We are here to support your needs. If you have questions that you would like directed to a coach or board member please contact info@burlingtondevilrays.ca and your concerns will be forwarded to the correct person.
Coaching Staff
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Sergei Soloukhin - Head Coach
Sergei came to the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays as Head Coach in 2002 and has built BAD's swimming program. Sergei is dedicated to the sport of competitive swimming and to his swimmers. Over the course of his swimming career, Sergei's distinguished listing of accomplishments include:
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Yuriy Bespalov - Intermediate Groups
email: ybespalov@yahoo.com
Yuriy Bespalov joined BAD in 2004 and brings over 20 years coaching experience to the team. His experience with the Ukrainian Swimming team - both as an athlete and a coach - has given Yuriy a solid background and knowledge in competitive swimming. Yuriy has developed Ukrainian athletes for the Olympic Games, World and Europe Championships.
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Stephanie Judd - Senior 3, 4 and FUNdamentals Groups
Stephanie Judd learned to swim at the age of 11 and shortly thereafter swam for the Markham Aquatic Swim Club, where she swam competitively for seven years and excelled at the 800m Freestyle. In addition to swimming, Stephanie competed in synchronized swimming and diving, before becoming an assistant swim coach and swimming with the Master’s program with Markham.
Stephanie completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Queen’s University and Brock University respectively, before graduating with her Primary Junior Teaching Certification from Teacher’s College in Burlington (including qualifications in Physical Education, Special Needs and English as a Second Language).
Prior to the Burlington Aquatic Devilrays Stephanie coached swimming and basketball as a member of the Physical Education Department at Lester B. Pearson High School and held Head Coaching responsibilities for the Fergus Flippers and the Huron Hurricanes swim clubs.
Outside of coaching with BAD, Stephanie is a professional Lifeguard, First Aid/Swim Instructor Trainer, Aqua Fitness and Yoga Instructor. Stephanie spends her summers in Algonquin Park teaching canoeing where she enjoys here second passion, Style Paddling.
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Meagan Laking - Junior Groups
email:mklaking@hotmail.com
Meagan has been coaching with BAD since 2013, starting with the Novice program beforeworking her way to coach the Junior 1 and 2 Squads. As a swimmer she was very active in the Lifesaving stream completing her qualifications and becoming a lifeguard when she was 16. Meagan attended Wilfred Laurier University graduating with an Honors Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Global Studies with a Minor in Religion and Culture and has been working in municipal government since graduating. In her spare time Meagan is an avid gardener and enjoys a game or two of Fortnite :)
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Peggy Cosgrove - Novice Groups
email:mlrose46@gmail.com
Peggy has been coaching with BAD since 2008 and simply loves what she does!
She thoroughly enjoys coaching young swimmers in their first competitive swim squads and takes great satisfaction in seeing their confidence build. Peggy has the good fortune of seeing many kids move up the swim levels and then having the change to also coach their siblings. Apart from training swim skills, Peggy imparts a sense of trust and commitment in each and every swimmer, allowing them to increase their stamina and speed to go along with stroke improvement.
Outside of BAD, Peggy also teaches swim instruction with Aqua Tots in Burlington, is a professional singer and enjoys being a great Mom to Emma and Ben and their little puppy, Veronica.
You will often find Peggy with a smile on her face as her motto is “Always be the reason someone smiles.”
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Amy Tokiwa - Novice Groups
Amy is a former competitive swimmer. She qualified for several high level competitions such as Provincials and Easterns. Amy has been a coach for several years, including 3 years with BAD. Amy is also a lifeguard with the City of Burlington.
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Winona Kelly - Senior 4 and FUNdamentals Groups
email: winona.kellie@gmail.com
Winona began her swimming career with the Fergus Flippers, where she swam for 5 years. Her love for the sport evolved with swim instruction, lifeguarding and today as a coach with the Devilrays. Winona has been a Devilrays coach since 2016 and focuses on the FUNdamental and Senior level swimmers.
Going forward, Winona plans to return to school with the goal of working with people, and their families, along the autism spectrum.
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David Colman
David is new this year to the BAD coaching team and is excited to be providing support to the team when there are unexpected/planned absences. David has a background with instructional swimming having taught programs in Oakville, Burlington and Thunder Bay in past years.
His love of swimming was developed from an early age and continued as he swam for his high school varsity team and through to his years working as a Lifeguard and Instructor. In addition to coaching, you will often see David on deck at swim meets as an Official. David’s day job is working as a teacher with the Halton Board of Education. When not working or coaching, David enjoys traveling, hockey, swimming, and spending time with his family.
David’s qualifications and experience includes:
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Monique Garon - FUNdamentals
Email: monique.garon11@gmail.com
Monique was primarily a synchronized swimmer from 2005 to present, but raced for her high school swim team from 2008-2012. Monique fell in love with competitive swimming during that time and decided to pursue coaching upon completion of her business diploma. She has coached Senior 3 and 4 with BAD for the past two years and looks forward to coaching FUNdamentals this year.
Monique is excited for another year with a club that she calls "her second family".
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Vlad Bartchouk - Land Trainer
Vlad has been with BAD for a number of years, specializing in land training for our senior level swimmers. Vlad has experience as a competitive swimmer, having begun at the age of 9 and ultimately qualified for (the former) USSR's "Youth Olympic Reserve" and was a two-time champion for the USSR's North-Western Region. Vlad will continue to broaden his BAD experience with on-deck coaching of our senior-level swimmers. Vlad's swimming CV includes:
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Jennifer Fisher - FUNdamentals
Email:jenfish.fisher@gmail.com
Jennifer began coaching with the Devilrays in 2014 and is a NCCP Level 1 Skills coach, and also holds a Bachelors of Commerce degree.
In addition to BAD Jennifer has been a Lifeguard with the City of Burlington for the past 7 years and swims with the Burlington Masters swim team.
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