KATHLEEN PRINDLE - HEAD COACH/FOUNDER, NATIONAL TEAM COACH

Kathleen Klein Prindle has been an inspirational coaching presence in South Florida for nearly two decades. A former competitive swimmer from northeastern Pennsylvania and a 1993 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, she offers more than 40 years of aquatics experience as both athlete and coach. Prindle is an ASCA Level 5 coach, the highest level attainable (held by the top 2-5% of swimming coaches). In 2018, Prindle was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for her contributions to the sport. 

Prindle was recruited, trained, and mentored by six-time Olympic coaching legend Michael Lohberg. With intense focus on stroke mechanics and the use of scientific training methods such as Blood Lactate testing during her tenure, Kathleen and Michael created a proven record of success with swimmers at all levels including eight Olympians, one world-record holder, two American record-holders, eight FHSAA State (high school) champions, and nine All-American swimmers.

Prindle has coached multiple local athletes to JO, Zone, Sectional Championship, Florida State Championship, and US Junior National/Sr National Championship titles. Many of her swimmers are Academic All-Americans and have furthered their careers at the Collegiate, National, and International/ World Championship/ Olympic levels. Kathleen is a 3x USA Olympic Trials Coach (2008, 2012, 2016), World Championships Coach (2014, 15). In the most recent quad, Kathleen's PAQ was the only team in the area to qualify an athlete for the Rio 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES! Currently, Kathleen is preparing her swimmers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Prindle also works with other professional athletes including tri-athletes, pentathletes, baseball players, and LPGA tour members, using aquatics as a cross training technique to finesse their athletic performances. Prindle was the founding Head Coach of the Hoboken Hurricanes Swim Team in New Jersey (at Stevens Institute of Technology). She has taught and coached swimming throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Virginia, and at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

In addition to her work on deck, Prindle has been a guest lecturer for Lynn University and the American Red Cross, and a consultant for multiple swim programs. She has been a featured speaker at International Coaching Clinics, and the USA-Swimming Convention in 2015. She lends her expertise to the Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, FL, as the Aquatics Administrator and Varsity Boys’ and Girls Head Coach since 2003. At Grandview, she developed the Lower School Physical Education curriculum and instituted Middle School swimming as a funded sport. In 2010, she was awarded a prestigious Fellowship by the American Swim Coaches Association. Prindle has served on the FHSAA Advisory Board (the governing body for high school sports in Florida), and on USA Swimmings' Senior Development National Executive Committee, where she will serve during this 2012-2016 quad. Kathleen is a 2014 elected member of the American Swim Coaches Association's (ASCA) Board of Directors, currently serving as Vice-President.

Prindle is driven by a desire to help every athlete achieve their athletic goals. Through intense focus on technical proficiency, providing resources, and managing a positive and professional enviroment, Prindle's positive coaching style helps illuminate some of life's lessons as athletes pursue success in the pool.  She sees tremendous value in interacting with her swimmers with laughter and kindness, to create an environment where every success is possible.

She and her husband Chris reside near the beach, and enjoy the ocean whenever they can. Email: Kathleen@PAQSwim.com

RORY GRIGULL - LEAD DEVELOPMENTAL COACH, HEAD MASTERS COACH

Rory Grigull joined The PAQ in 2012 with extensive competitive swimming experience. He is an ASCA Level 2 Certified Club and Masters Coach. Rory has coached and taught swimming for several years in South Carolina and Florida, working with numerous age-group and high school developmental swimmers. He is a 2012 graduate of the University of South Carolina, with a major in Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology.  Rory serves on the LMSC Board of Directors as Sanctions Chair.

As a young athlete, Grigull was a four-time high school All-American and member of multiple FHSAA State Championship teams at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, FL). Grigull competed at the 2008 US Olympic Trials in the 100-meter freestyle. He has also competed at several US National Championships, including US Open Water Nationals (2007). At the University of South Carolina, Rory continued his stellar swimming career, competing in three Southeastern Conference Championships, and was named three times to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. He currently resides near the beach where he is spending his time coaching, training for his beloved IRONMAN and triathlon competitions, and planning his upcoming wedding.   Email: Rory@PAQSwim.com

KATIE PARKER - ASSISTANT COACH, PRE-TEAM & SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Katie Parker joined The PAQ in 2014 as a graduate of the University of Tampa with a degree in advertising. After joining her first swim team at the age of 5, Katie swam locally for Fort Lauderdale Aquatics, and wrapped up a 17-year competitive swimming career at the University of Tampa where she qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships 3 years in a row (2012/13/14). In her senior season, she was a finalist in the 100 and 200 butterfly as well as the 200 IM. Katie still holds the school record for the 200 butterfly. Katie returned to her native South Florida and now assists PAQ with school programming at Grandview Preparatory School, as well as serving as an assistant coach for both the Pre-Team and Master's programs. Katie is also an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard with the city of Deerfield Beach! Katie's specialty is building basic skills for lower-school and developmental swimmers. Email:   CParker@PAQSwim.com

ALEXANDRIA MERRITT - DRYLAND COACH, ALL GROUPS

Alex Merritt first joined The PAQ in 2016 to help us with our Olymic Preparation for Rio 2016. She holds both a Bachelors of Science and a Masters in Kinesiology from Auburn University.  Alex was born in Boca Raton and grew up in Tallahassee. Since the age of 11 she has been a passionate swimming athlete, and earned a 4-year athletic scholarship at Auburn University. During her tenure, she achieved NCAA All-American Qualifier status three times!   Most recently, Alex was a graduate assistant for Auburn University Olympic Sports Strength and Conditioning program, working with the well-known Bryan Karkoska (Master of S&C by the CSCCA). Current Certifications Include USA Swimming Level 1 & 2 Coach, CPR/AED/ WSI, CSCS- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and CrossFit Trainer Certification.   In her leisure time Alex loves snuggling with her dog, Lulu, or playing cards with her grandparents, and believes everything is better at the beach! Email: DrylandCoach@PAQswim.com

MORGAN STEPHENSON - ASSISTANT COACH

CHRISTINA MATHENEY - ASSISTANT COACH, JR PAQ & MASTERS

Chrissy Matheney joined The PAQ in 2017. She is a professional Triathlon Coach, and an expert in the discipline of running! Email: ChrissyM@PAQswim.com

STEPHANIE EISENRING - COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, ASSISTANT COACH

Stephanie Eisenring is a 2013 graduate of the University of North Carolina/ Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. As an athlete, Stephanie was a successful distance swimmer, with FGC records that still stand today in tje 400 & 800 freestyle. At UNC she competed and earned top honors as an NCAA athlete. She has competed for her home country of Switzerland at the National & International levels, representing the Swiss at World Championships!  Steph is no stranger to PAQ:  In 2014, she joined the team as a Post-Grad training with the PAQ Masters group, and since 2015 has run our Marketing Department! A certified EMT, Steph currently serves as an Ocean Rescue Lifguard for the City of Deerfield Beach and represents our area in National LIfeguard Competitions!

Email: Marketing@PAQSwim.com