JAmes Kwan

Head Coach
james.kwan.22@gmail.com

James Kwan
 
Swimming Background
            I swam for the Orcas from the age of 6-18, competing in over 100 ASSA meets and over 10 Provincial Championships. I continued my swimming career at the post-secondary level at Mount Allison University. In my time at Mount Allison (2014-2018), I competed mainly in freestyle and butterfly events, as part of all relays in my final two years, and was named captain in my final year. I finished my University swimming career this past season with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns where I once again competed in freestyle and butterfly events and was a member of the second fastest 4 X 200 freestyle relay team in Pronghorns history.
 
Favourite Events:
            100 and 200 Freestyle (Or anytime I get to beat Coach Josh Adams)
 
Coaching Background:

• Lethbridge Orcas Assistant Coach (2015)
• Lethbridge Orcas Head Coach (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• Summit Swim Camps Assistant Coach (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
• Private Lessons/ Coaching (2018, 2019)
• Private Training Programming (2018, 2019)

 
Favourite Summer Club Moments:
            My favourite moments ever come from Regionals and Provincials weekend. A mentor of mine, coach Kent Aitchison, described his favourite moments as when the swimmer touches the wall, sees/ is shocked by their time, and then makes eye contact with the coach who is banging on the table. This has happened repeatedly these past 4 seasons with hundreds of best times, incredible race finishes, and multiple provincial records. That split second of eye contact makes every second of what I do in the summer worth it.
 
Group/ Team Goals for the 2019 Season:
            On a performance note, I would love to see our Age-Group team defend or improve upon our second-place finish at last year’s Provincial Championships. In addition, I would love to see our Master’s team re-capture the Master’s title after winning it in 2017 and coming runner-up last year.
            On a more general note, I would love to see improved attendance at all meets and high amounts of improvement and fun. I only have good memories of summer swim club from my childhood, and it has always been my goal to help raise these same memories in the kids and families that call themselves Orcas.

KEELEY WATT

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH
wattk9@gmail.com

Keeley Watt
Assistant Head Coach
 
Swimming Background: I have been swimming with the Orcas since the age of five and continued racing as a summer swimmer until I was 17 years old. During this time, I achieved club, regional, and provincial records and was a five-time member of the ASSA All-star Team. Following the Orcas, I continued my swim career in varsity athletics at the University of Lethbridge for three years, serving as a captain of the Pronghorns Swim Team, achieving Canada West qualifying times, U Sport Nationals qualifying times, and U of L individual and relay records. This past year, I swam with the University of Alberta Pandas varsity swim team and contributed as a Canada West qualifier and finalist, and U Sports Nationals qualifier. Next season I will carry out my last year of varsity eligibility as a Panda.
 
Favourite Events: 50 Breast and 100 IM!
 
Coaching Background:
Assistant Coach – Lethbridge Orcas Summer Swim Club (2015, 2016)
Assistant Head Coach –Lethbridge Orcas Summer Swim Club (2017, 2018)
Assistant Coach – Summit Swim Camps (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
 
Favourite Summer Club Moment(s): My favourite moments from every season are always witnessing the tremendous growth all swimmers experience. This can come in the pool through personal bests, medals, and setting records, but also outside the pool when swimmers mature and grow as individuals. I love returning every year and seeing the development of all swimmers from season to season. Another moment I love in summer club is when a swimmer swims exceptionally when and qualifies for Provincials in an off event or an event they weren’t expecting to qualify in, it just really highlights the hard work they put in throughout the season. Finally, any time I get the chance to race on a relay with one of my swimmers is a highlight, I love being right there with them before and after their swim and experiencing the fun and excitement alongside them.
 
Group/Team Goals for 2019 Season: We have such a huge club this year, and I would love to see those numbers transfer over to meets! Meets have always been the most memorable part of my summer swimming career, and I would love to have as many Minis, Tier II, Tier I, and Masters as possible racing at meets. High numbers result in lots of good things for the club like great meet atmosphere, elevated performance, and successful defense of our Regional and Provincial titles.
 

JOsh Adams

Assistant coach
adamsml10888@gmail.com

Swimming background – I have competed in swimming since I was 10 and I have just finished my second season with the University of Regina swim team
 
Favourite events – 50 free, 50 fly, or any event against coach James
 
Coaching background –                 Regina optimist dolphins (2018-2019)
Lethbridge orcas (2017-2019)
Summit swim camps (2018-2019)
 
Favourite summer club moment(s): My Favourite summer club moment was watching our relay teams set provincial records.
 
Team Goal(s)/ Group Goal(s)
Team goal – I would like to see the orcas master team reclaim the title this year and have the age group swimmers improve from there 2nd place finish at last years’ provincials.
Group goal – exemplify through my practises that hard work is necessary but can be fun by creating a highly competitive environment.

Steven maychak

Assistant coach
samaychak@gmail.com

Swimming Background
When I was younger in competed in summer club with the Vegreville Pool Sharks and St. Albert Sailfish.
 
Favourite Events
50 & 100 Fly
 
Coaching Background
Brooks Barracudas- Assistant and Head Coach 2011-2016
Spartans Aquatic Club- Assitant Coach 2017
Max Bell Mantas- Assistant and Head Coach 2017-2019
Lethbridge Orcas- Assistant Coach 2017- Present
 
Favourite Moments From 2018:
Having swimmers from two the groups I coached qualify for provincials, the 8 & U Girls Relay winning the Medley and Free Relays in back-to-back years at provincials, having the privilege to be called Coach plus working with and learning from amazing kids. 
 
