Head Coach Mark Walker 

Coach Walker has led Excel Aquatics athletes to Olympic Team Selection Trials in 2000 and 2004, and will again send an athlete to the 2008 selection meet.  Under Coach Walker’s direction, Excel has been successful at every level of competition, from the local level to the national championships.

Coach Walker is a leader in the dry side of competitive swimming and has a vast amount of professional experience.   He is currently in his third term as the President of Southeastern Swimming.  He has  served on the Southeastern Board of Directors since 1987, having served three terms as General Chairman. He has also served as Administrative Vice-Chairman, Technical Chairman, and Chairman of Laws and Legislation.  Coach Walker has served as an annual delegate to the USA Swimming Aquatics Convention since the 1987 and has served on USA Swimming’s Counselor’s Committee.  Coach Walker is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association, Tennessee Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association  and Middle Tennessee High School Swimming Association.

Coach Mark Walker received a Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of Tennessee in 1981 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the Nashville School of Law in 1985. He is married to Laura Williams, and they are the parents of four children. 

Coach Kate Chronic

 Coach Chronic was most recently the Head Swim Coach for CATS Aquatic Team in Libertyville, Illinois just outside of Chicago since April 2002. She was also the Head Swim Coach, Men’s Varsity Team at Libertyville High School, Libertyville, Illinois. While at CATS, Kate was responsible for all aspects of competitive swimming team, daily development and implementation of workouts, stroke development, weight training, dryland exercises for approximately 250 athletes age 5 to post collegiate and Masters level.

 Coach Kate Chronic’s has served many roles with USA Swimming, Illinois Swimming, and Southeastern Swimming. She currently serves as the USA Swimming Central Zone Championship Meet Coordinator, as a USA Swimming National Board of Review Member, and member of the USA Swimming Sports Medicine Network.  She has also served on the USA Swimming Club Development Committee, USA Swimming Age Group Planning Committee, and USA Swimming Central Zone Board of Directors.  She has served on the Illinois Swimming Board of Directors as Illinois Swimming Safety Coordinator, Illinois Swimming Rules & Regulations Chairperson, Illinois Swimming Age Group Vice-Chairperson, and Illinois Swimming Website Coordinator.  She has served on the Southeastern Swimming Board of Directors as Southeastern Swimming Adaptive Aquatics Chairperson and Southeastern Swimming Safety Chairperson.

Coach Chronic received her BA in Psychology from  the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee in 1987.  She was a member of the Lady Vols swim team from 1982-1984 where she was an  All-American. She also has completed  Master of Arts courses in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in assessment, psychological testing, motivation, and cognitive-behavior therapy at  Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Mark Krimm - coachmarkk@excelaquatics.org

Mark began his swimming career as an age group swimmer becoming a state medalist and champion with the North Houston Dolphins, now Blue Tide Aquatics.  After high school, he competed in football and track through his college career at McMurry University where he received his BS/Education in Psychology and Exercise Physiology.

His coaching career began as a Summer League Head Coach while in college where he led Forest Cove Swim Team to achieve Regional Runner-Up and Champions in ’85 & ’86.  In ’87 & ’88, he was coach of the 350+ Woodland Hills Swim Team where they were back-to-back Regional Champions.

From 1988 to 1991, Mark was the Head Swimming & Water Polo coach at Humble HS, taking his team of 75+ athletes from worst to first as Co-champions with the nationally recognized Kingwood High School.  In just 3 seasons, he produced 9 All American swimmers/polo players and 2 State Water Polo Finals.

During those same years, he chartered and coached Humble Organized Team Swimming (HOTS) where his team served primarily as a sprinters playground for creative training and a training ground for the Humble Area Water Polo players.

In 1989 and 1990, Mark was the National Junior Development coach with United States Water Polo.

Beginning in 1991 and continuing thru today, he is the Area Director with Young Life, starting in Kingwood, TX, then to New Braunfels, TX, and now here in Williamson County.

Mark is married to his beautiful bride Tricia.  They have 3 children, Stephanie a freshman at UT-Knoxville, Sara a sophomore at Brentwood High School, and Sydney an 8th grader at Brentwood Middle School.

He still finds time to compete in United States Masters Swimming with the Excel Masters group.  He has so far earned 2 medals at the SCY Nationals where he was Top 12 in 6 events.

When asked why he wants to coach, he responded with, “As a coach, I love the relational side of working with young athletes, teaching a feel for the water, speed, and FUN.”

