Parrish Bull Sharks Swim Team

Courtney was born and raised in Bradenton, Florida. She moved to Parrish in 2020. She has been swimming practically her whole life. Courtney started in group lessons at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA, then eventually joined the Y’s year round competitive program. She also swam for Lakewood Ranch High School and was a captain of the team her senior year. Now Courtney swims for leisure and exercise. She taught swim lessons at the Lakewood Ranch YMCA from 2011-2021, working with all ages and skill levels. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2018 with a degree in Secondary English Education. She currently teaches 9th Grade English and also coaches the swim team at Parrish Community High School. She enjoys helping swimmers learn new skills, accomplish their goals, and inspiring them to have a lifelong love for swimming.

Lauren started swimming at the age of 5 on her local swim team in Ohio. At the age of 10, she began swimming year round for two local teams. Lauren swam for her high school swim team, Stow-Munroe Falls High School, until her senior year where an injury caused her to sit out. During high school, Lauren coached her summer swim team, the Maplewood Gators. Currently, she is a mom of two and teacher of more than 15 years. She loves to spend time outside and with her family. Lauren enjoys using her swimming knowledge to help others fall in love with the sport and fun of swimming.

Rebekah was born and raised in Kansas and started swimming in a summer league at the age of six. Throughout her teen and college years, she spent all her summers competing, teaching swimming lessons and lifeguarding. For a few years, she also trained for triathlons and completed a Half Ironman which included a little over a mile of open water swimming in the Gulf. Rebekah moved to Parrish, Florida over six years ago where she started a local small business. She has two daughters who are Parrish Bull Sharks swim team members. She is excited to be part of the coaching staff and hopes to instill her passion of the sport to others.

Steve was a competitive swimmer who has been teaching swimming for over 30 years. He assisted in the development of numerous talented swimmers who have competed at the national and collegiate level over the years. Steve joined The Swim School in May 2019 and is excited to return to the Parrish Bull Sharks swim team as a swim coach. He enjoys using his years of experience to help swimmers improve and refine their stroke technique. Coach Steve is a certified Lifeguard and a USA Level 2 certified Swim Coach.

Originally from PA, Hilary started swimming at the age of five and continued competitively through college in Ohio. After receiving her degree in 2003, she returned to PA and worked part-time as a lifeguard, swim lesson instructor, and swim team coach in addition to having a full-time position in the human services field assisting children with special needs. With a love for the beach and a craving for a warmer climate, Hilary relocated to Florida in 2006 and worked as an Aquatics Director at a YMCA for over eight years where she developed a year round competitive swim team program, administered a progressive swim lesson program and conducted water fitness classes at two aquatics facilities. In May 2015, Hilary took her passion for teaching aquatics programs and established The Swim School. After seeing a great need in the community, she formed the Parrish Bull Sharks swim team in May 2018. Hilary strives to provide valuable, educational aquatics experiences for children of all ages and ability levels. She enjoys watching children progress and achieve new skills in the pool, and hopes to instill in her students a lifelong love for swimming.

Coach Guy is no stranger to the pool deck. Since receiving his Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Florida State University in 1985, he has worked with various aquatics clubs throughout Canada and Florida as a Head Swim Coach and Swim School owner, instructing children from ages 4-17 years. Guy is responsible for developing numerous talented swimmers over the past 40 years including Canadian Record Holders, Olympic Trials and Olympic Games athletes. He currently holds a Level 4 Swim Coach certification through both the Canadian and American Swimming Coaches Association. Coach Guy strives to develop athletes of all levels to their highest potential.