Coaching Staff 

At Brookings Swim Club, we believe that coaches play a pivotal role in shaping not only skilled swimmers but also well-rounded individuals. Our coaches bring a wealth of experience, dedication, and a genuine love for nurturing young talent in the world of swimming. Get to know the individuals who are the driving force behind our commitment to excellence.

 

Senior Age Group Coach: Cassie Hendricks 

I grew up in Brookings and started swimming for the Brookings Swim Club when I was 8 years old with coach Wendy as my first coach! She helped me develop my love and passion for the sport. 

I swam for BSC all the way through high school and then swam for the SDSU Jacks all 4 years of college. And started coaching as a graduate assistant at SDSU in fall of 2018 and have been the head coach of BSC since fall of 2019 and am still the assistant coach of SDSU swim/dive team.

I coach mainly the Senior group but love working with all ages and groups of our team. Watching our athletes improve in the pool as well as grow up into successful young adults is one of my favorite parts of coaching. I also have a big passion for swimming lessons and helping our community learn to swim!

Outside of the pool I love working out, traveling, and spending as much time on the beach as possible!

 

Junior Age Group Coach: Damon Venner

I originally grew up in Sioux Falls, SD, but now I call Brookings home! I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years total.  I swam 8 years on various clubs in Sioux Falls and swam for 5 years at South Dakota State University!  I started coaching for BSC in the summer of 2020.  I graduated from SDSU in 2022 with a B.S. in mathematics along with getting my SD teacher's certification in mathematics.  In December of 2023 I completed my master's degree within the Curriculum and Instruction program.  Outside of BSC, I am also an assistant coach at SDSU since Fall 2023.  I also love to visit my parents and be on the lake in Wisconsin!  Coaching has always been one of my passions and I am proud of the swimmers and culture we have here at BSC!

 

Gold Age Group Coach:  Allison Meland

 
Allison Meland joined the staff of the Brookings Swim Club in 2016. She began competitive swimming at the age of 5 and continued swimming through college. Allison attended the University of North Dakota and swam there for four years, receiving a bachelor's degree in Anthropology. She went on to the attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and received her master's degree in Elementary Education.
 
Allison has previously coached swimming for the Glendive Wet Devils and for Lincoln Select Swimming. 
 
Allison and her husband, Steve, have three beautiful daughters. In her free time Allison enjoys scuba diving, yoga, water skiing, reading and spending time with her family. 
 

 

Silver & Bronze Age Group Coach:  Wendy Ahrendson 

I have been with the Brookings Swim Club since the summer of 1998, serving in various coaching capacities.  Growing up in Manning, Iowa (a town of about 1500 in West Central Iowa) I began swimming at the age of 9 and continued swimming for a Summer League team (the Manning Sharks) until graduating from high school.  After high school graduation, I attended Wartburg College (a NCAA division III college in Northwestern Iowa) and received a bachelor’s degree in Math and Philosophy, followed by a Master’s degree in Mathematics from South Dakota State University.  Although Wartburg did not have a pool, I continued to stay active in the swimming community by coaching the Manning Sharks in the summers from 1992 through 1997.  Currently, I primarily coach the Bronze and Silver swimming groups.  I also teach mathematics and statistics at South Dakota University and enjoy doing creative hobbies in my spare time.

 

 

Administrative Coach:  Doug Humphrey