David is beginning his 2nd year as a coach at PAY. He grew up in Bucks County, PA, and has been immersed in the greater Philadelphia swimming community since he was 8 years old. He graduated from Council Rock High School in Holland, PA and spent years competing for both Council Rock’s club team and high school swim team, as well as the USA club team Spirit Swimming, known today as George School Aquatics, which operates out of the George School in Langhorne, PA. He recently earned a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Penn State University (where he briefly competed for Penn State’s club team before getting into coaching) and currently is (remotely) working on a master’s degree and teaching certification in 7-12 mathematics at Lehigh University. He hopes to bring the technical attention to detail that he uses in his studies to his coaching. David has previously worked at Nittany Lion Aquatic Club (NLAC), the State College YMCA (SCAY), and the Boyertown YMCA (BYNS) before arriving at PAY. He has had the opportunity to coach a multitude of ages and abilities in his time at NLAC, SCAY, and BYNS, ranging from young 8 and under swimmers to qualifiers and medalists for the Pittsburgh Christmas Meet, Middle Atlantic Junior Olympics, Eastern Zone Age Group Championships, Futures, Sectionals, and Junior Nationals in USA Swimming, as well as qualifiers and medalists for YMCA Districts, States, and Nationals in YMCA swimming. While coaching in State College, David was a part of Matthew Brownstead’s run to a YMCA National championship in the 50 Free as well as being the runner up in the 100 Fly and 100 Back, as well as national top 8 relay finishes for SCAY in the boys 200 medley and 200 free relays. David has also had the opportunity in the past to serve on the coaching staff of the Middle Atlantic Eastern Zone Team at the Eastern Zone Long Course Age Group Championships in East Meadow, New York. This was an exciting experience for David where he was able to meet, and establish professional connections with some of the top coaches in Middle Atlantic swimming. David also draws heavily on his experience from working for Ryan Sprang at NLAC. Ryan is now the head coach of the highly successful Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club (GPAC) operating out of GCIT in New Jersey. Outside of the pool, David enjoys the many outdoor activities that Pennsylvania has to offer, cheering on the Philadelphia sports teams, and taking opportunities to travel and experience different parts of the world. David’s favorite part of coaching swimming is the positive relationships and impact he can have on the lives of young people and their families. He feels that swimming is not just an activity, but a livelihood, and that it helps children develop a healthy lifestyle in addition to developing into confident and empowered young adults. He hopes to see both new and returning swimmers flourish with PAY this coming season, and for the program to continue to grow both in numbers and in spirit.

Hello! I am coach Kate! I am truly awed and inspired by the sport of swimming. I believe it is a unique sport that is able to combine personal achievement and team spirit in a way that very few other sports can match. I started swimming when I was 5 or 6 years old, and my entire childhood was spent around the pool and on the swimming & diving team. Around the water is where I feel most at home. I have been a part of the YMCA aquatics program for the last 10 years. I started as a swim instructor teaching lessons, and I joined PAY as a swim coach in 2016. I have passed my love of aquatics onto my family, and have 2 kids who are on the team. They love swimming just as much as I do, and the YMCA has become their second home. I feel so passionately that youth sports play an extremely impactful role in the development of SO many life lessons, which extend far beyond the time actually spent in the water.

When I’m not at the pool, I teach Pre-K. While my competitive swim days are over, I enjoy running, and will from time to time enter local races/runs - I have participated in the Broad Street Run several times, and have one half and one full marathon under my belt.

I am a Villanova graduate, and live in Phoenixville with my husband James, our 2 kids, and our 2 dogs.

I started coaching at the Phoenixville YMCA in summer of 2008.  Prior to that, I coached for various other club and summer league teams since 2001.   I began swimming competitively at the age of 5 and continued my swimming career through college.  I specialized in sprint and mid-distance freestyle events.  I also played field hockey and competed in track and field during high school and college.  

My favorite part of coaching is helping kids to grow and learn both in and out of the pool.  There are always things to learn in this sport:  Improving your stroke, how to take care of your body and get stronger and how to handle disappointment and setbacks.  I love being able to help kids with all of these different aspects.    

When not at the pool, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Dan and my son Daniel.  Together we love watching Penn State football, cooking and being outdoors. I spend my days working as a school counselor in the Daniel Boone School District. 

Coach John is beginning his 6th year coaching with PAY. He grew up in Haddam, CT where he swam for the local aquatic club and schools, began teaching swim lessons at 14, and lifeguarding at 16.  Specializing in sprint freestyle, he was a state title holder in the 50 and 100 freestyle events.  John went on to swim at the University of Rhode Island, meeting his future wife there in the pool.

Outside of the pool, John and his wife have three young children and will welcome a fourth baby this winter. He looks forward to seeing his family develop a love for swimming as well!  

John is passionate about the sport of swimming, teamwork, and promoting versatility in stroke skills and strength. His goal is to help children reach their potential at PAY, preparing them for life after PAY in and out of the pool.

Olivia started swimming here at the Phoenixville YMCA in 2004 and has never looked back! Olivia swam on the Y's National team from 2012-2017 and for Villa Maria Academy for 4 years. Olivia graduated from Lehigh University in May 2021 with a degree in Civil Engineering, and is now working full time as a Field Engineer for Allan Myers in their water division. While at Lehigh, she competed for the Division 1 swim team all four years and was a Patriot League Champ in the 200 free relay in 2020. Although she is now newly retired from swimming, She is so happy to still be on the pool deck with the kids. Olivia is so excited to share herlove and passion for swimming with all of our current and future PAY swimmers!

