08/24/2026
๐ COACH SPOTLIGHT:
Letโs welcome Coach Alex to the Northgate stingrays!
Background: I began swimming at age 9 on a summer league team in Akron, Ohio, where I
lived until 2024. I started swimming competitively in 5th grade and continued through high
school, later competing on the club swim team at BGSU. My favorite events were the 200
IM, 500 Freestyle, and 100 Breaststroke. I began coaching as a junior coach at age 15, and
in 2021, I helped launch a USA Swimming club team at my alma mater, Copley High
School. Alongside a few other coaches, we grew the team to 75 swimmers. I took a break
from coaching in 2024 when I moved to Connecticut with my partner while they completed
school, then relocated to Pittsburgh in 2025 after accepting a job offer at Highmark Health.
We asked Coach Alex a few fun questions so you can get to know them better โ hereโs what they had to say!
๐ Favorite Stroke: breaststroke
๐ Favorite Event: 200 IM
โจ Favorite Coaching Memory: participating in our first USA meet as a club team
๐ฟ Favorite Snack: JIF peanut butter
๐ต Favorite Pump-Up Song: Espresso/Midnight Sun
๐ Favorite Swim Drill: shark fin drill
๐ฌ Best Advice for Swimmers: Coaches can guide, support and encourage, but true improvement comes from the commitment, effort, and belief you bring to the pool everyday.
๐ Go-To Post-Meet Meal: Chipotle burrito bowl with a tortilla on the side
๐
Most Used Coaching Phrase: no breathing off the wall!
๐๏ธ Dream Vacation Spot: Japan or Peru
๐ Favorite Part About Coaching: seeing swimmers develop a genuine passion for the sport, grow in confidence, and support their teammates along the way.
๐ฆ Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: cappuccino or banana
๐ฆ Spirit Animal: sea turtle
๐ โMaking waves, one practice at a time!โ