Balcones Country Club Sharks

My name is Garrett Mott and this will be my tenth year to be a Sharks swim coach. As Head Coach my goal is to promote the sport of swimming through time improvements and having fun. I believe the purpose of summer league is to grow swimmers as athletes and to help build their confidence through learning and improving strokes in a positive and supportive atmosphere. Most importantly, I swam for the sharks for 10 years and I want all these budding athletes to have memories of Sharks they will cherish just like I do!

As a swimmer, I swam for the Westwood Swim Team for 4 years and was captain my senior year. I was a regional qualifier for 2 years in the 200 Free and 200 Free Relay. Additionally, I swam with Nitro for 8 years. I'm so happy to be back at Westwood as the Assistant Swim Coach. I graduated from UT with degrees in Physics and Mathematics in December 2020 and went straight to teaching math and science at Westwood in Spring 2021. During my time with the Warriors, we have represented WHS at the UIL State Meet with tons of All State and All American recognized athletes.

Away from the pool, I enjoy playing piano and making spreadsheets to track and model random things in my life. I can't wait to get this season started and get on the road to lots of time Improvements, technical stroke improvements and so many fun memories in the making. Go Sharks!

Favorite Stroke:  Freestyle

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:  Mint Chocolate Chip

Hi, my name is Marley Kotick, and this is also my tenth year being a Sharks coach! I swam for the sharks before coming a coach, and swimming was always the number one activity I looked forward to in the summer. I love coaching because I get to and be a part of a great community of swimmers and continue making memories with the sharks. Through swimming and participating on a team I learned a lot of the values and characteristics I still withold today. My favorite thing about Sharks is the environment and support of the team. The athletes truly come together to support one another and families cheer and lift up all swimmers in the pool. This helps the swimmers love the sport and feel accomplished each week.

I am currently a 5th grade teacher at Laurel Mountain Elementary. I will be wrapping up my 5th year of teaching this spring. I am also beginning my 6th year coaching at Waterloo Swimming. At Waterloo, I was the interim Senior Coach and now am back to my assisting roles for both the age group and senior track groups. I went to the University of Texas at Austin, graduated in 2020, and earned my degree in Education. Prior to that, I swam for 4 years on the Westwood Swim Team and I swam club with Waterloo Swimming. Outside of swimming, I enjoy doing any activity outside, and love eating good food with friends!

Favorite Stroke:  Freestyle

Favorite Ice Cream:  Blue Bell's Cookie Two Step 

Hi! My name is Morgan Vopat and this will be my second year as a Sharks coach! I swam for Sharks ever since I was super tiny (still hold a record!) and I continued to swim all throughout my high school career at Westwood! I have been a swim instructor at both Waterloo and Emler swim school, and I have been doing my own lessons for about three years now, and I’m working on starting my own business. I love being able to share my love of swimming through teaching, and it is my favorite thing watching the kids I teach swim their first race or win their first heat ribbon. I am so happy I get to experience that this summer and so excited to watch everyone grow into an amazing swimmer!

I graduated Westwood High School in 2023 where I swam for 4 years. I currently attend Texas State University where I am studying Marketing, and I have the honor of being a part of the Texas State swimming club, Vice President of HER Campus, and a committee member on Women In Business. Outside of work/school, I absolutely love backpacking, hiking, kayaking, practically anything outdoors. I'm hyped to be able to use my experiences to help swimmers find their passions in the pool. Go Sharks!

Favorite Stroke: Freestyle

Favorite Ice Cream: Cookie Twostep

Hi! My name is Blake Cookson, and this is my second year coaching Sharks! I’ve been swimming competitively for over twelve years and still can’t get enough of it. I’ve competed at just about every level and recently finished my first season swimming in college for the Hendrix Warriors in Arkansas!

One of my favorite parts about coaching and instructing over the years has always been watching swimmers make connections, whether it’s learning a new stroke or finally hitting a best time. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their confidence grow as they realize what they’re capable of. I’m absolutely ecstatic to be working with all of these Sharks and watching them grow both as swimmers and as people!
I swam for the Cedar Park Timberwolves all four years of high school and just finished my freshman year at Hendrix College. I’ve really enjoyed my first year as a collegiate athlete and am looking forward to even more growth in and out of the water. Go Sharks!

