MARY JACKSON
Director

Mary's swimming experience started at the age of five months with her parents, Jack and Sherrill Nelson, realizing the importance of starting young. The sport of swimming was an integral part of growing up in the Nelson household where swimmers from all over the world were considered part of the family. MORE...


DAN VAWTER
Head Instructor & Marketing Director

Dan's competitive swimming career began early at the age of five with the Carmel Swim Club, in Indiana. Dan became a part of CSC's National Development Team at the age of eleven, where he trained and developed his technique under Tom Avischous (USA Swimming) and the legendary Doc Councilman (Head Coach Indiana University). With Carmel, Dan was a part of an eight year run as State Champions in both short and long course seasons and was a part of the Junior and Senior National Teams.  MORE...


KARLA CASTRO
Instructor

Karla began learned to swim at age three. She then joined a competitive team at the age of five, where she swam for the Flushing Flyers at the YMCA in New York. She attended the YMCA States at the age of 6, where she was part of the 8 & Under girls relay team. In 1994 she moved to North Miami Beach, where she joined the Fort Lauderdale Swim Team, under Coach Jack Nelson. She competed with them for ten years, attending various swimming competitions. MORE...


MARY JO HERHOLD
Customer Service

After graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in elementary education, Mary Jo Herhold taught for four years in California. Included in two of those years was a third and fourth grade combination class. This required a great deal of organization and preparation. MORE...

GLADYS CASTRO
Customer Service

Gladys has been involved in swimming since 1984 when her son and later her daughter took swimming lessons at a very early age. She did voluntary work while her kids were on the YMCA swim team in New York. She moved to Miami in 1994 where her kids then joined the Fort Lauderdale Swim Team. MORE...

Additional Teaching Staff:

Allison Lloyd
Lauren McGoodwin
Tony Moura - fluent in Portuguese & Spanish
Daniela Thula - fluent in Spanish
Luis Thula - fluent in Spanish


Pictured above: Samantha Marcum, Daniela Thula, Tony Moura, Lauren McGoodwin & Karla Castro