ALL HAINES CITY TRITONS COACHES ARE NON-ATHLETE MEMBERS OF USA SWIMMING AND CERTIFIED BY USA SWIMMING    

https://club.usaswimming.org/club/staff

Jim and Laurie Grazier absolutely love coaching competitive swimming. Jim has been a certified USA Swimming coach since 1984, and Laurie since 1995. Both are also experienced, certified teachers as well. Jim retired after 27 years with Polk County Schools and Laurie retired after 24 years as a teacher and the Director of Early Childhood at All Saints Academy. 

Over the years, Jim's swimmers have qualified for numerous FHSAA High School State Championships. Many have gone on to swim in college swim programs throughout the country. He takes exceptional pride in having trained athletes for military service. They have represented these branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Merchant Marines, and Coast Guard. Swimmers under his tutelage have qualified for the Florida Swimming Age Group Championships, Senior Championships, Sectionals, All Star Meets, US Junior Nationals and the U.S. Open.

He has served as a Florida Swimming All Star coach and to his credit he has nurtured numerous swimmers to become successful coaches, at all levels, in their own right.

Jim and Laurie formed their coaching team in 1995. Since then Laurie designed, led, and grew the developmental side of their team. It is their belief that the foundation of any swim team is taking to heart the development of young swimmers. Laurie coaches these 'age groupers' to learn the basic skills of competitive swimming and emphasizes teamwork as her formula for swimmers to become successful athletes and cohesive team members. Once the basic skills have been learned, key components to training instilled, and endurance is stronger, her swimmers advance to the next competitive level. She is proud that she has made swimming fun for hundreds of children, ensuring that they would want to continue in this wonderful lifelong sport. Her expertise as a teacher of young children and knowledge of child development is a key component in her coaching style.

Jim and Laurie are compassionate and committed to developing young swimmers to become competitive athletes and awesome adults. This is why they are the coaches of - 

Haines City Tritons, The Heart of Florida Swim Team!

Travis Douglas is an elementary school teacher and swim coach. He works with kindergarten students and developmental age swimmers. His primary focus is to teach children how to develop their skills, socialize, and have confidence in themselves. He believes that a fun and encouraging environment can help give young children the skills they need to be happier and more successful in school, swimming, and in their other future endeavors. He is known for his saying, "If you don't believe in yourself, believe in me, who believes in you!"

Travis has earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. He is certified to teach kindergarten through sixth grade. He is currently employed by Polk County Schools and serving at Garden Grove Elementary School where he has been honored to take the reins as the kindergarten grade chair. Travis has been recognized numerous times for his continuing work to improve the lives of children.

Travis is an experienced certified USA Swimming swim coach. Has has proven to be extremely successful at coaching the novice level swimmers.

He also enjoys mentoring others that want to become certified as USA Swimming coach. Travis understands the requirements needed to become certified and will unselfishly help others to attain their dream. The Tritons will always be looking out for enthusiastic people that have an interest in coaching.

In his career as a teacher and coach he has helped hundreds of children develop into responsible and successful students and swimmers. Like Superman, he will always save the day!

 Nahir Caraballo- Santos is a graduate of Ridge Community High School . She graduated from Polk State College as a certified Physician's assistant. Upon graduation, she began her career in this field. She has served as a Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor at Lake Eva Aquatic Center . She is certified in CPR, First AID and AED. Because of her passion for swimming her teammates voted for her to be captain of the RCHS Swim Team. She has been a USA Swimming registered member of the Haines City Tritons since the inception of the team. Nahir feels that swimming is hard work, but it also comes with fun experiences. Nahir would like to share this experience with young swimmers. All the desires she has for the sport she would like to transmit with a positive and encouraging attitude to the beginner swimmers on the HC Tritons Swim Team. She is professional yet calm and relaxed with the children. We value her expertise, knowledge, and organizational skills. Nahir is a fully USA Swimming Certified Coach Member of our Staff.
                                                  

Alijah Martinez  Hello swimmers and swimming enthusiasts! I'm Coach Alijah Martinez, I am a dedicated and passionate swim coach and fitness instructor for the Haines City Tritons Swim Team, a team that strives for excellence both in and out of the pool. I am proud to say that I am a graduate of Haines City High School and former competitive swimmer representing the Hornet Swim Team. Currently I am pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Florida Polytechnic University. My journey in swimming is ongoing as I continue to train and compete as a USA Swimming registered swimmer. Swimming has been one of lifelong learning and inspiration, and I'm thrilled to share that with all of you. I believe that everyone has the potential for greatness within them; they just need to give themselves a chance to shine. As a coach, my mission is to guide my swimmers towards realizing their full potential, whether their goal is to have fun in the water or to improve their competitive times. My coaching philosophy is built on mutual learning – I learn from my swimmers as much as they learn from me. Together, we create an environment where everyone can thrive and excel. As you can tell I have a sincere passion for coaching.Let's work together, learn from each other, and achieve greatness both in and out of the water. 

Stay inspired and keep swimming, Coach Alijah Martinez.

Crystal Ruyle Crystal has been a teacher for 18 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Education and is nearing completion of her Master's degree in Classical History.  She has been involved in the competitive swimming world for the last 9 years, and has been competing in the Haines City Ironman 70.3 for the last 6 years. Participation in and training for Ironman has given her a passion for fitness and competition of all kinds. She is skilled in coaching, teaching stroke technique, training, and bringing a positive attitude, motivation and encouragement to all levels and groups of the Tritons. From the youngest members of the Novice group, to the eldest Senior Competitive group members, everyone loves to be with Coach Crystal! 

One of the founding members of the Haines City Tritons, Crystal is always excited to watch the Tritons grow and see them learn the love of competition.

 
 
Ethan Rohrs  Ethan has years of experience in the world of competitive swimming. He began as a young swimmer and later started coaching, along with his siblings, the beginner swimmers on his mom’s swim team, the Marion County YMCA. 

Coaching experience:

Fayetteville Flying Fish

Head Masters Coach at Fort Bragg

St. Cloud High School Swim Team

Victor Swim Club with Coach Mike Murray

“I absolutely love the sport of swimming and truly enjoy supporting my swimmers in their effort to improve their technique, strength, and endurance. However, swimming is not just about improving in the water, it provides us with  discipline, work ethic, responsibility, and a sense of community. It is truly an honor and a pleasure to coach for the Haines City Tritons” Ethan Rohr