Barracudas

Coach Katia joined our coaching staff in 2018 and is excited to join us for her sixth season coaching and third year as Head Coach.  She is a graduate of Campbell University with a degree in special education (K-12) and elementary education (K-6). She is currently working as a special education teacher in a self contained classroom in a Wake County elementary school. She has 10 years of competitive swimming on both a year round team in Ohio and the local High School team. 

Katia's favorite stroke is definitely breaststroke, but she loves them all. She loves all Disney movies and binge watching various Netflix series. Compared to year-round swimming, she finds the best part of summer swim is the laid back atmosphere where there is more time to focus on the technique without pressure.  

Coach William joined our Barracudas in 2021 as a swimmer and Jr Coach.  This will be his 3rd year coaching as an Age Group Coach and we are thrilled to have him back!  He is a Graduate of Apex Friendship High School and is an athlete of many talents: he swims, played football and lacrosse for the High School all 4 years. 

He currently attends the University of South Carolina and is in the Darla Moore School of Business!  

His favorite stroke is the butterfly and summer swim is all about the Meet!  His favorite movie is The Princess Bride, "As you wish..." 

Coach Mary Grace started on the Barracudas as a swimmer in 2016 and joined the Jr coaching staff in 2022. This will be her 2nd year as an Age Group Coach. She will be a graduate of Apex Friendship High School at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. 

Her favorite book is Pride and Predjudice and her all time favorite movie is Hercules. Her favorite stroke is breastroke. Her favorite thing about summer swim team is just that, the team aspect. She loves cheering for her teammates, participating in team cheers, and swimming in relays. 

Welcome back! Coach Stasia is an original Barracuda having swam with our team in 2015. This will be her 3rd year as an Age Group Coach. She joined the Jr Coaching staff in 2019.  She will be a graduate of Apex Friendship High School at the end of the 2023-2024 school year and swam for the high school team. 

Her favorite book is The Joy Luck Club and her favorite movie is Princess and the Frog. The best part of summer swim team is the community and friendly competition.

Coach Kyle is an original Barracuda, having joined the team in 2015.  He began Jr Coaching in 2018 and this is his 3rd year as an Age Group Coach. He is a graduate from Apex Friendship High School in the Academy of Engineering and swam all 4 years on the High School team.

He now swims for Youngstown State University and is studying Mechanical Engineering.  Go Penguins!

His favorite event is the 100 freestyle. His favorite book is It by Stephen King, and his favorite movie is Tombstone, "I"m your Huckleberry!"

Coach Sean joined the Barracudas as a swimmer in 2018 and as a junior coach in 2022. He is currently a senior at Apex Friendship where he plays saxophone in the marching band. Sean is excited for the addition of his role as "floater coach" to the team and is excited to make memories with each age group! 

His favorite movie is Treasure Planet. 

Coach Stephanie is another one of the original Barracudas.  She was co-head coach in 2015. Her work moved her out of state for a couple of years and returned her to us in 2018.  She is our Coaching Committee Chair and Assistant Coach for the team.  We are lucky to have her coaching and guidance on the pool deck. 

Stephanie's favorite events are the 100 yard freestyle or the 200 yard freestyle relay; especially when she gets to anchor the relay! Her favorite movie is Wedding Crashers and she is a huge fan of anything written by Ken Follett. She describes summer swim as the best place to meet new friends and loves cheering for the team.  She likens summer swim meets to one big camp out with friends.