Jim Wood
Head Coach
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Primary
Groups: Seniors and Juniors
Background:
Jim founded Berkeley Aquatic Club and is the Head Coach. Prior to
his move back to New Jersey, he was head swimming coach at the
University of North Carolina. He is currently the President of
United States Aquatic Sports, after having served 12 years as the
Chairman of the USS Olympic International Operations
Committee and most recently, as President of USA Swimming.
Jim graduated from Johns Hopkins University and attended
graduate school at the University of North Carolina.
Tristan Formon
Coach
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Primary Groups: Seniors, Juniors
Secondary Group: Snappers
Background: Tristan began his coaching career in the UK and has been coaching at Berkeley and teaching at the Berkeley Swim School since 1996. Tristan's background includes many years as an elite level swimmer, competing at the regional and national levels, as well as in collegiate swimming at Loughborough University, in a swimming career that took him to the British Olympic Trials. He was named NJ Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year for 2011 and has been selected as a NJS All Star Zone Coach on several occasions. Active in the governance of the sport of Swimming, Tristan is a member of the USA Swimming, Eastern Zone Swimming and New Jersey Swimming Board of Directors. He received his Masters in Physical Education with a concentration in Coaching and Sports Administration from Montclair State University.
Anna Barry
Coach
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Primary Group: Snappers
Secondary Group: Blues
Background: Anna has taught at the Berkeley Swim School for numerous years. She has also been a member of the coaching staff at Berkeley Aquatic Club for the last four years. Anna graduated from Alfred University in Alfred, New York with a major in Accounting. She received a Masters in International Business from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Anna has been selected as a coach to the New Jersey Swimming All Star Zone Team on multiple occasions.
Peter Barry
Coach
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Primary Group: Assists with the Senior and Junior Groups
Background: Peter Barry began coaching in 1978. He served as Assistant Women's Coach for Columbia University from 1983-1986. Upon matriculating, from Columbia University, with a bachelor's degree in Architecture and Building and Development, he became Head Age Group at Morris Center YMCA, eventually becoming Head Coach from 1989-1993. In 1993, Peter took on the role as Junior Coach at the Somerset Hills YMCA, eventually becoming Director of Competitive Aquatics from 2001-2015. In 2012, he was named YMCA Coach of the Year, by his swimmers, parents and peers. In his tenure, he has coached Olympic Trial, USA Junior National, National qualifiers, and Junior Pan Pac's finalists, and YMCA National Champions.
Sandy Bluhm
Coach
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Primary Group: Masters
Background: Sandy has been swimming for 30+ years. She swam competively for Berkeley Aquatic Club from 1988-1993. She began teaching swimming at the swim school in 2010 after completing service with the United States Coast Guard. Sandy is an avid masters swimmer as well as a certified masters coach. She also heads creative projects with Berkeley Aquatic Club. Sandy graduated from Seton Hall University in 2001 with a B.A. in Philosophy, and completed her M.A. in Fine Arts at Montclair State University in 2015.
Towney Brewster
Coach
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Primary Group: Assists with the Developmental Program
Background: Towney graduated Hanover College with a BA in Business before earning his MA in Physical Education at Indiana University. He is the former Head Coach of Red Bank YMCA, Nelspruit South Africa and Darien YMCA. Towney served as a board member for New Jersey Swimming from 1989 though 2005. He has been selected as the New Jersey Swimming Zone Team Head Coach on ten occasions and has been the USA Swimming Junior Team Manager in Paris, Australia and Hawaii. Towney is a volunteer board member with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties. He has been the director of the Berkeley Swim School since 1989.
Hank Buntin
Coach
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Primary Groups: Assists with Seniors, Juniors, Dolphins, Blues, Snappers
Background: Hank Buntin has been a successful athlete, instructor, and coach in competitive swimming in New Jersey for over 60 years, including 45 years at the Summit Area YMCA and concurrently, 35 years as the head coach of the Crestview Swim/Tennis Club in New Providence. His high school experience includes 5 years at Snyder High School in Jersey City and 9 years at New Providence High School. He is married and has 5 children and 5 grandchildren. Hank is a retired teacher of Biological Sciences from New Providence High School, and recently retired as the Head Coach of the Summit Y "Seals." He is the author of The Pointy Arrow Concept, a book about designing competitive swimming strokes. He is presently an assistant coach, teaching stroke mechanics.
Marlene Curtis
Coach
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Primary Groups: Streaks
Secondary Groups: Take Your Marks, Dolphins
Background: Marlene joined the BAC staff in 1995. Marlene has more than 25 years experience as a swim instructor. She is an ASCA Level II Coach and has been selected as a NJS All Star Zone Coach. Marlene currently serves on the NJ Swimming Board of Directors as Safety Chair, Registration Chair and Safe Sport Chair. She is an Associate Professor of Physical Education at Kean University. Marlene also coaches at Echo Lake Country Club during the summer. Marlene graduated from Calvin College with a major in Recreation and Physical Education and earned her Masters degree in Exercise Physiology at Columbia University. Marlene served as the Director of Aquatics at the Union YMHA.
