Coaches and Directors
Coach Ray began coaching the Westridge Waves in 2010. Under Coach Ray’s direction, the WAVES have grown from 90 to 200+ swimmers and at least 30 new kids have chosen to swim year-round. He has over 15 years of coaching experience at the age group, college and masters level along with over 35 years of competitive swimming experience. He joined the OCCS staff full time in 2013 and works with the IMR and IMX groups at the Chinn Aquatic Center.
Ray grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA where he competed in the YMCA system qualifying for national meets as early as 14 yrs old. He was recruited to swim at James Madison University where he spent 4 yrs on the varsity men’s team. After graduation from JMU, Ray was commissioned into the US Air Force and trained as a flight nurse and traveled the world competing as a master’s swimmer. In 2009, after 20 years of service, Ray retired from the USAF and began his 2nd career as a swim coach for the Prince William Swim League’s Westridge WAVES.
Jorge learned to swim at age 8 and started age group competition at 9 with Tater Ledgard's (A Peruvian National Olympic legend) Santa Catalina Swim Club in Lima, Peru. During his youth, Jorge qualified to represent his National Team in 1988 at age 13 in Ecuador and in 1991 at age 16 in Chile at the Copa del Pacifico in the 50Free, 100Free, 400IM and Free relay. Jorge then moved to Washington DC to attend Georgetown University and swam for the Hoyas until 1996. Jorge brings a passion for swimming not only by swimming with the Virginia Masters Swim Team, but also by coaching Masters Swimming and the Pre National group at OCCS (Occoquan Swim Team).
“Westridge reminds me so much of the teams that I always swam for; small, tight-knit and powerful...where the kids could develop into life long swimmers and take their successes from the pool to their everyday life. I am excited and look forward to my sixth year coaching the Waves.”
Coach Beth joins the WAVES after enjoying two years as a team parent. Growing up in Maryland, she began swimming at a young age with a summer swim team much like the WAVES. She enjoyed many seasons as a competitor and eventually coached the same team. Beth also swam year round for a few years before an injury took her out of the competitive realm. Coach Beth re-entered the coaching world as the Men's & Women's Head Swim Coach after a hiatus for family and career while stationed in North Carolina with her husband. During her tenure, the team gained a stronger presence within the school and grew exponentially in numbers.
Loving Virginia, she currently teaches at Osbourn Park High School, facilitates a Preschool within the Early Childhood Education program, and is the Head Women's Coach for the Swim & Dive Team. She looks forward to helping the children in our community experience the FUN of summer swim with the Westridge WAVES!!