Coaches for 2018 Season  

Head Coach:

Julia Sierk - 

Julia has taught and coached in Amador County for 33 years, 18 years as both Amador and Argonaut High School's Head Coach  She started with the Polar Bears in 1984 as an assistant coach then was head coach from 1985-1999.  It is She says, "It is so exciting to see families now that were a part of the Polar Bears back in the day!"  She looks forward to coming back to her roots and coaching a new generation of swimmers.

Nancy Wright (on sabbatical following back surgery)- 

Nancy Wright began her coaching career while in college at CSU Fresno.  For the next 30 + years, she coached for various swim teams including recreation, year-round (USA teams), and high school.  She also has over 50 years of experience teaching public and private swim lessons.    Her former swimmers have attained USA times beyond A-time levels, set records, won league championships, qualified for Sections, and some have become coaches themselves.  Nancy is proud to have been mentored by 3 talented national level coaches over the years.

Her specialty is in developing swimmers who achieve much faster times, strong work ethics, good character, and especially great technique in all four strokes.  This guidance provides the direction needed for swimmers to excel within a few short months.  Due to a combination of stroke technique, stroke drills, challenging workouts, social and fun events, and concern for each swimmer on the team, every swimmer has fun and improves.   

Nancy’s personal swimming career started with the first Clovis Swim Club when she was 11.   She continued swimming in high school, college, masters, and water polo.  Nancy majored in physical education, taught PE in Manteca for 18 years, received a master’s degree in school counseling, then was a K-8 School Counselor for 4 years before retiring.  She is currently in real estate and is ready to coach again.  She is passionate about swimming and helping kids.

Nancy and Jim have been married for 38 years and moved to Ione two summers ago.  They have 2 daughters, both married, 3 grandsons, a granddaughter coming soon and 2 miniature schnauzers.  They both enjoy Amador County for all of its history, beauty, activities, sports, and people.  Nancy is happy to be a part of the Polar Bear Swim Team history.

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Assistant  Coaches:

​Josh Cazaad - 

Josh started swimming competively at age five with the Amador Polar Bears and continued until he was eighteen.  He swam one year in high school in Arizona and then for four years in college while attending Virginia Military Institute.  He currently swims with the Rocklin Aquatic Masters and has continued to compete in pool meets and open water competitions for the last sixteen years.  In 2000 he helped coach the Amador and Argonaut high school swim teams and continued doing so for the following ten years.  In 2003 he became the head heach for the Amador Polar Bears, which he did for six years.  He emphasizes technique in his workouts since it is the key building block for improvement.  His six year old daughter has joined the Amador Polar Bears and he excited to help coach the team again.

Jaime Bigwood -

Jamie began swimming at age 5 for a recreational team in Fair Oaks.  She continued to swim through high school, both on a rec team and for her high school.  During that time she helped coach her rec team, played high school water polo and helped to coach water polo.  Last year, she coached the Amador Polar Bears and had a great time.  She is looking forward to having another great year with the team.

Kelsy Sozzi -  

Kelsy is from Plymouth in Amador County and was a competitive swimmer for 14 years.  Her first 3 years wre with Folsom Sea Otters, then 10 years on the Amador Polar Bears, and 4 years for Amador High School, graduating in 2016.  She first started coaching swimmers in 2014 for APB as well as taught lessons as a lifeguard. In 2017, she was an assistant coach for Amador and Argonaut High School swim teams.  She is currently an instructor at SwimLabs Swim School in El Dorado Hills where she has received extensive training and experience teaching swimming technique correctly, efficiently and safely.  Kelsy has the opportunity to use the latest technology to train swimmers from begining levels to competetive athletes how to swim faster and smarter.

Kelsy is in her final semester at Folsom Lake College finishing 2 AAs, one in Psychology and one in Behavioral Sciences.  She is planning to transfer to a 4-year college in the fall of 2018 to pursue a Bachelors in Psychology.  After that she plans to attend medical school and earn a PhD in Psychiatry. 

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Junior Coaches: 

Aidan Hood

Skylar Dann

Mirette Earnest

Hunter Riordan

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We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact one of the board members.