Meredith Formon
Coach
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Primary Groups: Assists with the Age Group program
Background: Meredith began as an instructor in the Berkeley Swim School in 2001. She joined the Berkeley coaching staff assisting with the age group program in the fall of 2008 and is an ASCA level II coach. Meredith has been selected as a NJS All Star Zone Coach on several occasions. She was a collegiate cross-country runner. Meredith graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a major in Biology and Pre-Med. Meredith currently works for Prudential.
Paul Hansen
Coach
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Primary Groups: Assists with the Junior and Senior Groups
Background: Prior to BAC, Paul was an assistant coach at the Cape Cod Swim Club. Before that, he and his wife Theresa co-coached the Pasquotank River Otters in Elizabeth City, NC, where the team grew from 16 to 60 swimmers during his tenure. Paul brings to BAC a keen interest in stroke mechanics, and can be seen at any practice working with the swimmers to improve their strokes and turns. Paul joined the BAC staff as a volunteer coach in 2001 after he retired from the U.S. Coast Guard. A graduate of U.S.C.G.A., he achieved All-American status as a cadet. Following several years at sea, he attended Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, FL, andserved as a pilot for the remainder of his career. He currently flies as an international demonstration captain for Dassault Falcon.
Peter Hockmeyer
Coach
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Primary Group: Masters
Background: Peter has been head coach of the Masters Team at Berkeley Aquatic Club since 2006 and is an ASCA Level I coach. Peter swam competitively at Somerset Hills YMCA until he graduated Ridge High School in 1993. He chose to play soccer at Colby Sawyer College in New Hampshire, but continued to swim on his own, never losing the love of the water. He currently teaches 6th grade Social Studies in Long Hill Township and coaches their Middle School soccer, basketball, and softball teams.
Dave Kessel
Coach
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Primary Group: Dry Land
Background: David has over 25 years of successful coaching. His swimmers have achieved both YMCA and USA Top 16 National Age Group (NAG) times for both individuals and relays. He was picked as a coach for a YMCA High Altitude Training Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He has coached swimmers to 2 Olympic Trials as well as National Camp and National Team selection. His swimmers have set NJ State Swimming records for both USA and High School Swimming. David's dry land knowledge begins with a degree in Biological Science and a minor in Fitness Specialization. He has always implemented a dryland program that embraces creativity, helps build flexibility, power, strength and injury prevention. David uses the same philosophy for his own training. His obstacle course racing resume includes all distances including 24 hour competitions.
Kevin Mahoney
Coach
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Primary Group: Assists with Seniors, Juniors, Snappers
Background: Kevin has been a member of the Berkeley Coaching staff since 1996. He is a graduate of Lycoming College where he earned a BA in Sociology. Currently, he is a student of the United States Sports Academy, completing a teaching certification program in Physical Education. Kevin has been teaching for 22 years and is employed as a Physical Education teacher at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. He has also been coaching high school swimming for 22 years and is currently the Head Coach at Mount Saint Mary Academy. Kevin is a Certified Pool Operator and manages the pool at Roxiticus Golf Club during the summer.
Kevin Petto
Coach
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Primary Group: Blues
Secondary Group: Snappers
Background: Kevin graduated from Warren Hills High School in 2005 and is currently enrolled at Warren County Community College working towards a liberal arts degree. Prior to joining BAC as a coach and instructor in the Berkeley Swim School, he was a counselor at the Glen Gardner Youth Center, former manager and assistant swim coach at the Easton YMCA, and worked at the Washington Borough Pool for four summers as a swim instructor and head lifeguard.
Elissa Ryan
Coach
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Primary Group: Take Your Marks
Secondary Group: Streaks
Background: Elissa Ryan (formerly Lavorerio) has been a member of the Berkeley Aquatic Club family for over 20 years.She swam on the first Snapper team and made her way to swimming on the Senior team. She earned her varsity letter for 4 years at Watchung Hills in swimming, and was captain her junior and senior year. She went on to compete for Rutgers University, earning a BA in Political Science and lettering all four years, ending her career as captain.
Chuck Warner
Coach
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Primary Group: Assists with the Senior Group
Background: Chuck Warner is a three time USA national team coach, four time Big East Coach of the Year, former President of the American Swimming Coaches Association and has authored two books. His teams in Wilton and Sarasota won seven National Y Championships. He was the Head Coach at Rutgers University for thirteen years where his women's teams moved from finishing eleventh in the Big East Conference to being ranked twelfth in the nation. In 2007, three of his Rutgers swimmers were on USA National swim teams. He graduated fron the University of Redlands. Chuck works primarily with developing swim school, masters and assists with the Senior group.
Christina Wypijewska
Yoga Instructor
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Background: A graduate of Yale University and Vassar College, with a Master's Degree in Public Health, Christina is an experienced registered yoga teacher at the 500-level with special training to work with children and teens. She encourages her students to explore their true potential through powerful and balanced yoga sequences with an emphasis on breath, alignment and awareness. Christina has extensive experience working with kids, teeens and adults, including training other teachers about the healing benefits of yoga, pranayama, sound vibration and meditation. She teaches group classes and private yoga and meditation in NJ, NY and locations around the world.