I love seeing athletes of all ages and abilities enjoying my favorite sport - swimming! A brief history - I swam competitively from the age of six through high school, my “career” highlights were mediocre at best, but the fond memories shared with teammates and friends in and out of the pool surpassed any individual accomplishments. I returned to the sport as an adult, relearned how to swim (so many advances in technique and training methods!) and made swimming a major part of my fitness and wellness routine. 

As a new coach, I hope to give back to the sport by helping fellow swimmers improve their skills, set and achieve their goals (and help others do the same), and above all to enjoy the sport.  

Born under the sign of Pisces, Andrea began swimming at age four and was competing on a team a year later. Growing up in the panhandle of Florida, and later living with her family near the coast of New Jersey, she lived up to her horoscope and spent more time in the water than on the sand. She swam competitively through her senior year of college as a distance and IM swimmer.

A few years after college she joined masters swimming and competed in her first triathlon and sought further challenges, such as competing in short distances and on up to three-mile open water swim races. She has trained for and raced in Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman and Ironman competitions. Currently she has her USAT Level 1 cert and is a head coach for the Spring Valley Y Multisport Gators. 

Andrea understands that swimming can be challenging at times, so her help for aspiring swimmers focuses on confidence, determination, and the technical aspects of swimming during training, while minimizing poor efficiency. She is always looking for ways to help young, first-time swimmers one-on-one understand where they are struggling.

Married with two wild and crazy boys, she’s passed on to them the love of the water just like their mommy. Andrea is never satisfied with just being good enough—she believes you can always improve and be the best you can be. She exhibits this belief through her enthusiasm for the sport, and she’s not easily deterred from her goals, much like the slogan of her former Jersey Storm swim team: “Can’t Calm the Storm!”

Ethan started swimming at Age 7 for his local USA Swimming Club, Maryland Suburban Swim Club (MSSC). He immediately took a liking to Freestyle and quickly became an avid distance swimmer. In 2003, he achieved a Top-16 ranking in the 11-12 Boys 1650-yard freestyle and was ranked the 12th fastest swimmer later that year. Other achievements include several team records, multiple Eastern Zone qualifying times, and representing his team at 2 USA Sectional competitions in 2004 & 2007.  Ethan graduated in 2008 but returned to competitive swimming in 2010. During that time, he also began coaching for MSSC, doing Stroke & Turn Clinics. In 2011, he moved up to begin coaching Age Group. Between 2011-2016, he juggled swimming and coaching, working primarily with Age Group, but also assisting with Junior/Senior Level Groups.

In 2018, Ethan moved to Florida and began coaching with Matanzas High School in Palm Coast. Ethan also helped with the creation of Flagler Fluid Swim Club (FFSC) alongside the Matanzas Head Coach. During his time with Fluid, he coached the Bronze/Silver groups and assisted with Gold/Masters groups. Ethan left Florida in August 2019 to take on a more challenging role as Age Group Coach for the FISH in McLean, Virginia. Ethan had the opportunity to work with some very talented and high-level coaches including Ray Benecki who coached Kate Ziegler to the 2008 & 2012 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, during his tenure with the FISH, Covid-19 occurred, and Ethan had to leave his position as Age Group Coach. 

In September 2020, Ethan moved up to Newark, Delaware to assist in coaching Delaware Swim Team (DST). He worked with all groups, primarily assisting with the Junior/Senior groups and running dryland sessions for the Senior group. He would remain there until May of 2021. Ethan moved to Pennsylvania after finishing his Master’s degree in 2022 and currently works as an Intelligence Analyst for ViaPath Technologies. 

Ethan is a graduate of DeMatha Catholic High school in Hyattsville, MD.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland – Global Campus in Criminal Justice in 2017 and he also received his Master’s degree from University of Maryland – Global Campus in Criminal Justice Management in 2022. 

Ethan is happily married to his wife of 1 year, 6 months and lives in the Audubon area. In his free time, Ethan enjoys listening to music, watching Hockey & Soccer, and going for short or even long runs. 

My name is Ryan King. I graduated from Owen J. Roberts high school in 2018 and swam there all 4 years, while swimming at TOPS for my club team and Laurelwood swim club in the summer. I recently graduated from Susquehanna University this past May with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a marketing minor and swam there for 2 years. I started swimming when I was 9, and am excited to give back to the sport and coach for the first time! I enjoy watching movies and baseball, particularly the Phillies. Can’t wait to meet you all!

Hello, my name is Brianna Zak (Coach Bri). I am 25 years old and am born and raised in West Chester, PA. I recently moved to Phoenixville and love it! I swam year around since the age of 5 for both GRA (Golden Ram Aquatics) and Roslyn Swim Club. Additionally, I swam all 4 years for Rustin High School. I qualified and participated in Junior Olympics as a 12 and under as well as a 14 and under. Due to a shoulder injury, I did not swim in college but have recently gotten back into the pool for personal exercise. I graduated from Widener University in 2019 with a BS in Accounting and currently work as a Financial Analyst for Meridian Bank. Additionally, I am in school obtaining my MBA at John’s Hopkins University.   I look forward to getting to know the team and working with all of the swimmers!