Mainly works with our Group 3 and 4 swimmers. This year he has been helping with the Level 1 and 2 swimmers and states that our younger swimmers are doing amazing so far this year. "They come with excitement, they work hard and they are motivated to learn and do better," states Coach O'Connor. The future looks great!
Asst. Coach Caitlin Lanigan
Coach Lan works mostly with our group 2 kids. Lan's specialty is challenging the kids and working on their endurance to make them successful to move to group 3. She also swims in group 4.
SWIMMING EXPERIENCE:
Member of WSCS since 1999, Member of the Mount Mercy Varsity Swim
Team 9th grade, Member of the West Varsity Swim team from 10th-12th grade, an
ECIC and Sectional Swimmer and Multiple School Record Holder. Captain of
her High school team in 12th grade.
WHY YOU COACH?
I coach because not only am I making younger kids better but,
I make myself better. I love passing on all the little tips and tricks of
swimming that I learned when I was their age. I also want to make
swimming fun for these kids and make then realize that they can achieve their
goals.
WHAT YOU HOPE THE KIDS GET OUT OF THE SEASON
I hope all of our swimmers learn that swimming is the best sport
there is! I hope they learn to love to compete and I hope they achieve all of
their goals.
MY STRENGTHS AS A COACH ARE:
I believe my strengths as a coach are I am enthusiastic. I love the
younger kid's energy and it makes me feel so good when they swim well. I care
about each one of them and I want them all to do amazing.
Asst. Coach Megan Bridge
Coach Megan mainly works with group 1 and does a great job with our youngest kids. Meg also swims in group 4.
SWIMMING
EXPERIENCE: Member
of West Seneca West Modified Swim Team from 2005-2006, Member of Sharks since
2006, Current member of West Varsity Swim since 2007, an ECIC and Sectional
Swimmer.
WHY YOU COACH?
I want to help kids develop the same love
for swim that I have. Teaching the kids new things is so fun, and their
enthusiasm makes my job easy.
WHAT YOU HOPE THE KIDS GET OUT OF THE
SEASON
I hope all of our swimmers learn to love to
swim. It's my hope that they will get an understanding of basic elements of
swim, as well as some advanced techniques. I also hope that competing will give
them a confidence that they can take into other parts of their
lives.
MY STRENGTHS AS A COACH
ARE:
I believe my strengths as a coach are
recognizing what each child's strengths and weaknesses are, and helping them
develop their skills. I try to bring a fun, enthusiastic approach to practice
each day, incorporating games to help make practice enjoyable as well as
beneficial to their swimming abilities.
Asst. Coach Jaime Sciarrino
Coach Jaime is usually coaching group 1 and also does a great job with the younger kids!
SWIMMING
EXPERIENCE: Started swimming in 7th Grade and now I am Captain of my high school team as a Senior. I am an ECIC and Sectional Swimmer. I have been a past Sharks Swimmer also.
WHY YOU COACH?
Because I love working with kids and want to work with kids when I get older. Coaching is a great way to help others and work with kids at the same time.
WHAT YOU HOPE THE KIDS GET OUT OF THE
SEASON
I hope all of our swimmers learn to swim each stroke and feel comfortable swimming in practice and meets.
MY STRENGTHS AS A COACH
ARE:
I believe my strengths as a coach are
that I am very reliable and I will do my best to help each child when they need help. I will do my best to get to know each child and help them get better. I am also very kind and love to work with others.
HEAD COACH MICHAEL O'CONNOR
Coach Mike has been with the West Seneca Sharks since April of 1999 and has brought many things to our club.We have had many State Finalists and Numerous Empire State Games Swimmers, many earning medals.Our team has steadily improved over the years under his guidance and we look forward to many other seasons with his leadership.In the past years one of Coach Mike's main goals was to give each Senior the ability to swim in college and maybe even earn a college scholarship.We have had many swimmers swim in college and some have even earned full-rides to major colleges. "Constant improvement through the years is important and it's the driving force for my coaching.There are always ways to improve and I am always willing to try something with technique, dry land or training to see the results.It's important to stay on track with practice but it's always great to learn something new," states Coach Mike.Coach Mike lives in Orchard Park with his Rottweiler named Dillin.
COACH MIKE'S COACHING PHILOSOPHY
Fun and Interesting, Always changing: Love their sport and work. Try to do different things everyday. Expect the unexpected.New techniques and a willingness to experiment with new ideas and strategies.
Improvement and Achievement: The program will provide the swimmers with feelings of accomplishment and creativity. They WILL improve both in Time and technique. This will be done through teaching and their training. This will build dedication to the team and sport of school. Swimmers will be praised for improving stroke and time. Athletes must experience success.An athlete who achieves is a motivated athlete. There will be gradual movement to higher competitive levels according to the athlete's development. A swimmer who attains a goal usually wants to attempt to reach a new one at a higher level. We will acknowledge success, regardless of the level at which a swimmer is succeeding.
No substitute for Hard Work (always do your best): Work hard with the team and challenge them. Enjoy testing each other and facing new experiences. Initiate new methods and techniques. The cardiovascular systems will be challenged through practices and meets. Swimmers are encouraged to set realistic but challenging goals. Success in competition is the direct result of how much work each individual puts into it. Similarly, there are no shortcuts for a coach. Consistent and persistent effort by athletes and coaches is a pre-requisite for achieving anything worthwhile in swimming.
Every Athlete: Committed to individual integrity, values and personal growth. Love and Affection, importance of being liked, knowing swimmer's times, goals and aspirations are all important. Everyone is part of the team. Value the coach-player relationship, winning-aside. Everyone is important and everyone is invited to team functions. Care about all of the swimmers on the team, whether they are the fastest or the slowest. We are concerned about the attitude and the improvement of every team member. Team strength comes from raising the standards of all team members.
Change is Necessary: Programs need to be dynamic to maintain the enthusiasm of the athletes and the coach. The athletes and the "best" ways to teach and train them will change. That is why the coaches will continue to form new ideas and be creative.One of the keys to longevity in coaching is adapting to change
The Athlete's Team: Foster team spirit, forge strong ties both among athletes and between the athlete and the coach. They all have a voice in the decision making process.
Be Sportsmanlike: Respect league rules, school rules and team rules. Win with grace and lose with dignity. We will model desirable personal, social and psychological skills. Be have like a champion even when you have a bad swim.
Be Responsible: Responsibility is required. We are responsible for our team's results. Similarly, the swimmers must accept the responsibilities of their choice to be on the team.
Equal Opportunity, Not Equal Time: It is impractical to give equal time to each athlete, because they all have different needs.It is more important to give each athlete equal opportunity to take advantage of our desire to work with all of them. Those who are willing to give more of themselves in training and competition gain the most benefit from our coaching efforts.
Stay Hungry for Knowledge: Coaches have to constantly renew their knowledge. Those who think they know everything about coaching swimming are on a downhill slide. Learning opportunities are all around, and successful coaches learn to recognize and to use them.
Stay in Reality and Express it Openly: Coaches must keep everyone on the team in touch with present-moment realities - knowing where they stand, knowing where they're falling short of their potential...and knowing it openly and fairly.