Group/Team Goals for 2019 Season:
Group Goals: Try to connect with the swimmers, get to know them and how they learn. Help them understand the science behind swimming while keeping the practices challenging and fun.
 
Team Goals: Build on the last years team results at provincials, work with other coaches to help create a positive and fun environment for the swimmers.
 

AARON GAMBLE

Assistant coach

Swimming Background:
Aaron started his swimming career at age 7 with the Grande Prairie Piranhas. With his family
moving to Lethbridge at age 9, he swam 3 seasons for LASC until pursuing a football career. After sitting
out for a winter and playing 2 seasons of football, he came back to swimming and joined the Orcas at age
12. Aaron competed during the summers until leaving to go to College in Calgary, where he swam with
the Mount Royal Cougars. After a short varsity career, Aaron moved over into Masters swimming where
you can still find him splashing around.
 
Favourite Events:
The Marathon
(100 Fly, 400 Free, 800 Free, 1500 Free all back to back)
 
Coaching Background:
2019 Lethbridge Orcas
2019 LASC
2018-19 Max Bell Mantas
2015-18 Wilson Wolverines
2015-17 Lethbridge Orcas
2014-17 Spartans Aquatic Club
2010-13 Personal Trainer (Calgary)
2009 Calgary Tritons
2006-08 Sylvan Lake Nauticals
2005-06 Lacombe Dolphins
2004 Ponoka Gators
2003-06 Red Deer Catalina
2002-03 High Level Stingrays
1999-01 Milk River Penguins
 
Best summer swimming memories:
Summer swimming has been a part of my life since I was a teenager. My best memories are the
friendships made, the sense of belonging to a family bigger than I can think of, the weekly swim meets,
and the truest form of summer swimming: swimming in outdoor pools! As a coach I look forward to the
first day and I am most excited on the last and final days. The first day (or even week) of practice is my
favourite because of the reconnections to teammates you may not have seen in a while and the new faces
you get to meet. The last few days, mostly Provincials, is my favourite due to the sheer excitement of the
atmosphere and the energy in the air. This is were we get to see all the hard work pay off for the
swimmers and the club as a whole. At the end of the summer, summer swimming period, is a best
memory for me!
 
Goals for the 2019 season:
I want to keep things fairly simple and focus on getting faster through technical correction. Head
and body position and kick will be the main focus before branching off into the pull and overall speed. I
would like to see everyone in P2 challenge themselves and swim outside their comfort zones during the
season and try as many different events as they can before picking favourites. Going into August, my
goal is to have 100% of P2 representing the Orcas logo at Regionals and over 80% qualifying for
Provincials in Edmonton. I am excited to be back after being away for the 2018 summer and look
forward to a lot of personal growth out of the club throughout the season.

OWEN GUYN

Assistant coach

Swimming background: I swam for the Orcas from the age of 6 to 17, then swam 5 years for the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns Men's Varsity Swim Team. I am continuing to train with the Pronghorns and Lethbridge Amateur Swim Club for the 2020 Olympic trials next year!
 
Favourite events: 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly!
 
Coaching background: I have coached swimming at different levels since I was 18 years old, through LASC and Summit Swim Camps. This is my first year as a full time coach with the Orcas! I have also coached volleyball for the past 5 years, and have both my swimming 101 and volleyball 101 coaching certifications.
 
Favourite summer club moment: Standing on the ASSA Provincial podium with Tate Tolman, who got a bronze medal swimming out of the B final, winning the ASSA Provincial Championship two years in a row with the Orcas, and winning the 50m and 100m freestyle gold medals at ASSA Provincials in back to back seasons.
 
Group goals: To learn tons of new things about swimming, to have lots of fun every day, to achieve best times in every event, and for everyone to attend at least 1 swim meet!
 
Team goals: Break the meet attendance records at every meet, lots of communication between the different groups, maintain a really fun training environment, top 3 finish at Provincials!

cAILEIGH SHEPPARD

Assistant coach
caileigh.sheppard@uleth.ca

Swimming Background: I have been a swimmer with the Lethbridge Orcas for 14 years, having only taken a season away from the team during the 2016 season.  In addition to swimming with the Orcas, I enhanced my swimming knowledge and background by becoming both a Red Cross and Lifesaving Society certified swim instructor and National Lifeguard Instructor. 

Favorite Stroke/Events: 1500 free, 800 free and 400 free 

Coaching Background: I began my coaching career back in 2015 with the Lethbridge Orcas. I then went on to coach with the Spartans Aquatic Club for both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. I am thrilled to be back for the Orcas for this 2018 swim season! 

Soleil Letourneau ​

Assistant coach

Swimming Background: I’ve been swimming since I was eight years old and I swam for the Orcas for six years. I competed and medalled at Regionals and Provincials all six years with the Orcas and look forward to competing again this year as part of the masters team. 
​
Favourite Events: My favourite events are 50 breast stroke and 100 IM. 

Coaching Background:
This is my first year coaching swimming with the Lethbridge Orcas.
​NCCP coaching 101 certification
 
Favourite Summer Club Moment(s): My favourite summer club moments have been relays at provincials! Participating in them and cheering on the other orca relays. 
​
Group and Team Goals: I am in charge of the mini orcas group A and B and the masters B group. My goals for this season are for the masters team to win the provincial banner. For my minis, I hope for them to achieve a more thorough understanding of freestyle and backstroke and develop the body positioning and breathing techniques that will help prepare them for the other two strokes. My goal for the Orcas is to get top three at provincials and have the highest attendance at regionals in Orca history!