Mike Laubacher
Head Coach
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Mike
Laubacher coached at Irish
Aquatics from 2005-2009 as the Head Coach of the satellite
location. During his tenure, Irish Aquatics
swimming achieved multiple Age Group state champions,
Junior National qualifiers, two US Open, and one Senior National
qualifier. He was also the volunteer assistant for the Notre Dame
Women’s Swim Team from 2006-2008 where the Irish won two Big
East Championships, 10 NCAA berths, and qualified 11 athletes for
the 2009 Olympic Trials. A 2003 graduate of Ohio University,
he most recently completed his Master’s Degree in
Communication from The Ohio State University in September of
2005.
While completing his Master’s degree,
Mike was a Graduate Assistant and gave lectures on public speaking
and persuasion. His classes finished with the first, third, and
fourth highest test averages for the department. Mike was
recognized by the Communication department for his ability to
create a fun and educational environment for his students. His
thesis was advertising and marketing strategies for minorities in
the U.S.
A native of Massillon, Ohio, Mike enjoyed a
successful high school swimming career, making the state meet his
junior and senior years, and earning All-American Honorable Mention
honors his senior year. His specialties were backstroke and
butterfly. In addition to his swimming achievements, Mike was also
a two-year letterman for the Massillon tennis
team.
After graduating from Massillon High School
in 1999, Mike attended and swam at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
He specialized in the 100 and 200 backstroke, and the 100 butterfly
and freestyle. While in college, he also served as Head Coach for
Brookside Country Club swim team, in the summers of 1999-2002.
While at Brookside, the club enjoyed their best ever swim team
record. After graduating, Mike returned to his alma mater in
Massillon to become the assistant coach under his mentor, Coach
Dave Rotthoff.
Mike has also been active in the University
of Texas and University of Notre Dame swimming programs, working
the program’s summer camps in 2004-2005, and 2006-2008,
respectively. He is a fan of Pearl Jam and connoisseur of good
music.
Melissa Belote Ripley
Head Age Group Coach
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Melissa Belote was born on
October 16, 1956 in Washington D.C. and grew up in Springfield,
Virginia. She has been called one of America’s greatest
swimmers. Melissa first appeared on the national swimming
scene at the age of 12 when she qualified for her first United
States National Championship. In 1972, Melissa won both the
100 and 200 meter backstroke at the United States Olympic Trials
and set a world record in the 200 meter backstroke.
Later that year in Munich, Germany, Melissa
led the women’s American Swim Team as she won three Gold
Medals. She placed first in the 100 meter backstroke, setting
an Olympic and American record. She finished first in the 200
meter backstroke setting a World, Olympic, and American
record. She also swam the lead off leg on the World, Olympic,
and American record setting relay team.
In 1973, Melissa continued her dominance
when she won the 200 meter backstroke at the World
Championships. In 1976, Melissa made her second Olympic team,
which competed in Montreal, Canada. Melissa finished fifth in
the 200 meter backstroke, setting a new American
record.
From 1970 to 1979, Melissa won 8 AAU
Individual National Championships and was a 16 time AAU
All-American. She also won 6 individual National Collegiate
Swimming Championships and led her college team, Arizona State
University to two National Championships. Melissa was a
four-year All-American at Arizona State University.
In 1972 and 1973, Melissa was the runner-up
for the Sullivan Award, the highest amateur award recognized in the
United States. In 1977, she won the Broderick Award as the
Outstanding Women’s Collegiate Swimmer in
America.
Melissa is in the Virginia Sports Hall of
Fame, the Washington Hall of Stars, the Arizona State University
Athletic Hall of Fame, and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
In 1999 Melissa was selected to the United States Swimming
“Team of the Century,” as well as, Sports
Illustrated top 50 athletes from the state of Virginia, and the
Arizona Republic Newspapers top 100 Athletes of
Arizona.
Melissa is married to Richard A. Ripley and
they have two children, Rachel Alexandra (15) and Erik Alexander
(13).
Melissa Belote Ripley
24 year’s coaching age group swimming
Four time All-American for Arizona State University
Six time National Collegiate Champion for Arizona State
University
Olympian (1972 & 1976)
Three-time Gold Medallist (World, Olympic and American Record
holder)
Sullivan Award Runner-up (1972 & 1973) - Top Armature Athlete
in American
Broderick Award for Outstanding Women’s Collegiate Swimmer
(1977)
Fiesta Bowl All-American (1977)
Arizona Republic Newspaper - Women Athlete of the Year (1977 &
1978)
Inducted into the Arizona State University Athletic Hall of Fame
(1981)
Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1983)
Inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (1989)
Arizona Republic 100 Greatest Arizona Athletes
Sports Illustrated Top 50 Virginia Athletes
USA Swimming - Female 200 Backstroker of the Century
Caleb Stodghill
Assistant Competitive Team Coach
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Caleb Stodghillstarted swimming competitively at the age of 7
and continued through the age of 19. He swam for Red Mountain High
School in Mesa, lettering all four years and making the state team
sophomore, junior and, senior year. Caleb stared teaching swim
lessons and lifeguarding when he was just 15 years old. He taught
swim lessons and lifeguarded for Gilbert Parks and Recreation from
the summer of 2004 through the summer of 2008, he also taught at
SwimKids USA from September of 2006 through November of 2007; then
he continued his teaching at EVO swim school from November of 2007
through August of 2009. In addition to this, Caleb also taught
special needs swim lessons at the Desert Pain Institute from May of
2005 through February of 2007. Caleb started coaching Gilbert Parks
and Recreation summer league swim team in 2005 and continued
through 2008, where he was named head coach in 2008. Caleb has been
working with Rio pre-competitive groups since January of 2008, and
with Rio competitive groups since August of 2009. Caleb is
currently a senior at Arizona State University, working towards his
Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Wellness, under the
College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Caleb’s future
aspirations include plans to work with collegiate and national
level swimmers; both on deck as a swim coach and stroke technique
consultant, as well as coaching in the strength and conditioning
field.
