COACHING STAFF
WAVE HEAD COACH - Ryan Knox-Leonard
Coach Ryan attended Northern Michigan University earning a degree in Physical Education Secondary, Health Education Secondary and Health & Nutrition. While studying, Ryan competed on the NMU Swim and Dive team from 2015 - 2019 where he became a 6x All-American, 7x GLIAC Conference Champion, 4 year Scholar All-America, Varsity Award winner, and team MVP.
Ryan has been coaching for 5 years and is excited to be starting his first season as head coach at Fox Valley WAVE Swim Club!
TIDAL WAVES LEAD COACH - Carolina Artacho
Coach Carolina is from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I started swimming when I was 4 years old and competing when I was 6 years old. During my life as a swimmer, I was a championship medalist from the state of Sao Paulo, the southeastern region of Brazil, Nationals, and South America. My main events were 400 IM, 200 Butterfly, 200 Breaststroke and 200 IM. I became a professional swimmer when I was 16 years old, and when I was 18 years old I received a scholarship to swim at Northern Michigan University, where I was on the team for 4 years. During college, I coached for the Wildcat Aquatics Club, I was the Head Coach at the NMU Youth Clinic. I also taught swim lessons and private lessons. Swimming has been part of my life since I can remember, and it makes me happy to keep this sport in my life as a coach. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be part of the WAVE team!
BREAKERS LEAD COACH - Ruthe Zimmerman
Coach Ruthe started swimming on the Wisconsin Dells Dolphins Swim Team at age 8. She went on to swim at UWGB and UW-Milwaukee where she earned her degree in Psychology and went on to get her Masters in Counseling. Ruthe has been coaching for over 20 years and loves to help swimmers reach their goals both in and out of the pool. Coach Ruthe is married with two girls who are both on the Wave team. Her youngest daughter Maggie was born with Down Syndrome so Ruthe spends a lot of her free time advocating for her daughter.
SWELLS & WAVELETS LEAD COACH - Dan Frase
I started swimming when I was 5 years old for the YMCA in Eau Claire, WI and competed with the YMCA and for Memorial High School, finishing at Bradley University. I enjoy Distance swimming including the 500 Free, 1650 Free and 200 IM and held severalrecords. I enjoy swimming because it is a sport that both an Individual and Team sport wrapped into one and I believe that everyone should know how to swim. I have a absolutely wonderful wife and 5 great kids that keep our lives happy and busy.
DECK COACHES
Coach Angie Farrell Coach Kameron Neumann Coach Caitlyn Lansing Coach Kim Bjork
Coach Katie Vanden Burgt Coach Grace Flanagan Coach Brynn Malcomson Coach Brianna Arnald
Coach Pete Coons
BOARD MEMBERS
PRESIDENT - Brian Flanagan 
Our Wave President is the chairperson of the team, and the Parent Board, and has the responsibility and power necessary to carry out the team’s policies, and overall direction. The President supports the head coach and head age group coach and interfaces with outside organizations (NJSD, AASD, Wisconsin Swimming) in support of the team and overall health of the competitive swimming in the greater Fox Valley area.
VICE PRESIDENT - Andrew Skorr
Our Vice President supports the President and is responsible for all the Presidential duties in the absence of the President. Additionally, the Vice President is responsible for coordinating board elections, transitions, and succession for the continuity of leadership for the team and provides leadership support and guidance (as needed) to any of the team committees.
TREASURER - Susan Greenway
The Treasurer maintains all financial records for the team and manages the team’s accounts with duties including, but not limited to, creating the team’s budget(s), monitoring funds, payroll, expenses, and deposits. The Treasurer serves as a liaison between the Parent Board and the team’s accountant.
MEET DIRECTOR - Ignacio Cortina
The Meet Director oversees all details surrounding FV Wave Home Meets (Splashfest and MayFly). The Meet Director’s duties include but are not limited to, secure venue and dates, register meets with WI Swimming, obtain meet officials, hire lifeguards, order awards, manage meet entries, and manage correspondence with teams/coaches regarding invites/changes in timelines etc.
SECRETARY - Emily Allen
Our Secretary records, reports and maintains all team activity files including, but not limited to, board meeting minutes, action items, contracts, insurance records, bylaws, and policies etc. The Secretary also establishes and maintains a team standard work/operations calendar in conjunction with the Head Coach and Parent Board.
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR - Angie Borchardt
The Communications Coordinator manages communications and publicity for the FV Wave. The Communications Coordinator’s duties include but are not limited to support any team recruitment activities, advertising, publicity, etc. in coordination with the coaches and other members of the Parent Board, maintain up-to-date content on the website, lead marketing for home meets as well as develop cadence for team news blasts, social media, and team newsletter, etc.
