GLENBROOKAQUATICS COACHING STAFF

 

 

 

 

 

HEAD COACH: Kelly Pontarelli

 

Kelly has entered her 18th year of coaching and could not be prouder of the fact that she was very instrumental in the formation of the Northbrook Spartan Swim Club, now known as Glenbrook Aquatics. GA has consistently finished their state team performances within the top 25 teams in Illinois at the Age-Group Championships and Senior Championships for the past six years! GA has also help produce many state champions and top 16 state finishes as well as junior and senior national qualifiers and NRT swims. A year round club swimmer herself from age 6-18 with the Arlington Alligators, she is convinced her heart and soul are within the pool and furthermore coaching the wonderful sport of swimming! After finishing a four year Varsity swimming career at Saint Viator High School, she chose to embark on coaching rather than competing while studying for her college degree. After receiving a BA in Criminal Justice and having no luck at obtaining a position within the court system, the idea of full-time coaching presented itself and she instantly took the chance. She tried a brief stint in the corporate world and has found that coaching Glenbrook Aquatics has become her life, career and dream. She looks forward to promoting the club philosophy to continue to produce great swimmers as well as develop great kids. Alongside a remarkable and supportive coaching staff at GA, the athletes are all bound and determined to become well-rounded and respectful athletes. As we start another year GA has expanded its aquatic program by adding the SwimAmerica lesson program and a water polo club. Alongside our thriving swim club and diving program, GA is looking to have something for everyone in our program!

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HEAD SENIOR COACH: Vlad Pyshnenko

 

Coach Vlad  hails from Russia carrying his enormous wealth of swimming knowledge as an athlete and a coach .
Arriving in America a little over 10 years ago, Vlad has worked with all different age groups. His heart and soul is swimming and he takes great pride in watching that passion develop in the swimmers.
His motivation is contagious; he will help achieve goals in a proactive and entertaining style.

 
   

 

 

 

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HEAD DEVELOPMENTAL COACH: Colleen O'Connor

 

Coach Colleen has happily joined the coaching staff of the Glenbrook Aquatics since the beginning (September 2003) by taking on the roll of Developmental coach.  She head's up the Blue and Green groups leading 4 great assistants to success with the swimmers.  Colleen had an extremely successful swimming career, as an age-grouper and High School swimmer in Ohio and an All-American Butterflier at Lake Forest College. During the day Colleen is be very busy teaching first grade in Evanston.   As you can see, Colleen truly enjoys working with younger children.  As Glenbrook aquatics continues the NSSC traditions under a new name, we  are honored to have her on deck and she is ready to help pave the way and then watch all the swimmers take their steps to success.
   

 

 

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SENIOR COACH: Josh Runkle

 

Coach Runkle is starting his 7th season at Glenbrook North and he is very excited to be a part of the Glenbrook Aquatics. Prior to coming to GBN & GA he coached at New Trier and Highland Park High School as well as the COHO Swim Club. He also has coached water polo, football, and track during his career..
While growing up in Peoria, Coach Runkle attended Richwoods High School, earning 4 Varsity letters in football (played on the 1988 5A State Champs) and track. After high school, he attended Western Illinois University and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Health Education in 1995.
He received a Master's Degree in Education from National - Louis University in 2001. In addition to coaching, he also teaches Driver Education at GBN.
In his free time Coach Runkle enjoys spending time with wife, Amy and daughter, Ellie, listening to music and reading.
   

 

 

 

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SENIOR COACH: Rob Bond

 

  • College Coaching
    Head Men's and Women's Coach at Illinois Tech (located in Chicago) (finishing 5th year)
    He has coached 4 National Champions, 20 All-American performances, taken both teams to their best finishes ever at the NAIA national meet (men 4th, women 4th), and broken 35 out of a possible 40 team records – many more than once. He was voted the 2004 NAIA National Men's Coach of the Year.
  • Club Coaching
    Head Swim Coach - Blue Devil Swim Club (2 years)
    Coach Bond began the program and built it up to a team of 125 swimmers in 2 years time.
    Head Coach - Arlington Alligators (6 years)
    Coached numerous state champions, Jr. National Qualifiers, and a Sr. National Qualifier. Broke many team records.
  • HS Coaching
    Head Boy's Coach - Warren Township HS (2 years)
    Broke 8 team records, coached numerous state qualifiers, one state finalist. 2001 IHSA Sectional Coach of the Year
    Head Boy's and Girl's Coach - St. Viator HS (2 years)
    Broke many team records, coached numerous state qualifiers, one state finalist.
  • Personal Info
    Swam at Illinois Tech where I was 13 time national qualifier, 8 time national finalist, 1 time All-American. Held school record in 100 Free.
    Swam at Conant HS where I was 8 time state qualifier, 2 time state finalist, held 9 team records (5 Varsity)
    Bachelors Degree in Mathematics with minor in Secondary Education from NIU
    Married to wife Bridget. The couple live in Chicago, near Wrigley Field
    Coach Rob Bond enjoys day games at Wrigley, golf, and travel.

