Stephen Novak
Assistant Coach
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Coach
Stephen has over 14 years of
swimming experience, from age group swimming through his freshman
year of college, when he switched over to collegiate water polo at
Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. He was a multiple-year age
group state champion in various backstroke and sprint freestyle
events. He coached for four years at the Northwest Swim Club and
the Bethlehem YMCA in Bethlehem, PA.
After college, Stephen
attended culinary school and opened a restaurant in Somers Point,
NJ. He was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food
Network in 2015.
Stephen recently
relocated to Austin and is the Head Chef at St. Andrews Episcopal
School, and a volunteer coach for Lost Creek
Aquatics. He is ecstatic
about his return to the pool deck and looks forward to bringing his
knowledge and enthusiasm to the Lost Creek
Cruzers.
Susannah Balcezak
Assistant Coach
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My mom signed me up for
the Cruzers when I was 5, and I fell in love with swimming that
first summer. I swam with the Cruzers for 6 years and for LCA for 3
years, and now I am a certified lifeguard. I am a junior at
Westlake High School, and worked as a lifeguard for the City of
Austin last summer and for the Special Olympics. My little sister
swims with LCA and the Cruzers, and I have really enjoyed passing
the love of swimming down to her.
Davis Bearden
Assistant Coach
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I have been a swimmer
my whole life. I really love to be in and around all aspects of the
pool! I go to Westlake High School and have swam for the high
school team! I started my swimming career with the Cruzers when I
was 6 years old, and continued with the program until I was 10. In
that time period I also started swimming with Lost Creek Aquatics
with Steve Jones. I currently still swim with LCA in the
Gold/National groups. Additionally, I am a Red Cross certified
lifeguard and I have guarded and taught swim lessons for the City
of Austin at various pools such as Deep Eddy! I also have
volunteered and now lifeguard for the Lake Travis Thunder Swimming
Special Olympics Team, which focuses on working with kids of all
ages who have different needs. I am very glad to have the
opportunity to be a Cruzers coach!
