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Kent AitchisonCamp Director and Head CoachCoach Kent spent five years as a Head Coach and rejuvenated the Lethbridge Orcas Summer Swim Club from provincial mediocrity to multiple Large Team Provincial Championships and team podium finishes between 2009 and 2013. Kent was the Coach of Record for three different ASSA Female Athletes of the Year and multiple swimmers that broke dozens of ASSA Provincial Records. Normally a rarity in summer swimming, Kent coached multiple swimmers to year-round swimming’s Provincial “A” and Age Group National Time Standards. Prior to and during his time with the Orcas, Kent swam in summer swimming, then year-round swimming, then as a varsity swimmer at the University of Alberta where he competed at a CIS/National level.
Kent moved to the Toronto area in 2014 and obtained a full time position with the Markham Aquatic Club (MAC) in Markham, Ontario. Kent coached the Senior Development Group and was the lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for MAC's "Senior" and "Age Group Performance" Programs. In three seasons with MAC, Kent has been a Coach of Record for multiple Senior National Qualifiers, Jr. National Qualifiers, Swim Ontario Provincial Medalists/Finalists & 1 SNC National Age Group Record. MAC won the Swim Ontario Provincial Banners in December 2015, March 2016 and July 2016. The MAC Women's Team were Team Age Group National Champions in August 2016. Kent moved back to Western Canada in 2017 and is now the Head Age Group Coach with Kamloops Classic Swimming and also owns Tournament Capital Strength & Conditioning in Kamloops BC. Kent is proud of his summer swimming roots and loves seeing the excitement that a short, but competitive, season brings every summer! Although Kent has transitioned to coaching on the year-round circuit, he is driven to continue to give back to the summer swimming community and provide swimmers with enhanced skills and confidence that they can use at the Regional and Provincial Championships! |
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James KwanAssistant CoachJames is currently in his 3rd season as the head coach of the Lethbridge Orcas Summer Swim Club. After swimming with the club for 13, years, James continued his swimming career at the collegiate level, competing for Mount Allison University. Over that time, he was a key member on numerous relays and was named captain in his final year (2017-2018).
As a big advocate for fine tuning slight adjustments in a high intensity setting, Orcas swimmers coached by James have achieved success. In the 2017 season, 40 medals were won at ASSA Provincials from swimmers in James’s groups. In addition, 6 provincial records (3 individual and 3 relay) were earned in the Championship Season. He is excited to once again be a part of the Summit Swim Camps staff as he will continue to do everything in his power to elevate performance while keeping things fast and fun! |
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Keeley WattAssistant CoachKeeley is currently the assistant head coach of the Lethbridge Orcas Summer Swim Club after spending her entire age group career swimming for the club - most of it under Coach Aitchison. During her time with the Orcas, she set multiple club, regional and provincial records and has since continued swimming as a varsity athlete for the University of Lethbridge pronghorns. Her summer club roots established a basis where she was able achieve a University Sport National standard in both of her two years as a Pronghorn swimmer. A strong believer in developing precise technique and carrying that into intense and mindful training, Keeley loves summer swimming and everything it has to offer! Performance camps were an integral part of her summer club success and Keeley is excited to work with successful coaches to make even more successful swimmers. She hopes to continue to aid summer swimmers in honing skills for improvement and to lay the foundation for future success in the water.
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Aaron GambleAssistant CoachCoach Aaron Gamble spent the 2016/17 season in his first year as Head Coach of the Spartans Aquatic Club. He will also be heading into his 3rd summer coaching with the Lethbridge Orcas. Coach Aaron is a certified NCCP Level 2 swim coach with almost 20 years of experience. He has worked at all different levels from the beginner learn to swim, Age Group Clubs, Masters Clubs and NCAA division I athletes. His swimmers have performed to local, provincial and national success. He takes pride in the technical aspects, learning the fundamentals and having fun while working hard. Coach Aaron is proud to be part of the Summit Swim Camps where he can help refine some fast swim skills.
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Cory GillespieSport Performance/Dryland GuruI began training 23 years ago and still have a love for all types and methods of training today. I have trained using a variety of disciplines and nutrition plans in order to achieve my goals throughout that time. I have competed at the National level in Powerlifting winning a National Championship in 2004 (1964 total 873 Squat/420 Bench/671 Deadlift), Nationally and Internationally in Strongman for 5 years and amateur level CrossFit.
I have been fortunate enough to cross paths and train with some of the best strength and conditioning coaches and athletes the world has to offer. I believe that fitness is a lifelong journey that can be achieved by anyone wishing to pursue it. That lifelong journey begins with learning foundation movements with correct mechanics and consistency of movement. Through this we are able to build movement patterns that will benefit individuals in everyday life through to athletic pursuits.. One of the greatest things in the world is sharing in the successes of people on that journey. Education: BA(PE)/BEd. (University of Lethbridge) NCCP Lvl. 1 & 2 Coaching Theory NCCP Stage 1 Olympic Lifting CF Lvl. 1, CF Endurance, CF Olympic Lifting, CF Mobility K-Tape Pro |
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Keely HopkinsAssistant CoachCoach Keely has been involved in both summer swimming and year round swimming over the last 15 years. As a swimmer Keely competed with the Lethbridge Orcas for 10 years, before switching to Spartans Aquatic Club and competing year round for 3 years. In the last two years Keely has coached with the Fort MacLeod Swim Club, and is currently head coach of the club. Keely appreciates the importance of one on one coaching, and is a strong believer in building a good technical foundation in all swimmers. During her time coaching with Summit Swim Camp, Keely hopes to work with the other incredible coaches to create a fun environment where swimmers can learn and grow as athletes
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Caileigh SheppardAssistant CoachCaileigh is currently an assistant coach with the Lethbridge Orcas Summer Swim Club and a lifeguard/swim instructor at the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Center. She has been swimming with the Orcas for 14 years and stepped into the realm of coaching 4 years ago. In addition to coaching with the Lethbridge Orcas, she spent time coaching with the Spartans Aquatic Club from 2015 - 2017 and with the Wilson Middle School Wolverines in 2017. Caileigh is a strong believer in building a solid foundation of technique and work ethic at the pool. She loves swimming and instilling that same love within her swimmers. Caileigh is extremely excited to be coaching with Summit Swim Camps this year!
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Ardelle LaydenAssistant CoachArdelle has been coaching within Alberta Summer Swimming since 2012. She began swimming in 2004 and continued to swim with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns throughout her undergraduate studies. Ardelle's career as a varsity athlete was successful as she maintained Academic All-Canadian recognition, CIS/USport standards and obtained both individual and relay school records. Ardelle is currently coaching with the Pincher Creek Dolphins, and after a terrific season last summer, she hopes to maintain the high energy for this upcoming season. Ardelle believes in creating mindful and intentional swim practices, and encourages her swimmers to always maintain awareness throughout practices. Ardelle takes pride in the well-being of her athletes, and works with them to achieve growth both inside and outside of the pool.
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Steven MaychakAssistant CoachCoach Steven competed in summer swimming for 8 years in Vegreville, AB and St. Albert, AB. He has been coaching for 7 years, 5 years as the Head Coach in Brooks, AB and has been an assistant coach with the Lethbridge Orcas for the past 2 years. Steven is very detail oriented and wants to help swimmers understand the fundamentals and science behind swimming. Steven is very passionate about the sport and is excited to work with and learn from the other coaches and swimmers attending the Summit Swim Camp.
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