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ASSISTANT COACH: Traci Johnston

 

Coach Traci is a former GBN Varsity swimmer where she earned All Conference honors for four years and All-State honors three years. Traci swam for Illinois State University and was named Team Captain her senior year. This is Traci’s fifth year coaching for Glenbrook Aquatics (formerly Northbrook Spartan Swim Club) and she enjoys working with the all the groups. This year she is focusing ont he Blue and Green groups and helping all the young swimmers learn and improve everyday!  Coach Traci also coaches the GBN Boys JV team and is a GBN school Administrative Assistant. Traci is the proud parent of two daughters, Taylor (current in the Silver group) and Teagan (Blue group member).
   

 

 

 

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SENIOR COACH: Kelli Timson

 

Kelly Timson began swimming at the age of 5. When she was younger, she was a breaststroker, but
in high school, her coach, Corky King, needed a distance swimmer. He thought Kelly had the work ethic to be a distance swimmer, and he helped her become an All State high school swimmer in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle and multiple freestyle relays. After high school, Kelly went on to swim on scholarship at Iowa State University where she continued to improve as a distance swimmer. Kelly swam to personal best times in the 200 free, 500 free, and 1650 free at the Big Twelve Conference Championships her senior year. She placed in the Top 16 in all three events, set a school record in the 800 freestyle relay, and was selected as the team's Most Improved Swimmer.
Kelly's coaching career began when she was 14 years old. During the summer, Kelly taught swim lessons in the pool in her backyard. She also coached the 8 and under swimmers at her local swim club in Peoria, Illinois, Central Illinois Aquatics. Kelly spent her summers during college teaching swimming lessons under Cyclone Swim School, the state of Iowa's only SwimAmerica program.
Kelly began her teaching and coaching career at Homewood Flossmoor High School, where she was the
assistant girls swimming coach for 3 years as well as the director of the school's swimming lesson program. Kelly taught at GBN for 3 years until moving to GBS in the fall of 2006.  During the day you will find Coach Timson teaching in the science classrooms of GBS. She teaches AP Chemistry and Regular Chemistry.  She is the Head Girls Swimming Coach at GBS and the Glenbrook Aquatics SwimAmerica Program Director.  Kelly and her husband Joe reside in Morton Grove and are the proud parents of Madelyn Jane, born June 25, 2009.

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ASSISTANT COACH: Traci Jablonski

 

Coach Traci started swimming competitively at the age of 6 for the Palatine Park District.  She continued on  she found herself a state champion at 12 and then swam all 4 years on the varsity team at Palatine High School.  This earned her a scholarship to Illinois State University where she competed in freestyle and IM events.  Coach Traci graduated from Illinois State in 1999 with a degree in Human Development and then continued her education by graduating from National-Louis University with my Masters of Arts in Teaching.  She was pursuing a teaching degree and decided to become an administrator (Kelly's right hand) for Glenbrook Aquatics.  Traci very excited to be part of the Glenbrook Aquatics team for the fifth year and loves working with the Silver group!
   

 

 

 

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ASSISTANT COACH: Courtney Scheuler

 

After several years of being removed from the sport of swimming, Coach Courtney is very excited to be coaching for Glenbrook Aquatics, actually in her fourth year now.   Courtney swam for 15 years, specializing in distance freestyle, 200 fly, and 400 I.M.  Courtney completed her swimming career at Illinois State University, where she served as team captain for 2 years.  Following her collegiate career, she spent 1 year as the under-graduate assistant coach for the ISU women's team and then coached age-group for 1 year at the A-Hawks swim club.  Courtney currently works as a loan processor for Guaranteed Rate.
   

 

 

 

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ASSISTANT COACH: Stefanie Stark

 

Coach Stefanie started coaching for NSSC in the fall of 2005 and is now entering her fourth year with our new moniker Glenbrook Aquatics.  She swam for 14 years, competing at both the national and collegiate levels.  Her speciality was in the butterfly, backstroke, and sprint freestyle events.  She experienced much success swimming for COHO Swim Club and Deerfield High School, where she was honored as an All State swimmer.  She then moved on to earn a scholarship at Illinois State University where she served as team captain for 2 years as well as a member of the Missouri Valley All- Conference team for 3 years.  In 2004-2005, Stefanie served as the assistant Women s swimming coach at Illinois State University.  She currently holds a marketing position with the Chicago Wolves Professional Hockey team and will be pursuing her Masters degree.
   

