Tammie Filiault
Since the age of eight, swimming has been a part of Tammie Filiault’s life. First, as a student of the sport, next as a competitor, and finally as a coach and role model. She achieved the ultimate goal of competing as an Olympian in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Tammie was born and raised in Hawaii, but at the age of 12, her family moved to Guam with her father’s job. This gave Tammie the opportunity to train and compete around the world.
Highlights of her international resume include the following:
- 1992 – Olympic Games – Barcelona, Spain
- 1991 – South Pacific Games – Port Morsby, Papua New Guinea
- 1991 – World Championships – Perth, Australia
- 1989 - 1990 – Asian Pacific Championships – Kowloon, Hong Kong
- 1989 – French Polynesian Championships – Papeete, Tahiti
As a swimmer she attended many camps held by U.S. and Canadian Olympic coaches, including a private two week camp given by Mark Spitz, offered to the 4 men and 2 women who qualified to represent Guam in the 1992 Olympics.
In her freshman year of college, Tammie had to give up a scholarship for swimming at The University of Tennessee due to a medical condition. She graduated from Chaminade University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, where she met her husband, Rick. Today they live in Mooresville, NC and have 3 children; Will, Sophia, and Julia.
Tammie resumed her passion for swimming as a coach in 1998. From high school swimming to summer league, she has coached swimmers of all levels and abilities. In addition to coaching, she has organized clinics and camps for competitive swimmers to focus on proper stroke technique. In 2011 Tammie entered the Lake Norman Swim League as Head Coach of The Harbour Seals. She also began coaching a new recreational swim team at The Lowe's YMCA, The Penguins. On the heels of the success of the Lowe's YMCA Penguins Swim Team, Tammie responded to the need in the community and worked to start the first competitive year round swim team in Mooresville, NC in the Fall of 2012, The Lowe's YMCA Lightning.
Head Assistant Coach/Jr. Seals & Pups
Bridgett Respess
Bridgett Respess grew up in Greenville, SC. She started swimming for her neighborhood recreation swim team at the age of 5 and began year around competition for Team Greenville and YSpartaquatics when she entered middle school. Throughout high school and college summers, she coached for Swim Association Invitational League (S.A.I.L) at Sugar Creek Recreation and Pebble Creek County Club. After graduating Clemson University with a degree in Marketing and Concentration in Health Science, she began her career in the ink and printing industry, which took her to Cincinnati, Ohio and then to Richmond, Virginia, where she met her husband, Ken. When the family moved to Mooresville, NC, her oldest child started swimming, and Bridgett’s passion for swimming and teaching returned. Bridgett joined the YMCA coaching staff in 2012. She is the Head Coach of the Penguins recreational swim team and an assistant coach for the Lightning Competitive Swim Team. She has coached every level of the sport from beginner children to triathletes. If she’s not on deck coaching, she is usually swimming laps at the Y or running along Brawley School Road.
Assistant Coaches
The Harbour Seals have 8-10 assistant coaches who must have prior Jr. Assistant and Coach-in-Training experience. They are all 16 years or older and are able to coach all Harbour swim group levels.
Jr. Assistant Coaches
The Habour Seals have 5-10 Jr. Assistant coaches who all have at least one year of volunteer coaching experience. The Jr. Assistant Coaches are at least 15 years or older.
Coaches-in-Training
The Harbour Seals have 2-10 Coaches-in-Training who volunteer their time to learn appropriate coaching technique under the supervision of the Head and Assistant Coaches. Coaches-in-Training must be at least 14 years or older.