Elizabeth Whaley

Elizabeth Whaley grew up in a swimming family.  Both of her siblings, as well as herself, have all been swimming since the age of 3.  Coaching also runs in her genes as her mother is also a USA Swimming coach for Memphis Tiger Swimming.  Elizabeth received many awards throughout her swimming career with Memphis Tiger Swimming and Briarcrest Christian High School and achieved many great accomplishments.  She was the summer league championship winner growing up, named the Terri Sax Leadership award winner, and voted MVP in high school in 2002 and 2003 as well as the Coach’s Award in both 2001 and 2003.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth was forced to quit swimming competitively due to multiple injuries but has always found a way to stay involved with the sport.

Elizabeth has competed at all different levels while swimming, but she has always had a special love for teaching and coaching.  She began teaching swimming lessons in May 1998 and continues to this day.  She also coached Special Olympics from January 2001 till August 2003.  Elizabeth began her USA coaching career as a volunteer coach with River Oaks Swim Club in February 2006 and continued coaching as the head coach as the team evolved into the Murfreesboro Aquatic Club.     

Elizabeth is a 2007 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University where she majored in Community and Public Health and Health and Human Performance.  In her free time she is very involved with Campus Crusade for Christ.  

Ashley Whitney

Ashley Whitney was born and raised in Nashville, TN. She grew up swimming for Excel South which later merged with NAC. For high school, she attended The Bolles School in Jacksonville, FL. It was there she qualified for the United States Olympic team and went on to win a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the 4 x 200 Freestyle Relay. After the Olympics she continued to represent the United States National team until 1999 when she attended the University of Georgia. At the University of Georgia she was part of the first swim team to win a nation championship for the school. After her first year at Georgia, she transferred to the University of California Berkeley to finish her schooling and swimming career. Ashley attributes her success to her Mom’s unconditional love and support; coaches Gregg Troy (University of Florida) and Ray Mitchell ( Terrapins Swimming)- although they were not always her favorite coaches (they pushed her to the limits mentally and physically in practice when she sometimes didn’t want to) they were, by far, the most influential.

Ashley has coached since being back in Nashville in 2003. She coaches summer league, year round (Silver II), high school (Independence High School), masters swimming, and triathletes. So many people have helped her out during her career, she enjoys giving back to the swimming community.

Becky Ramer -

Coach Becky is a 1999 graduate of the University of Tennessee. She moved back to the Nashville area where she coached one year at Franklin Road Academy and assisted the Donelson YMCA Swim Team. She was Head Coach of the Columbia Swim Team in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, Becky began swimming for the Excel Aquatics Masters Team and taught lessons for Excel. She is currently coaching the Silver II and Silver III groups for Excel. Along with coaching, Becky also teaches the Homeschool Program for Excel Aquatics and still teaches for her parents' swimming program in Columbia. 

Becky and her husband Andrew live in Spring Hill, TN.

Jenny Triggs -

Jenny began her swimming career at the age of 7 for Williamson 
County Aquatics Team (WCAT), later moving over to Nashville Aquatic Club throughout most of high school until a shoulder injury sidelined her USS career.She attended Franklin High School where she swam and competed all four years as a State Qualifier in her Freestyle and Backstroke events under the tutelage of Marla Hastings and Jason Davis.

During the Summer of ‘05, Jenny signed on as the Head Assistant Coach for Fieldstone Farms under the direction of Head Coach Jason Davis.  She has also taught swim lessons for three years.Jenny signed on with Excel Aquatics in the Fall of 2005 as one of the Bronze coaches to instill fun and hard work in the developmental swimmers.

Jenny now attends David Lipscomb University where she is majoring in biology.  She hopes to go on to medical school and become a pediatrician.

Andreea Mitrofan -

Andreea later went to college to study Economics.  After spending time with a job related to her degree, she found herself not happy with her job.  She realized she couldn't stay away from swimming and began to study swimming and coaching.  She has since written a thesis on The Training of Female Athletes in the 800 Freestyle, which is published in Romania, her home country.

Andreea's husband, Murat, his Masters education brought him to the US, which subsequently brought Andreea.  Moving to the Nashville area she found Excel Aquatics & began coaching the Gallatin swimmers in the fall of 2004.  When asked why she coaches, she says, " I believe my job has the best feedback among all other jobs - the smile of my pupils.  It's one of the best feelings to see their smile when I tell them that they are swimming much better than they used to."

A.J. Miley -

A.J. currently coaches the Bronze group and assists with Silver II at the Gallatin site. He joins the Excel staff out of the coaching ranks of the Nashville Swim League. He currently coaches the 100 plus member Indian Lake Warriors, where he began in the spring of 2003.  Along with Head Coach Laura Dayton, a former Excel swimmer, they have produced several Nashville Swim Leage high point champions and runners-up. Once again pairing with Dayton, Miley coached the 2004 Excel-Gallatin Spring Tune-up.  The past two summers, has been providing supervised workouts for adult fitness swimmers at Indian Lake Swim and Tennis Club.

