NIAGARA SWIMMING
Hosted at the Oneida Family YMCA
Head Coach, General Manager- Emily Lapier
Coach Emily fell in love with competitive swimming when she started at age nine. She swam competitively for the Southern Saratoga YMCA Swim Team through her years in school and continued competitive swimming at Plattsburgh State University, where she specialized in Backstroke and Free. Emily currently holds certifications in USA Swimming Foundations of Coaching Level 1 and 2, American Swimming Coaches' Association Level 2 and 3, Principles of YMCA Swimming. Emily is currently a 6th Grade Science Teacher at Camden Middle School. She enjoys working with swimmers of all abilities and ages and sharing her love for the sport
Assistant Coach- Kristin Hicks
Coach Kristin started swimming at age nine and continued swimming competitively on the local USA club team, the Clinton Cudas. Later after high school, she continued her swimming career for SUNY Cortland where she swam sprint freestyle events. Kristin currently holds certifications in USA Swimming Foundations of Coaching Level 1, Principles of YMCA Swimming, American Swimming Coaches' Association Level 2 and 3, a NYSPHAA Coaching Certificate and Teaching/Coaching Competitive Swimming Certificate through Fresno University. Kristin is currently a Reading Specialist at Otto Shortell Middle School. She began working at the YMCA in June 2010. Kristin has been praised for her enthusiastic approach to coaching where she continually shares her knowledge, encouragement, and love for the sport of swimming with our swimmers.
Assistant Coach- Melanie Feeney
Coach Melanie started swimming at age ten, commencing her competitive swimming career at LeMoyne College specializing in distance freestyle and distance IM. Melanie is a former Y National qualifier as well. Melanie brings great knowledge of skill development, specializing in developing stroke technique to our age group swimmers. Melanie provides the base for future success of swimmers in the team program. Melanie currently holds certifications in YMCA Safety Training for Swim Coaches, Principles of YMCA Competitive Swimming, and USA Swimming Foundations of Coaching Level 1. Melanie is also a reading teacher at Gansevoort Elementary School in Rome.
Assistant Coach- Olivia Caroli-Coach Olivia started swimming at the age of nine after Coach Emily influenced Olivia to join the swim team during one of her swim lessons. She swam competitively for 10 years on the Dolphins and then four years on the Oneida High School varsity team. Coach Olivia’s favorite strokes include butterfly and backstroke. In high school, Olivia was a multi-NY State YMCA State Meet qualifier along with a Section III Boys Swimming qualifier. Currently, Olivia is working on her masters in School Counseling through St. Bonaventure University. Olivia works for the Oneida Indian Nation, Oneida City School District as a substitute teacher and the YMCA, teaching swim lessons. When Olivia is not coaching, she enjoys going to concerts, being outdoors, hanging out with friends and family, and going shopping!
Assistant Coach- Emma Kroll- Coach Emma began swimming in third grade and fell in love with the sport. Emma comes to Oneida from Raleigh, NC where she worked as an assistant coach for YOTA Swim Team specializing with swimmers in the 4-16 age group. Emma also competed throughout high school and during her college years at St. Lawrence University. Coach Emma currently works as an Operations Coordinator at Spark Golf. While not coaching, Emma enjoys reading, concerts, and spending time with her fiancé. She is very excited to be back coaching this season!
Assistant Coach- Amber Gzik- Amber has been a part of swimming her entire life. It started in Reading, Pennsylvania, competing at the Ken-Grill Pool with her two older brothers. While swimming in high school, Amber found her other love in the pool - water polo. Upon graduation from Wagner University, Amber joined the Utica College Aquatics Staff as a Graduate Assistant. In this role, she assisted in the swimming and water polo programs. Amber works as an Occupational Therapist at a local rehab facility. She is so happy to be a part of this Dolphin community and is looking forward to contributing to the program.