Favorite Stroke: Backstroke

Favorite Ice Cream: Strawberry Cheesecake

Hi! My name is Effie Castel, and this will be my first year as a coach for the Sharks! I swam with the Sharks for twelve years, and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to continue with the team in a new role. I've been swimming competitively since I was six years old, through both club teams and the Westwood Swim Team. I'm really looking forward to sharing the lessons I've learned over the years with the Sharks swimmers.

I absolutely love teaching young swimmers to enjoy the sport and watching them build their confidence in the water. I can’t wait to be part of the Sharks community this summer — and I’m beyond excited for a season of fast swimming ahead!

Currently, I’m studying biology at Laval University in Quebec. In my free time, I enjoy reading, going on walks, discovering new food spots, playing badminton, and of course, swimming! After spending the past four years as a camp counselor, I’m especially excited to bond with the swimmers and celebrate their accomplishments alongside them. I can’t wait to be back under the Texas sun. Go Sharks!

Favorite Stroke: Freestyle

Favorite Ice Cream: Mango

Hello!! My name is Emily Partridge and this is my first year as a Sharks coach! I've been a Shark, and swimming competitively, for 14 years, and I'm so excited to continue being on the team as an assistant coach for my 15th year! I swam all throughout high school at Westwood, dabbled a little at Waterloo, and am currently the Historian for the Swim Club at the University of Texas at Dallas. In March, my club swam at College Club Swimming Nationals in Arizona where I swam 100 backstroke and 50 backstroke with best times!

I attend the University of Texas at Dallas pursuing a bachelor of science degree in biomedical sciences on the pre-physician associate route! If I’m not at the pool I’m probably studying, reading books, watching TV, volunteering, or watching my sister bake :P

I’m excited to coach this year as I love seeing swimmers witness their own improvements and gain confidence in their sport! Sharks has been a family all of my life and I’m so excited to foster and help future generations of swimmers achieve their goals in swimming, whether it’s getting best times, winning first place, or making friends! Go Sharks!!

Favorite Stroke: Backstroke

Favorite Ice Cream: Chocolate Chip

Hi! My name is Jaden Steen, and this will be my first year as a Sharks coach! I started swimming for Sharks in 1st grade and continued through my senior year of high school. I swam for Westwood for all four years I attended, was a regional and state qualifier, and was a captain in my senior year. I currently attend the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York, pursuing a combined bachelor's/master's program in electrical engineering focusing on renewable energy. I am on the RIT swim team, despite a slight mishap this season that led to me needing reconstructive surgery on my right shoulder. I can't wait to come back next season, better than ever, after teaching all the amazing Sharks, helping them grow to be awesome swimmers, and finding their passion like I did. I hope to foster the same environment all my Sharks coaches did before, helping all the Sharks swimmers leave with years' worth of memories and best friends. I also can't wait to watch all of the Sharks swimmers grow and flourish, watching them swim their first races, win their first ribbon, accomplish all their goals, and hopefully watch some records fall! I can't wait for a super exciting season back in the Texas heat, I never thought I would miss. Outside of swimming, I love what I call my grandma hobbies. Sewing, embroidering, baking, reading, and more recently crocheting/knitting are my main hobbies - one of my professors at school even invited me to his sit and stitch next semester, which I absolutely cannot wait for. I am excited for this season, finally getting to help foster the culture of the team that I adored, all the while helping all the Sharks to feel a sense of accomplishment day in and day out that keeps them coming back to the pool for more.

Favorite Stroke: Freestyle

Favorite Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip

Hello!! My name is Phoenix Mielcarek, and this is going to be my first year as a Shark’s coach! I was a swimmer for 11 years, starting with summer league at the age of 7. I am super excited to be a coach for the Sharks this year, and hope to use my knowledge to help younger swimmers learn and grow in the sport. Getting to see swimmers thrive as they achieve goals firsthand is the greatest thing! I am probably the biggest swim nerd you’ll meet, so I am always more than happy to talk about anything and everything swim related. My favorite part about swimming is the comradery and team spirit it has to offer, and this year I am so hyped to be a part of the Sharks family.

As a swimmer, I swam for Aquatex and Waterloo, and also represented Westwood swim and dive for 4 years, serving as a captain my senior year. I will be attending UT as a freshman in the fall where I will be pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. Outside of the pool I enjoy hiking, reading, and finding new places to eat. If there is any outdoor adventure (or delicious food) to be had, I am all for it! I can’t wait for a fun filled season with lots of memories to be made. Go Sharks!

Favorite Stroke: Breaststroke

Favorite Ice Cream: Cookies and Cream