Coach Kelly is in her 8th season with the Wave.  She grew up near Erie, PA, but has called SA home for 10 years with Rick, her husband retiring from the Air Force in 2017.  She began competitive swimming when she was 8 years old with the YMCA. She began teaching swim lessons in her early teens and developed a love for stroke technique through years of attending and working at swim camps. She had exceptional examples in coaches who taught, encouraged, and fueled her desire to coach.  Kelly has coached 10 & under age groups for Chartiers Valley Swim Club in Pittsburgh PA, Eifel Sharks in Germany and Elmendorf Penguins in Alaska. She is very excited to continue focusing on the Developmental program, while assisting Age Group Coaches to train and encourage all young swimmers to enjoy their sport and take it as far as they can. She is also excited to be part of developing a swim lesson program for Wave. 

Favorite Stroke(s): Butterfly and Distance Freestyle

Coaching experience:
*Chartiers Valley Swim Club, Sewickley PA
*Suisun City CA YMCA (swim instructor)
*Eifel Sharks Swim Team,
*Elmendorf Penguins Swim Team
*Great Hearts Middle School/HS Assistant Coach
****HS district Champs Boys/Girls
****HS Girls Regional Champs
****HS State Qualifiers

Personal Swimming Experiences:
*Corry Area High School, PA (4 years)
*Corry Pennsylvania YMCA (10 years)
*Grove City College (4 year letter) 

Personal Swimming accomplishments:
*Presidential Athletic  Conference (PAC) Championship 1991 MVP award
*Top Ten record holder Corry YMCA/ Corry HS
*HS District qualifier, District 10 Championship Team
*District/State YMCA repeat qualifier
*Presidential Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Team 1991:1993, GCC Team Captain

Education:
*Corry Area Jr/Sr High School, Corry PA
*Grove City College, Grove City,  PA - BA Elementary Education 

Things I enjoy, when not on the pool deck:
Time with my Husband Rick m.1993, Daughters: Emily, Lizzy, Natalie, & Holly.  Walking the dogs, traveling, going to estate sales.

Favorite Quote(s):
"One of the keys to success is the discipline to do the things you should even when you don’t feel like it"   - unknown
"Small disciplines repeated with  consistency  every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time."  - John C. Maxwell.
"No man drowns if he perseveres in praying to God and can swim."  - Russian Proverb

Goals or things that sum up what it is for you to be a coach?
I have enjoyed teaching and coaching swimmers for over 30 years.  Watching young swimmers improve technique, competitive skills and gain the confidence to reach their goals over time is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching.  I hope to help swimmers along the way to reach their goals and use this fantastic sport to learn the value of hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, and the fun of being part of something bigger than themselves.