RFSC COACHES

I have been with RFSC since September of 2008, I was an assistant coach until May of 2011 when I became the Head Coach. Before that I was an assistant coach with OMNI swim club from 2004-2008. I have been involved with swimming since 2002; I swam for Tartan High School in Oakdale MN from 2002-2005, during which time I also swam/coached for OMNI swim club. In 2005, I began my undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and graduated with a degree in Mathematics with a double minor in History and Military Science. During my time at UWRF I swam all four years. I have been a serving member of the Army since 2006, and accepted my Commission as an Officer in July of 2009. I have been with various Engineer units throughout the state, and have deployed to Afghanistan (2012-2013) and Iraq (2016) over my career. I have a beautiful wife, Caitlin,and two adorable daughters, Amelia and Bria, who I am sure you will see on the pool deck on several occasions throughout the season!

My swimming career started with lessons at four years old, and I’ve been in & around the pool ever since! I began swimming with RFSC in 2008 and then coaching for the team in 2015. I am also a coach for the girl’s swim team at Tartan High School and OMNI Swim Club. I am fascinated by the biomechanics of swimming, and the impact that even the smallest changes in technique can have on a swimmer’s efficiency. I am currently a student at UWRF, majoring in biomedical science & animal science. When I’m not on deck, I enjoy walking my dog, riding my horses, and reading.

JULIA RYDBERG
​​Coach

I was first involved with RFSC as a high school swimmer and was always appreciative of the personalized coaching and positive team culture. RFSC embodies what it means to have a growth mindset. As a swimmer, I enjoyed competing in the 100 back, 100 fly, and 200 IM, however my favorite event was the 200 medley relay. I began coaching for RFSC in 2017. It has been rewarding seeing the success of the club and swimmers! I work as a high school history teacher. Outside of school and coaching, I love to walk my mini goldendoodle, Penny, and spend time working on creative projects.

ANIKA COLEMAN
​​Coach

I began swimming with River Falls Swim Club in 2013 and started coaching for the Club in 2018. I fell in love with the Club. My experiences have taught me so much about friendship, commitment, confidence, support, and mentorship. I am excited to pass on my positive experiences to newer swimmers. My favorite events are the 100 and 200 Breaststroke and 500 and 1,000 Freestyle. I attend River Falls High School. When I’m not in the pool or school, I enjoy participating in speech and spending time with friends and family.

STEPHANIE DERKS
​​Coach

I started swimming with RFSC in the fall of 2013. From that moment, I fell in love with swimming and the club in general. I love swimming because every time I swim, I do everything possible to put all my effort into my swim! Swimming makes me strive to improve every time I’m in the water and, in turn, as a coach I am able to help other kids do the same. My favorite events are the 100 fly, 500 free and 400 IM. I began coaching for RFSC in 2018 and enjoy helping swimmers learn and achieve their swimming goals!

KARISSA BAAR​​
Coach

I started swimming with RFSC in 2013 and coaching in 2018. I love swimming because you learn so much such as determination, perseverance and how to be a hard worker. I also love that I swim I get to spend 2 hours of my day with my friends! My favorite events are the 400 IM and 100 Butterfly. I'm currently a high school student and a member of the girls swim team and marching band. Outside of swimming I enjoy listening to music, reading, hanging out with my friends, playing with my dog and going to my family's cabin.

CONNOR BAAR​​
Coach

My love of swimming began in my Aunt's pool when I was 6 months old. We spent every weekend of the summer in the pool, and there I began teaching my sister how to swim in 2013. I started swimming with RFSC in Sep 2015 and found myself enjoying the sport ever since. I swim mainly distance, but dabble in sprints as well. My best events are the 200 and 500 freestyle. I started helping out with some of the younger groups when needed in 2018, and was hired as a coach in 2019. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and spending time with friends & family, and trying to make people laugh.

MACKENNA ANDERSON
Coach

My first year at River Falls Swim Club was in 2014 and have been working hard ever since. I first began swimming when I was really little doing swim lessons at the YMCA. Since then I have developed and have started to become someone I want to be. I love swimming because it helps me become stronger and challenges me to strive for that version of me. I began coaching at RFSC in early 2020 and I love to help new swimmers along in their process of becoming amazing athletes. I am a distance freestyler and my favorite events are the 500 free and the 200 free.

MIKAYLA ERF
​​Coach

ANNALEE PLEMMONS
Coach

My swimming journey started when I was six years old at my hometown community pool. Ever since then I've always loved being around and in the water. I started teaching swim lessons in 2016 at my local pool and worked for the FOSS Swim School.  I became a coach for the River Falls Swim Club in 2020. I also am the assistant swim coach for the River Falls High School swim teams (boys and girls) since 2018.  I graduated from the University of Wisconsin River Falls in 2019 with my degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. I currently live in River Falls and work for the School District of River Falls in the Special Education program. Hope to see you in the pool!