We are here to
support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts,
meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs,
please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to
administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please
contact one of the board members.
Sandpiper Swimming
has the best coaching staff available in Southern Nevada, providing
the best coaching for all levels from novice to national. Our
coaches continue to pursue excellence in advancing their coaching
skills and knowledge through training and education to advance
their certification levels. Our coaches bring to Sandpiper swimmers
not only experience, but enthusiasm, dedication, and a love for the
sport of swimming. Simply put, they coach because they love
it.
Coach Aitken is a Level 4 ASCA (American Swimming Coaches
Association) swim coach, a level achieved by only 4-7% of the
highest rated coaches in the United States. He has been with the
Sandpipers since 1994, and leads the team as the Executive
Director, Head Coach, and coach for the Sandpiper National Team.
Coach Aitken’s
Records
2009 American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Award of
Excellence
2009 National Youth Team Qualifier
2008, 2000 Olympic Trial Qualifiers
2004 Nevada State Club Team Championship
2007, 2006, 2005, and 2001 Nevada State Runner Up.
2002 - 2005 Southern California Winter Age Group Champions
2001 Speedo Sectional Champions
2004 Girls, 2003 Boys, 2002 Boys/Girls, and 2001 Girls Southern
Nevada Swim Coaches Association Sunset Coach of the Year
Coach Barber joined the Sandpiper coaching staff in 1996. He has
been very successful with his swimmers in the Junior Olympic group,
many holding team records. He has had swimmers qualify and selected
for the Southern California Swimming Selection Teams, the highest
level of competition in the nation for age group swimmers. Chris
was part of the Sandpipers 2004 Nevada State Club Championship
Staff. Chris is well educated in the sport of swimming and
currently holds a Level 3 ASCA designation.
Coach Barber’s Records
2008, 2007 Desert Committee Age Group Coach of the Year
2004 Nevada State Club Team Championship
2002 - 2005 Southern California Winter Age Group Champions
101 Junior Olympic Champions
89 All Star/Zone team qualifiers
45 USA Swimming National Top 16 Age Group rankings
National 1st place 2002-2003 short course season ranking
His level of education and experience gives our swimmers the
best competitive edge they deserve. With his encouragement the
swimmers are dedicated, focused, motivated, and have fun!
Chris began swimming when he was 10 years old for the Las Vegas
team, Nevada Rapids. Through high school he trained with the Las
Vegas Gold swim team and was coached by Bob Bowen. Chris also
attended and competed on the high school swim team at Bishop Gorman
High School for three years. Chris started his coaching career with
three years as a coach for the Clark County Parks and Recreation
program. His success led him to encourage many swimmers to join
year round swim teams, eventually leading him to year round
swimming as a coach with the Sandpipers. Chris is a 6th grade
teacher with the Clark County School District. His teaching
experience enhances his excellent ability to coach kids and
understand their needs. Chris and his wife, Diane, have a daughter,
Sarah, born Sept 2001, a son Ryan, born Nov 2003 and a little
brother due in June of 2006.
Coach Gonzalez is a Level 3 ASCA certified Coach. He coaches the
Senior Development group and Junior Olympic. Brent is also a
teacher at Palo Verde High School and is the Head Women’s
coach for the High School Team. Brent has a wealth of experience
from his previous coaching positions. He was the head coach of
Extreme Aquatics and Lake Elsinore. Brent was also a Head Coach for
Riverside Community College, where he coached 4 Junior College
All-Americans. Brent has a strong background in stroke skills, race
strategies, and sportsmanship. With the Sandpipers Brent has
coached kids to State Champion Tittles and Top 16 National
Rankings.
Coach Tanimoto began coaching for
Sandpipers in November of 2005. He came to the team after already
coaching two years at Red Rock Swim Club. Now with the Sandpiper
swim team Eli helps build the team by help with communicating with
swimmers on stroke technique, set definitions, and enthusiasm for
National Group. He also is very skilled in teaching private lessons
and working with our video recording system in order to fine-tune
our swimmers skills and techniques.
Eli was born in Honolulu, Hawaii
in 1985, and shortly after moving to Las Vegas began competitive
swimming in 1992. He swam all four years of high school, competing
in breaststroke, butterfly, and I.M., but mainly sprint freestyle.
He attended Palo Verde High School, graduating in 2003, receiving
honors as a scholar athlete, and lettering four
years. Throughout high school Eli swam with the Masters Coach
Victor Hecker. During his senior year of high School, he
started diving for the Southern Nevada Diving team. Eli went
on to dive four years for the University of Nevada Las Vegas where
he was team captain his sophomore and junior years.
Eli recently graduated from the
University of Nevada Las Vegas, majoring in accounting. Eli
brings much experience in coaching to the Sandpipers. From
2001 to 2006 Eli worked with the City of Las Vegas coaching a
number of summer recreational sports, including swimming, diving,
water polo, and junior lifeguards.
Coach Gravley began competitive
swimming in 1974. Receiving various honors as a competitor
throughout his age group career, Coach Gravley has been afforded
the opportunity to be associated with perennial swim programs and
well respected swim coaches within the swim community.
Currently Coach Gravley holds a degree in Physical Education
and Coaching.
Violet Colavito has been a member
of the Sandpiper coaching staff since 2002. She was a member
of the team from 1997 to 2004, and swam for Ron in the National
Group. She serves as team captain in 2001 and
2002. Violet also swam for Bishop Gorman High School here in
Las Vegas where she was a regional runner-up in both the 50 and 100
yard freestyle which qualified her for the Nevada State
Meet. Violet has a Bachelors s Degree from UNLV where she is
an honors student. She enjoys working with children so she
decided to take classes to get her teaching license. Violet
will graduate in May of 2010, and be ready to teach next school
year. Violet’s patience and dedication makes her a
valuable asset to our stroke school program as well as our coaching
staff.
Jamie McDowell has been a Sandpiper swimmer for three years, and
has been coaching for two. She is a versatile swimmer, her best
events are the individual medley, backstroke, and butterfly. She
teaches at the Stroke School level. Jamie loves to swim
competitively and enjoys helping children acquire the skills to
develop the same excitement. She instills basic swimming skills
such as technique and hard work into her pupils while at the same
time teaching them to have fun with the sport.
Jamie began swimming at the age of nine. She was on several
recreation teams before she became a Sandpiper. Jamie has just
started her senior year of high school. She has lettered 3 years so
far, swimming for Durango High School. Jamie plans to attend
college in the fall of 2010 and major in communications or
pre-law.