 

 

 

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SENIOR COACH: Justin Georgacakis

 

   
   

 

 

 

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ASSISTANT COACH: Jarrod Georgacakis

 

Coach Jarrod recently graduated from Loyola University with degrees in education and history. This gave him the experience to interact with and teach a wide range of kids. Jarrod has been a part-time employee of the Northbrook Park District for over six years. He has worked with kids of all ages in Chicago as well as the suburbs. This is coach Jarrod’s first year at Glenbrook Aquatics and is very excited to be a member of the team. He is currently pursuing a full-time job but in the meantime is picking up some substituting on the side
   

 

 

 

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SENIOR COACH: Pat Griffin

 

Pat was born and raised in Palatine, IL and has been swimming competitively since 6 years old with the Palatine Park District Tiger Shark Swim Team.  Pat also swam with Patriot Aquatic Club in Lincolnshire for a short stint. He attended Palatine High School, and swam all four years and achieving three school relay records. Pat extended his education at the University of Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois University and was a proud member of EIU Conference Championship Team. Pat graduated in 2005 with a degree in Recreation Administration, minor in Business Administration while maintaining his Water Safety Instructor Certification for seven years and Lifeguard Instructor Certification for four years.  His past employment includes a Palatine Park District Employee for 10 years, most recently interim Head Coach of Palatine Park District Swim Team.  Currently Pat working for Rolling Meadows Park District as Aquatics/Fitness Supervisor.  Pat has been with Glenbrook aquatics since Spring 2007 and specializes in working with the Gold Conditioning and Extreme groups.
   

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ASSISTANT COACH: Kate Orbon

 

Coach Kate Coach Kate started swimming competitively here in Northbrook at the age of eight. She attended Glenbrook North High School and swam for four years on the varsity team. She recently graduated from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN with a B.A. degree in elementary education. Kate enjoys working with all the different groups. She has been coaching for Glenbrook Aquatics since the summer of 2007, and this spring she started coaching with Swim America.
   

 

 

 

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ASSISTANT COACH: John Lawless

 

Coach John started swimming competitively at the age of 8 for the Valley Dolphins in Apple Valley Minnesota.  He took a break from swimming during middle school, but when he got to high school the itch was back.  Coach John then continued his swimming career with four years of varsity high school swimming.  After high school  he attended St. Cloud State University where he competed in every event with the exception of butterfly and sprint freestyle.  Coach John graduated from St. Cloud State in 2006 with a degree in Business Management.  He is now in a sales position for Ecolab in Chicago.  John is very excited to be part of the Glenbrook Aquatics team for the second year and loves working with the Gold group!
   

 

 

 

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ASSISTANT COACH: Ali Georgacakis

 

Coach Ali was raised in Bettendorf IA.  She grew up playing a number of sports, including of course, swimming!  After high school graduation Coach Ali attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL.  There she received her B.A. in Elementary Education. Coach Ali has taught  eighth grade (South Beloit, IL), seventh grade (Skokie, IL), fourth grade (Gurnee, IL), and aided in a Kindergarten classroom (Buffalo Grove, IL).  As you can see, Coach Ali loves helping children learn!  This is Ali's third year on staff with GA (formerly NSSC).  She has worked primarily with the Blue and Green Groups.  While Ali has recently been on maternity leave, she's happy to be back on deck:)!! Her goal in coaching is to help each swimmer reach his/her personal goal(s).  You may see Coach Ali holding a future swim champ, if so, make sure you say hello to Cheydon!
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ASSISTANT COACH: Jenna Georgacakis

 

  Coach Jenna is a former GBN Spartan, who participated in many sports while attending high school, including swimming. Currently, Coach Jenna is a junior at the University of Iowa. There she is majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry, and hopes to attend Pharmacy school after she graduates. Also at school, Coach Jenna plays on the Iowa Women's Water Polo club team. She is the captain and the president of the team. Coach Jenna joined the Glenbrook Aquatics staff in the summer of 2008. She loves coaching during the summer and when she comes home for breaks. Coach Jenna works mostly with the Blue, Green, and Gold Skill groups and enjoys whatever time she can spend on deck helping the kids.
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SENIOR COACH: Amy Oliphant

 

Coach Amy was born in Evanston and grew up in Winnetka. She graduated from New Trier High School and went on to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She grew up swimming and playing tennis competitively. In seventh grade, she gave up swimming to pursue tennis and went on to play at North Carolina. After graduating she coached and taught tennis until she started a family. She has coached kids of all ages and enjoys helping them achieve their goals. This is her first season as a coach with Glenbrook Aquatics and she is looking forward to being a part of the coaching team.
   

 

 

 

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