Coaching Staff
860-230-1473
Thames Aquatic Club provides a unique perspective on coaching. TAC promotes coaching by all staff members for all groups. We feel this provides the best, well rounded swimmer, as each member of the team is provided with fresh input from each coach. All TAC coaches become knowledgeable of each swimmer's ability and works with the swimmer to become the best competitor they can be.
The TAC coaching staff includes coaches that have swam or are currently still swimming at the Division 1 and Division 3 level.
Jesse Sweeney
Jesse is another great addition to the TAC family of coaches! His love of the sport is exhibited on deck as he coaches our swimmers. Jesse is currently swimming for SUNY New Palz and is a league finalist in the backstroke events. While Jesse is back to school for the season, we look forward to his assistance during school breaks.
Matt provides our Thames Aquatic Club with the proper base and training plans that will benefit swimmers of all ages. Matt's competitive experience includes varsity swimming for four years at New London High School, specializing in the backstroke and freestyle events. He is currently the Assistant Swim Coach at New London High School. Matt has the knowledge of the sport and a work ethic on deck that will benefit all TAC swimmers.
Alexandra comes to the Thames Aquatic Club with an abundance of coaching and competitive experience.
Alex brings 4 years of teaching and coaching experience to our team. She has worked as a stroke instructor, YMCA swim team coach and a USA swim club Age Group coach. Alexandra enjoys working with younger swimmers to help them establish swim habits that will follow them through their swimming careers. Alex also brings a wealth of competitive experience to the pool deck. Locally, Alex is a 2 time ECC Champion in the Breaststroke. She is a New England USA Regional Champion in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke, a multiple year CT Top 16 swimmer, a USA Sectional qualifier and a YMCA National qualifier. Alex also was a Division 1 college scholarship swimmer.
We look forward to Alex teaching our swimmers how to race competitively.
Kristen brings to Thames Aquatic Club a fresh swimming perspective to our beginner swimmers. Her enthusiasm and constant encouragement provides the Little Raptors with just the right amount of fun and confidence building needed in the sport of swimming. A member of TAC's Senior group, Kristen also brings to her students, the knowledge of current swimming experiences. When Kristen is not swimming herself, she is on the deck constantly interacting and providing support to her students and teammates. Kristen is a Connecticut 15 and over Age Group Qualifier and the 2010 Long Course Regional Champion in the 100 Meter Backstroke. Kristen also is a CSI Certified Coach.
Erica Vitale erica.vitale1@marist.edu
Erica brings to TAC, her fierce competitive edge that has made her a successful Division 1 swimmer. Erica demands from the swimmers, the same intensity and committment that she has made to her own swimming. During her 12 years of competitive swimming, Erica has amassed numerous championship first place finishes, record breaking performances, and sectional and national level qualifying swims. Erica is currently a MAAC league championship finalist in numerous events and was named Most Valuable Swimmer for 2 years in a row and Rookie of the Year after her freshman year at Canisius College.
Erica brings 4 years of teaching swim lessons and competitive coaching to the TAC deck. We are excited to have Erica work with our swimmers to bring out their competitive edge! While Erica has gone to school to continue her education and college swimming career at Marist College (after a redshirt year), we look forward to seeing her back at our pool during vacations and on the occasional weekend.
Kaitlin Karlson
A competitive swimmer for 10 years, Katie is currently a member of the Connecticut College varsity swim/dive team. As a freshman, she earned the honor of being named NESCAC Performer of the Week and swam to 4th place in the 50 breast at the NESCAC league championship meet in February 2010. This year Katie has continued to improve: she set the college record for the 100 breast, had 3 top eight finishes at the NESCAC championship meet in February 2011 and qualified to swim at NCAA Division III nationals on three relays. Each of those relays (200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 800 free relay) set new college records. In addition to Katie's own competitive swimming experience, she is a certified lifeguard and she has numerous years of coaching, instructor and clinic experience. Katie specializes in focusing on technique and working towards swimmers' individual goals. Katie is an honors student at Connecticut College pursuing a double major in Economics and Psychology.
Alexis Levengood
A graduate student from Connecticut College, member and Captain of Connecticut College's Swimming and Diving Team, Alexis will be sharing her expensive knowledge of the sport of swimming with TAC members. Alexis's experience with teaching and coaching children between the ages of 5 and 16 will benefit TAC swimmers greatly. Alexis will be back for our summer season.
Matthew Newton
A member of Connecticut College's Swimming and Diving Team, Matthew loves to work with children and has been a swim coach for the past 4 years. Matt swam for his high school swim team and the Shawmut Aquatic Club.
He was captain of his high school swim team, holds 3 high school records and is Lifeguard and WSI certified.
Thames Aquatic Club is currently interviewing qualified candidates for coaching positions.
