Scott M Lathrop
Team Director/ President
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Scott Lathrop brings 31 years of
coaching experience to Desert Thunder Aquatics. Scott’s
coaching career began in 1986 as an assistant coach for ASU
before branching out to club swimming.He has worked at all levels
of coaching with USA Swimming from novice to Olympic Trial
qualifiers. In 2000, Scott accepted a position of Associate
Coach for Desert Thunder Aquatics Club, and then became the Head
Coach and CEO of DTAC in 2006. Scott manages the team and assists
with coaching duties for the National Training Group and Senior
Group.
Scott has had comprehensive study in
technique with former head coach and now consultant Milt Nelms, and
has collaborated on a technical curriculum for USA Swimming with
the foremost mind in technique, Bill Boomer. This background plus
his experience with one of the most advanced training systems
available, Parametric Training, has brought Scott to develop
athletes of all ages to their best potential, including Top 16,
Junior, Senior National, and Olympic Level athletes.
Scott competed in swimming
throughout his high school and college career, becoming a three
time National Qualifier, a scholarship athlete for two colleges,
and twice Academic All-American, then graduating from ASU in 1989
with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Technology. In
addition, He has been an avid competitive cyclist, being a three
time National Qualifier, and an Olympic Trials Qualifier in
1992. Scott also enjoys outdoor experiences including mountain biking
and mountain climbing, and frequently visits Colorado to join his
family.
Currently Scott resides in Chandler
with his dog Riley.
Andrew Robert Schneller
Pre-Senior Champs Coach
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Andrew has lived and grown up in Gilbert, Arizona. At the age of four he was introduced to skiing and parks and recreational swimming. He learned to ski from his Dad, who was an instructor at Sunrise for 15+ years. He grew up skiing, swimming, and playing soccer in their respective seasons. He enjoyed video games, and playing outside on the trampoline and in the swimming pool.
Andrew attended Gilbert Elementary, Mesquite Junior High, and Mesquite High School where he graduated top 3% of his class of 720 students. He promptly applied and started attending Arizona State University as a Chemical Engineering Undergraduate. He did not receive a B in any class until second semester of attending ASU. In May 2011, Andrew will receive his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
In 2003, Andrew joined DTAC as a freshman in High School, swimming for Scott in the High School Development Group. Andrew made his way up through the ranks as he stuck with the program for 6 years. He attended several Milton Nelms demonstrations and held the teachings of stroke posture, tone, and efficiency in high esteem. Two years after graduating High School, Andrew had continued with DTAC until the beginning of his junior year of college, when he was offered the privilege to swim at ASU and help resurrect the recently disband Men’s Swim Team. Putting forth his best effort for over a year, with some grueling practices, he reluctantly gave up his position on the team to focus on his degree.
Today, Andrew can bring more technique awareness and understanding to the pool, as he has actively performed proper stroke mechanics and technique in the past. One of the main ideas he’d like to help contribute to the team is an idea of self motivation. That a person does what they do the best they can, because they can.
riannon sierra shanley
White & Gold Coach
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Coach Riannon was born and raised in Arizona where she attended
Dobson High School.
She first discovered the sport by joining the swim team with her
best friend sophomore year. Riannon then went on to swim throughout
high school on the Dobson swim team as well as Dobson Dolphins and
Mesa Aquatics Club. She served as team captain her senior year
where she worked side by side along her coach to keep the team
organized and running.
Riannon graduated from Dobson High School in 2017 with honors. She
then began attending Arizona State University to study Secondary
Education with a focus in history. Upon graduation Riannon's dream
is to teach high school economics or government. She in currently
in her Sophomore year at ASU.
Riannon's love for kids and swimming inspired her to start work at
SwimKids USA which led her to Desert Thunder Aquatics Club. She is
very excited to develop young swimmers work ethic, confidence, and
swimming. Her goal is to provide the help and guidance to inspire
each swimmer to reach their goals and believe in themselves.
Madison Tate Beakhurst
Blue Coach
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Coach Madison was born in Long Island, New York. She ventured to
the hot desert with her family when she was 8 years old and has
been in Arizona ever since. Madison graduated from Higley High
School in 2015.
Madison is currently going to school to be a Registered Nurse.
Through coaching Madison has learned that she has a passion for
teaching. Her long term goal is to teach Nursing classes at a
University level.
Coach Madison began teaching swim lessons at SWIMkids USA.
Shortly after she was offered the coaching position through
SWIMKids with Desert Thunder Aquatics in 2017. Coach Madison works
with the novices of DTAC and goal is to first develop the
swimmer’s strokes and technique. She does this by being
consistent and incorporating elements of fun that will stimulate
the swimmer’s enjoyment and passion for the sport. Coach
Madison strives to help build confidence within each individual
swimmers as they develop and grow as a person and an athlete.
Alec Manuel Lezcano
Junior Coach
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Coach Alec was raised
between Puerto Rico and Arizona. His love for the water started
early and soon developed into a passion he would carry for the rest
of his life.
In 2009, Alec joined
DTAC as a 13 year old swimming for Coach Scott. Alec saw success as
he stuck with the program. He obtained his State,Sectional, and
National cuts, as well an Athletic Scholarship to the Division one
University of Tennessee. Alec’s career came to an early
unforeseen end when he had surgery on his hip when he was 18.
Though if you ask Alec what he admires most about his time swimming
he would say that the fast times are great, but what he takes away
from his experience most while swimming was the tools of success
that DTAC has shown him. From hard work, discipline, persistence,
and many more defining aspects, Alec has put those tools to use in
every aspect of his life.
After hanging up his
cap and goggles, Alec focused his efforts on traveling and new
experiences. He has lived in Puerto Rico, worked on private Yachts
in the Bahamas, traveled Europe, and became a Professional Ballroom
dancer.
Today, Alec hopes not
only to bring precise technique understanding, proper stroke
mechanics, and racing strategies, but he also hopes to instill the
same values of success that his coach instilled in him.
