Rex Watkins
Head Coach
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Rex graduated from the University of Oregon in 1987 with a
degree in Rhetoric and Communication. He has worked in
the Property Management business since 1987.
Rex was the Head Coach for the Hood River Valley swim team
from 1987 to 2000, and the Head Coach for Hood River Valley High
School from 1989 to 2000. Rex moved to the Albany area in
2001 and has been the Head Swim Coach at Crescent Valley High
School since that time.
Rex enjoys classic cars, modern motorcycles, and
camping with his family.
Babette Romancier
Head Age Group Coach
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Babette graduated from the University of Oregon as a 4-year
scholarship athlete and with a degree in biology. During her
summers at college she ran the Elk’s outdoor pool and began a
summer swim team, while doing neuroscience research at the
University. After graduation she worked as a lab research
technician for Shriners Hospital in Portland and swam for Multnomah
Athletic Club. She attended her last national meet at the age of 28
before starting a family.
She and her new family moved to Albany in 1993 and she became head
coach of Albany Aquatics and South Albany High School that fall.
After trying to balance family and her long weeks away with Albany
swimmers to senior sectional, junior and senior nationals for five
years, she opted to spend some time enjoying her growing family.
Since leaving the team in Sept of 1998, she has interim coached
for Albany Aquatics on two occasions. She returned to coaching in
April of 2006, but as the novice group coach. Most recently she is
working with both the novice and junior levels, as our Head Age
Group Coach.
In her spare time, she coaches youngsters, triathletes and
adults in more efficient swimming technique. She is also a
professional organizer, and a busy mom and wife. Her family enjoys
spending time together outdoors. Kayaking, tide pooling, hiking,
biking and sand castle building are just a few of their favorite
activities together.
Sherry Watkins
Age Group Coach
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Sherry received her B.A. from
Pacific University in Physical Education and Health in
1993. In 2000, she received her M.A.T. from George Fox
University. She is an Elementary Health and Physical Education
teacher for the Salem-Keizer School District.
During the summer of 1994, Sherry
began coaching the Novice group for Forest Grove Swim Club. In
1995, she was recruited to be the Novice coach for Hillsboro Swim
Team (HEAT). She coached there for three years before meeting her
husband, Rex. After many years away from coaching, a
master’s degree, and two children later, her passion for
coaching swimming is still strong.
Sherry has over 20 years of Water
Safety Instructor experience and even swam on Albany Aquatics as a
youth – That’s why she knows all those cool
cheers!
In 2008, Sherry was asked to be
the Novice 1 coach for Albany Aquatics. She says that it has
been a great experience working with the swimmers and seeing them
improve.
In her spare time, she enjoys
camping, riding ATV’s, scrap-booking, and spending time with
her family.
Jen Vetter
Age Group Coach
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A competitive swimmer
since the age of 11, specializing both in freestyle and butterfly
events. She received a swimming scholarship to
Washington State University, graduating in 1995 with a
biology degree. She then went to Eastern
Washington University to receive a Masters in Physical
Therapy in 1998. Currently, she works at Lebanon Hospital as
an orthopedic Physical Therapist for the past 11 years.
In 1998, she and her husband Mike moved
to Albany. They have two girls, who are both swimmers on the
team. Her goal as a coach is to help swimmers develop
correct techniques in their swimming style, while limiting the
potential for overuse injuries.
