Our Bella Casa Barracudas Coaches
Coach Katia joined our coaching staff in 2018 and is excited to join us for her eighth season coaching and fourth 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 a swimming history on various year round teams in Ohio and the local High School team.
Katia's favorite stroke is definitely breaststroke, but she loves them all. When Katia is not at the pool she can be found cooking up a new recipe, binge watching netflix dramas, or just hanging out with her 3 cats! 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.
Caroline is excited to join the coaching staff this year and can't wait to bring her enthusiasm and bubbly spirit to the team. Caroline started swimming when she was 4 as a founding member of the barracudas. She has been a junior coach for several years. She is currently a junior at Apex Friendship High School.
Her favorite stroke is breaststroke but she also loves relays! Outside of swimming, Caroline enjoys playing softball, watching sports, reading, spending time with friends/family, and listening to music.
Caroline hopes to bring energy and encouragement to the team while helping swimmers build confidence and improve their technique in the water. She loves the strong sense of community the Barracudas cultivates and is passionate about helping young swimmers be excited about swim team!
Eden
Welcome back! Coach Stasia is an original Barracuda having swam with our team in 2015. This will be her fifth year as an Age Group Coach. She joined the Jr Coaching staff in 2019. She graduated from Apex Friendship High School and swam for the high school team.
She is a sophomore at NC State University studying biological and agricultural engineering. When Stasia is not on the pool deck she can be found sewing or doing yoga!
Coach Sean joined the Barracudas as a swimmer in 2018 and as a junior coach in 2022. He is an Apex Friendship graduate where he played trumpet in the marching band.
He a sophomore at UNC Charlotte studying civil engineering. Sean is excited to return for his third year coaching the team and is excited to make memories with the Barracudas!
In his free time, Sean can be found participating in sports or doing legos!
Lucca
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.
Junior Coaching Opportunity
- Lead by example during practice and swim meets
- Lead team in cheers during meets
- Assist coaching staff with 6 & under and 7-8 age groups during practices. Junior coaches do not need to be at every practice, but are required to assist with at least 3 practices a week, including 2 Saturday's per month.
- Kid Catcher during meets - 6 & under only swim 15 yards during a meet, which means they finish in the middle of the pool. Junior coaches get in the pool and "catch" 6 & under swimmers when they pass the rope and then assist them to the wall. Junior coaches can help a swimmer in later heats if they need it.
2026 Junior Coaches
To be selected prior to start of season.