Craig L Charlson
Head Coach & Club Director
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Coach Craig Charlson
begins his 12th year of professional swim coaching and fourth
season with Bearcat Swim Club. Under the leadership of Coach
Charlson, the Bearcat Swim Club has risen to the top of Oregon
Swimming and is a constant force in the Western region of the
country. In his three seasons at the helm of the Bearcat Swim
program, Charlson has led the Bearcats to 209 team records and
three top 10 finishes at the Western Regional Senior Sectional
Championship.
Since Coach Charlson took
over the Bearcat Swim Club, the program has improved as a team
every season in both Oregon and USA Swimming. In 2010, the Bearcats
moved up two spots at the Western Regional Sectional Championships
after a 7th place team finish from the previous year with 12
athletes competing. The Bearcats Swim Club sent is strongest ever
representation with 46 athletes to the Oregon State Championships.
Mackenzie Rumrill and Emma Dow finished the State Championships as
high point scorers in their respective age groups. And finally in
2010, the club qualified its highest number of athletes to the
National Championships – Amber Boucher, Crystal Kibby and
Tori Simenec.
Additionally, Charlson
was presented the ASCA Award of Excellence in 2009. The American
Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) annually recognizes swim
coaches for outstanding coaching achievement in the United States
of America. Coach Charlson was one of only two coaches in Oregon to
receive an award of high distinction.
His brilliant career
began in 1999 with the Twin Cities Swim Team in Minneapolis, MN.
Also from 1999-2003 Charlson was the volunteer assistant coach for
the University of Minnesota, also in Minneapolis. From 2003-2006
Charlson was the Head Senior Coach for Blackline Aquatics in
Mendota Heights, MN as well as the high school coach for St. Thomas
Academy and Apple Valley High School programs. He served as head
coach for North Suburban Aquatic Club in Shoreview, MN from
2006-2009. He has coached and developed swimmers from learn to swim
to Olympic trial qualifiers throughout his career.
Coach Charlson believes
in a strong IM/distance based training program. He believes with
this type of training, the Bearcat swimmers can compete in any
event offered. He is a firm believer in the long-term development
of all swimmers. He feels that as a coach it is important to
recognize and encompass the whole person. It is his goal as our
Head Coach to provide all swimmers the best opportunity to reach
their highest level academically, athletically and
socially.
A native of Platteville,
Wisconsin, Craig graduated from the University of Minnesota with a
degree in Communication Studies. As an Eagle Scout, he is still
active with Boy Scouts. He enjoys running marathons and is a sports
enthusiast.
Kate K Phifer
Head Age Group Coach
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Coach Kate Phifer has
been coaching in Salem for 11 years. She’s been with the
Bearcat Swim Club since its early beginning, coaching all groups
from age group through the senior level. Under her guidance, she
has developed and coached Bearcat athletes from the novice level
all the way to the Olympic trails.
Coach Kate is the club’s Head Age Group Coach. Under her
leadership, she is responsible for the foundation and skills
implemented for the age group swimmers at Bearcat Swim Club. Her
main coaching philosophy is to teach the little details to
perfection. In doing so, speed will take care of itself because of
superior technique.
Kate’s swimming career started in Las Vegas. She qualified
for Junior Nationals at age 15 winning the 200 meter IM. She then
qualified for Senior Nationals in both IM’s and backstroke
events. She graduated with a bachelor degree in English from the
University of Nevada, Reno while on a full ride swimming
scholarship. Her senior year, she qualified for and competed at the
division I NCAA championship.
Kate is married to Mark and they love spending time with their
son, Carson.
A. Guy Gniotczynski
Senior Prep Coach
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Coach Guy Gniotczynski
has been a swim coach for the past 10 years, this is his second
season with Bearcat Swim Club. His coaching career
began as an assistant at the West Suburban YMCA in Wisconsin,
he served as an assistant until 2005 when he took over as the head
coach and produced the team’s first YMCA National Qualifier.
While serving as the head coach of the West Suburban YMCA he also
served simultaneously as the head coach of the Thomas Moore/St.
Francis girl’s high school team and an assistant at the
Schroeder YMCA.
In 2008 he took a
position as a graduate assistant at Carthage College in Wisconsin.
While at Carthage the men’s team won two back to back
conference titles, the women placed in the top ten teams in the
country and had their first NCAA D. III national champion in school
history.
Guy swam at Carroll
College (now Carroll University) in Wisconsin earning a
bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in biochemistry. He
completed his master’s degree at Carthage College in
education with a focus in guidance and counseling. Coach Guy is the
lead coach for the Senior Prep swimmers and also is the assistant
swim coach for Willamette University.
Kei Otawa
Senior 1 Coach
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Coach Kei Otawa begins
his 6th year of coaching - all with the Bearcat Swim Club. He began
with the club in 2005 coaching all three age group programs and
teaching lessons at the Willamette Swim School. Since 2009 he has
been our lead coach for the Senior 1 group.
His swimming career began
when he was 7 years old at his home town in Moscow, Idaho. As a
member of the Moscow Swim Team, his achievements included: Age
Group Regional qualifier for 3 consecutive years, Inland Empire
Swimming Zone Team qualifier at age 10, Senior Sectional qualifier,
Top 3 finishes at State and Districts for 4 consecutive years in
Idaho High School Swimming.
After swimming for 11 years in Moscow, Coach Al Stephenson
recruited Kei to swim for Willamette University. His
accomplishments in college include: Top 3 finishes at Northwest
Conference Championships for 4 consecutive years, team MVP for 3
consecutive years, J.H. Booth Award recipient, which goes to the
senior male athlete who most exemplified and demonstrated
outstanding leadership, scholarship and athleticism. Kei graduated
from Willamette with a degree in Mathematics in 2007.
Rebekah Wilcox
Assistant Coach
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This is Coach Rebekah’s third season
with Bearcat Swim Club. She brings seven years of coaching
experience in Oregon. Since 2006 she is the head coach for Sprague
High School. Also she is a coach for the Monmouth/Independence YMCA
summer swim team since 2005. Before then she coached at the North
Coast Swim Club for two years. Coach Rebekah can be seen on the
pool deck with our age group swimmers.
Tim LaDuke
Assistant Coach
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This is Coach Tim LaDuke’s first season with
Bearcat Swim Club.
Coach Tim has been a competitive swim coach in
the
Salem
area for the past 10
years. Most of his coaching career has been with the Salem YMCA as
the head coach. Under Coach Tim’s direction, the team grew in
size and had its highest finish at the 2010 Regional YMCA
Championship finishing third. He also currently coaches
for
North
Salem
High
School
and enjoys watching all
swimmers become successful, both in and out of the water. Coach Tim
is our assistant coach for the senior prep and age group
swimmers.
