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PFY Coaching Staff
Email Coach Mike
IM: MasterofSwim |
Mike
Wolbert (PFY Alumni) - 1996
graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Sociology / Anthropology. He has
coached the Pocono Piranhas since the summer of 1990 starting out as an assistant
coach at the age 18. In the fall of 1991 he took over as Boys Head Coach until
1997 when he was appointed as Head Coach of the program. Since 1991 the team has grown from only 60
members to over 150 strong with both team boys and girls teams since
1993 earning league, District and State titles. He is Certified in Principles of YMCA Swimming and Diving,
YMCA Swim Coaching, American Red Cross First Aid and CPR Instructor, a member of
the American Swim Coaches Association and is also ASCA certified. He has over 19 years of coaching and 6 years competitive swimming experience. Since 1990 he has coached 10 YMCA District Champions, 6 YMCA State Champions, 28 YMCA National Qualifiers, 41 YMCA Top 16 in the Nation Ranked Swims, 1 YMCA National Champion, and a USA Swimming Disabled World Record Holder in the 200 Meter Freestyle.
Mike's swimming career began his
freshman year at East Stroudsburg High School where he
qualified for PIAA Districts and held several team records
with the Cavaliers. During his last 2 years of high school he also
swam with the Pocono Family YMCA Piranhas where he qualified for YMCA Districts. He continued to swim in college at East
Stroudsburg University until the team
was disbanded in 1990.
Both of Mike's children Emily and Zack are members of the team, the youngest Sydney is doing her swim lessons and his wife Sonia is the team's Parent Coordinator. He is also a member of the East Stroudsburg Recreation Board and the Stroud Region Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. |
Email Coach Michele K |
Michele Kuna -
Is a 1977 Graduate of East Stroudsburg University
with a degree in Health & Physical Education with a concentration in Aquatics. 24 post graduate credits in Special Education.
She has been employed for
twenty-five years with the National Park Service at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
She has been married for 29 years to her husband Christopher and has
three children (Meghan-25, Jolene-23, Alex-20) All former Piranhas
Grandchildren: Two (Jayden-3, Meadow-15 months) Jayden wants to be a Piranha, once his swim bubble comes off. Her Competitive Swimming Background began when she swam for eight years with the Northeastern Area Swim League in Scranton, PA and later with East Stroudsburg University. She has been an age-group coach for Pocono Family Y for the past three years. She is a certified American Red Cross Instructor Trainer for Lifeguarding, CPR and First Aid, Principles of YMCA Swimming and Diving, YMCA Swim Coaching, |
Email Coach Alex |
Alex Gendelman - I was born and grew up in a small town. There was a river and we were swimming three months a year. The first pool was built when I was 14. Once my friend and I (by the way we played soccer for the town youth team) decided to swim. We went to the pool and met a coach. He said it is too late for you to start swimming. I answered I’m a good swimmer and I can cross a 50m pool very easily.The coach called over a small nine- year-old girl, and told me "if you can swim 50m as fast as her I will accept you on my team.” I finished 10 meters behind her. Certainly I was very upset.
Why I am telling you this almost 40 years old story? Because now I am positively sure that the coach made a really serious mistake. My philosophy as a swimming coach is that it is never too late to start swimming.
He is certified in Red Cross Lifeguarding, First Aid and CPR. ALex has been a coach with the Piranhas since the fall of 2006.
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Email Coach Elaine |
Elaine Maichin (PFY Alumni)-
Elaine started swimming at the age of 6, swimming with the Pocono Piranhas for 12 years. She went to Districts for many years while also swimming USS.
She had set some PFY records and continued to be a dedicated swimmer. Elaine has grown up with swimming and the Pocono Piranhas and loves it, and shows it by coaching for the PFY.
Elaine is currently a Sophomore at East Stroudsburg University with her major in Sociology with Criminal Justice and an International Studies minor.
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Email Coach Michele S |
Michele Saffer - Moved to Pennsylvania area 3 years ago from Suffolk County, Long Island. She lives in East Stroudsburg with her with her husband Joel and daughter Gabrielle(5), who is a current PFY team member. Michele currently coaches the Pre-Team at the Y. During the summer months, Michele runs and coaches at Buck Hill Falls in Mountainhome.
Michele started her swimming career at age 7. She swam during high school and swam and dove during her college years. She went to YMCA Nationals twice.
Michele has been coaching many years. She began coaching her old summer team in upstate NY. Then moving to Orlando, Florida, trained and coached age group swimmers and divers. She worked with an experienced coaching staff consisting of former Olympic swimmers and trials. Michele feels that her experiences in Florida really brought out her love for the sport and coaching!
After moving back to NY, she became involved with the Huntington YMCA Bluefish on Long Island. She coached the 8 & Under team and assisted with the other age groups. Her 8 & Under team was very successful. Producing many top 10 swimmers at NY YMCA States. She also coached modified swimming and diving for Cold Spring Harbor Middle School and before she left for PA, she moved up to coaching at the Varsity level. Her summers on Long Island consisted of running and coaching Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club. |
Email |
Christine Baksovich - 2005 graduate from East Stroudsburg Area High School North. She is a Full time student at East Stroudsburg University where Christine is majoring in Health and Physical Education. Christine would like to one day teach in one of the local high schools or perhaps at East Stroudsburg University. Christine is an active employee at the Pocono Family YMCA. Christine teaches swim lessons, lifeguards, teaches the lifeguard class, helps with family fun nights,the home school kids program "swim and gym" as well as coaching(swim team and indoor/summer soccer). Christine also volunteer coaches at East Stroudsburg-North with the girls volleyball team.
Christine has been coaching for the Pocono Piranhas since March of 2006.
Since that time Christine has learned a lot about competitive swimming. She plans on staying with the team for a long time, and looks forward to the day when she will have some of these young athletes in her Health and Phys. Ed.
classes.
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