MEET BRANDYWINE BARRACUDAS COACHES AND LEADERSHIP
Lexi Santer | Head Swim Team Coach (Gold & Dryland Coach) l [email protected]
Coach Lexi has been swimming for 24 years, starting with the Ocean City C-Cerpants, then joining KAY and eventually BRY. Coach Lexi attended Charter School of Wilmington where she was a varsity athlete in cross country, swimming, and track. She then attended Duquesne University and swam D1 for 4 years, completing graduate school and earning a doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Loving the water, she continues to work and compete as a beach lifeguard for the OCBP and SCBP regionally, nationally, and internationally. Her coaching career began in 2018 for Fox Chapel Swim Club, Oxford Athletic Club, Saint Andrews Swimming, and finally returned to BRY. This is now her 4th year coaching the Barracudas and the 2nd year as head coach. She will be leading the Gold group and assisting with dryland exercises.
Dan Casey | Platinum & Jr National Coach
Coach Dan has been swimming 24 years, beginning at Norristown Area High School. He attended West Chester University and swam for their Men’s program, earning a degree in Health & Physical Education. He continued swimming and competing in open water events with the Ocean City Beach Patrol. He has coached at all levels including the Rammies Special Olympics, Golden Ram Aquatics, Norristown High School, Norristown Area Aquatic Club, Saint Leo University while earning a MBA, Florida Tech University, Saint Andrews Swimming, Downingtown West High School, and now is in his 4th year with BRY. He will be coaching Junior National, Platinum and leading the dryland sessions.
Taylor Shelley l Bronze Coach
Coach Taylor has been swimming since she was 3, competed for 15 years, and still competes in triathlons. She grew up in DE, swimming for DST, BRY and Padua High School. She also competed for Del Vets summer league and has coached at Del Vets, Fairblue, and Crestview swim clubs. She swam for Rider University during undergraduate and completed her doctorate in Physical Therapy at University of Delaware. Splitting her time between PT, glass-blowing classes, and coaching, she will be entering her 4th year as a coach with the BRY team. She will be assisting with the Bronze groups.
Carla Wegner l Bronze Coach
Coach Carla swam competitively for 11 years for the Brandywine Barracudas. She also competed for Lane Swim Club in the summertime and Brandywine High School. She has worked for the Brandywine YMCA for 10 years as a lifeguard, swim instructor, aquatic specialist, and at Hanby’s Camp Quoowant. When she isn’t at the YMCA, she enjoys sewing, including creating her own dresses for all of our team banquets. This will be her 7th year coaching for BRY and she will be working with the Bronze Group this season.
Denise Escher l Academy Coach
Coach Denise has been swimming since the 70’s and enjoying the sport off and on since, competing in Ironman triathlons and open water events. Growing up in PA, she swam for the Prospect Park Swim Team, Wallingford Swarthmore Swim team, and now swims with French Creek Racing & 1776 Colonial US master’s groups. She has instructed youth swimming as well as women’s lacrosse and will now be joining BRY for her 1st year of Barracuda coaching. She will be assisting with the Academy groups.
Brianna Cottingham l Silver Coach
Coach Brianna has been swimming for 16 years and is still training and competing for the University of Delaware. Growing up, she has lived in NC and PA swimming for the YMCA of Northwest NC, State College Area YMCA, and Palmyra Aquatic Club. She has coached a local summer league and instructed swimming at another YMCA. Juggling collegiate swimming, classes, and hobbies like crossfit, she is joining the team for her 1st year as a BRY coach. She will be assisting with the Silver Groups
Alex Olsen l Academy Coach
Sarah Kelly l Senior Aquatic Director
