WELCOME TO THE STINGRAY SWIM TEAM!!!
An Inclusive, Family-Friendly, Competitive Swim Team in Snohomish County Washington.

Coaches and Directors

Coaches and Directors
Coaching Staff
Ben Olszewski Owner/Head Coach: Senior - SAC

Phone: 425-736-5600


Profile:

  •         Age 47
  •       Central Washington University; BS Fitness & Sport Management 96’
  •       39 years in competitive swimming
  •       11 time NAIA All-American
  •       Married to Angela, son Samuel, daughter Kendra, son Jacob
  •       Hobbies are fitness and electronic gadgets

 Certifications/Honors:

  • American Swim Coach Association Level 4
  • PNS Zone Coach
  • PNS Altitude Camp Coach
  • PNS Elite Training Coach 2011
  • Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Coaching Track Record:

  •        23 years total in coaching
  • 2 years collegiate
  • 5 years high school
  • 1 year summer league
  • 21 years club: 5 years Gig Harbor Peninsula, 16 years with StingRays
  •         2001 PNS Age Group Coach of The Year
  •         2006 PNS Age Group Coach of The Year
  •         21 PNS records
  •         Multiple national top 16 ranked age group swimmers
  •         Multiple PNS All-Stars, PNS Champions, Zone Champions
  •         36 NCSA Junior National Qualifiers - Krissy, Erin, Andria, Chris, Brittney, Rikka, Kyle, Bryan, Melissa, Eric, Dan, Katherine, Emily, Garren, Jimmy, Ali, Alana, Bramon, Liam, Kaitlin, Johnnie, Maddie, Madeline, Cathryn, Kaela, AJ, Kelsey, Riley, Hannah, Macy, Riley, Mieko Schwartzmiller, Zach Bevans, Jensen Elsemore, Kendall Bensen, Anna Kowalchyk.
  •         13 USA Junior National Qualifiers (Melissa, Eric, Dan, Garren, Kyle, Bryan, Alana, Ali, Liam, Kaitlin, Hannah, Kaela, Zach)
  •         7 USA National Qualifiers (Rikka, Garren, Emily, Alana, Bryan, Ali, Kaitlin)
  •         2 Olympic Trial Qualifiers (Garren, Alana)
  •         3 US Paralympics American Records (Haley)
Darrell Cray Site Manager/Senior Coach - Mariner
I'm very proud to have been a coach at SRST for 3 years now. This truly is a family friendly
competitive swim team, so much so it really does feel like family and I love watching all the
competitions. I'm the Senior Swim Coach/Site Manager for SRST at the Mariner pool in Everett,
and love my job helping youngsters and teens succeed in swimming and at life.
 
My coaching philosophy revolves around providing individual feedback, praise, and constructive
criticism in a non discouraging manner. I believe in personal goal setting and creating
opportunities for healthy competition/team work in my practices. Throughout my training
programs, I like to promote the use of fundamental swimming (especially correct head position,
DPS, and white water kicking), as well as the refinement of technique in all stages. In
addition to a focus on technique, increasing physical limits and endurance are a large part of
our preparations for competition. Most importantly, I try to build an overall foundation for my
swimmers that will allow them to go on to swim in college/later in life. But it's also extremely
important to have fun along the way, and be creative while swimming fast towards our goals. 
 
I've had 20+ swimmers make the PNS top 25 for events in their age groups. I've had four
swimmers qualify for the National Age Group Championships in Orlando, FL. I've had 5 top
50 USA swimmers in their age groups. My coaching/swimming background includes 5 years
coaching at the competitive level and 4 years swimming varsity for Mount Vernon High
School Class of '09. This will also be my third year as a head coach for girls High School swim. 
 
In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, reading, working on cars and practicing martial arts. I'm
also an avid study of physiology and nutrition. 
Matthew Wright AG2 - Mariner

Matt Wright
AG2 - Mariner 
[email protected]
(360)-961-8918


   My name is Matthew, or Matt, and I’m very honored to be starting my 5th season as a USA/PNS swim coach and my first yr with SRST. I started competing in swimming at the young age of 6 with the Olympic Aquatic Club (OAC) in Bremerton, WA, and as I got older, with the Puget Sound Swim Club (PSSC) in Port Orchard, WA. Growing up in club swim, I’ve had the opportunity of calling 3 Olympic medalist my teammates and now, my friends, Nathen Adrian and the Kirk sisters, Dana and Tara. I was lucky enough to take to butterfly at a young age, witch is the best stroke ever. As I got older, I became a very strong 200 swimmer in both the fly and Fr.

I currently live in the Kirkland area with my Family, my wife of almost 11 yrs, Marika, my daughter, Kailey, 6, and my son, Memphis, 15 months old. For the past 10 years, my wife and I have been the head coaches for the Bellingham Independents Special Olympics Swim team, as well as the Assistant Coaches for the bowling and basketball teams. On our spare time, we love to go hiking and camping in the Olympics, visit the grand parents, and help my dad restore old cars.
   

 
Sydnie Chesley Silver/Gold - SAC

My name is Sydnie Chesley. I graduated from Lake Stevens in June of 2017. I've lived in Lake Stevens for most of my life. I have competitively swam for 12 years and continue to have a passion for it. After high school I left for the Air Force boot camp, after getting about half way through I got medically discharged. It was a change in plans but I plan to get back on my feet and return to training in the future. However now I am committed to learning how to be the best coach I can be and help further the success of our swimmers on Stingray Swim Team.

Analeigh Kessinger AG1 - Mariner

Howdy I'm Ana! I've been swimming for 10+ years. I coach ag1 and ag2  at Mariner. I was a lifeguard and swim instructor/swim coach for 3 years.

Board of Directors