Shereé Zobl joins the Excel  coaching staff in Gallatin after a successful 5 year stint as Sumner Academy’s 7^th and 8^th grade Girl’s Basketball Coach.  .  Coach Shereé has been involved with Excel Aquatics as a Parent Representative on Excel’s Board of Director the last two years, as well as serving as a USA Swimming Official the previous three years.  Coach Shereé will have primary responsibility of working with Coach Barnes and the Gold/Extreme group, with secondary responsibility of working with Bronze, Silver II, and Silver I as needed. 

Sheree’ began her swimming career at the age of 5 for summer league where her mother started the Bluegrass Marlins swim program for Bluegrass Country Club.  She continued swimming throughout her school years and a couple of years in college.

Sheree’ lives in Hendersonville, TN with her husband John and two daughters Ann Marie, a junior at Pope John Paul II, and Brittany an 8^th grader at Sumner Academy and swimmer for Excel Aquatics.  Sheree’ is currently the school librarian at Sumner Academy, and completing her degree online from the University of Phoenix.

Jason Davis -

Coach Jason is in his 7th year as a swim coach, 5th with Excel Aquatics.  He started his coaching career with the Birmingham Swim League for 2 years as an assistant coach before moving to Nashville to pursue a degree in Music Business at Belmont University, where he graduated in 2005.

Jason is the Murfreesboro site-coordinator after 4 years of coaching in Brentwood at the ISC.  He is currently responsible for the Silver 1, Gold, & Xtreme level training groups. His previous coaching experience involved coaching all training levels, including Masters & Triathletes.  During his years in Brentwood, he developed a foundation of fun, technique, discipline and character for all his swimmers.

In his years as the Lead Bronze coach, his swimmers went on to be 8 & Under District Champions, Southeastern Championship Qualifiers, Southeastern Record Holders, and Top 5/10 in Southeastern Swimming.  In the summer of 2004, his 8 & Under Boys went on to be the fastest 200 meter Medley Relay in the nation by almost 18 seconds.  Also, during the 2003-2004 Short Course season, his 8 & Under boys were the 3rd fastest 200 yd. Medley Relay in the nation, setting a 26 year old Southeastern Record.

 As the Silver 2 Lead coach, he developed & coached multiple Southeastern championship qualifiers, Southeastern Championship finalists, and Southeastern champions. Jason also was the Co-Head Coach for the Franklin High School Swim & Dive team.  During his time at Franklin, his swimmers achieved Finals, Consols, & Qualifying times for the TN High School State Championships.  A few of these swimmers went on to become state champions in the individual and/or relay events, plus, NISCA’s All-American status.

 Jason has been published on the USA Swimming website for the week of June 28, 2004.  To check out his SPEEDO™ Tip of the Week on Breaststroke, click here.

He was also the Head Coach for Fieldstone Farms summer league swim team, and a representative on the Williamson County Summer League Scholarship Committee.

Jason also has 2 brothers, one of which is his twin.  When asked why he is a swim coach, he responded with, "my 3 reasons for coaching are to make sure swimming continues to be fun for all swimmers while pursuing excellence in training & competition, I love working with kids, and I love swimming."

Coach Lisa Guthrey
lisamarieguthrey@gmail.com

Lisa Guthrey has recently joined the Excel Aquatics staff in May of 2008.  She brings with her 14 years of competitive swimming experience and coaching experience.

 She began her swimming career at the age of 4 with a summer league team, and swam for Nashville Aquatic Club until the age of 11.  At 11, she joined Watercats, which soon after, merged with Excel Aquatics.  In less than 2 years, she was the Southeastern Swimming Champion in the 100 yard Breaststroke at the age of 12.  She would soon move on to place Top 16 in the nation in the 100 and 200 Breaststrokes.   Lisa has held several Nashville Swim League and Excel Aquatics age group records for Breaststroke and Butterfly.

At the age of 15, Lisa left year-round swimming.  However, she continued her love for the sport by swimming for Franklin High School and her Summer League team, Cottonwood, where she coached for 2 summers.  She placed in the Top 16 at the TN State High School Championships and claimed numerous Breaststroke records for FHS.  Lisa was also elected Captain of FHS Swimming by her peers and coaches her Senior year.

 Lisa is a student at MTSU where she is majoring in Spanish.  She is also engaged to Noah Hardwick, a graduating Senior of MTSU.  Lisa eventually hopes to move to Europe in order to work with the Vineyard Church Community.