group I worked with swimmers ranging from Junior National to Olympic Trials qualifiers. Prior to my time at Nitro,  I spent 7 years in Connecticut coaching with the Piranhas at the Darien YMCA. During this time my swimmers broke many team records and set several state records. Many of my swimmers competed at the Age Group, Senior, and YMCA National level.

I believe in a positive approach and enjoys motivating my swimmers to surpass their goals. We are always looking forward! I believe in hard work and commitment but maintains a balance to make sure that the group has fun.

Outside of the pool, I am a huge sports fan. As a WVU grad, I support my Mountaineers proudly. I also follow the Mets, Devils, and NY Giants. I have an identical twin brother who is also a swim coach in Connecticut.

Micro Machine and Senior Prep Coach

My name is Ryan Natal. I grew up in northern Virginia and have been swimming almost my entire life. I started swimming during the summer in the Dominion Country Club League before I transitioned into club swimming. I swam with Machine for 7+ years before I graduated from Langley High School and attended the College of William & Mary, where I also competitively swam for 4 years. I assisted the Tribe in their first ever CAA Championship wins in 2015 and 2016. I graduated from W&M this last May cum laude with a major in chemistry and a minor in biochemistry.  

I’ve coached summer swimming for several years, but I’m beyond excited to begin coaching for club – especially with Machine Aquatics. I can’t wait to see you around the pool deck!

I am on the “dry-side” of Machine Aquatics family. My role is to answer the phones, help with registration, assist with admin tasks and manage hospitality at our Machine meets. I am here to support our Machine families in any way that they need. In addition, I teach our TRX strength classes at Machine M3.  I’m excited to be adding youth and teen yoga to our offerings this year. 

We are a Machine family so you’ll see my kids in the water and my husband on the deck!