Please Welcome Our New Coaches
March 19th
Our new Head Coach is Lori Leitzinger. Lori comes to us most recently from the YMCA Tritons where she was the Director of Swimming and co-head swim coach. She has also been an assistant swim coach at Virginia Tech, and Saint Francis University. Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Lori worked at three different swim camps. Her wealth of coaching experience ranges from working with young, beginning swimmers to the year-round competitive swimmer and a few Olympic caliber ones, making her uniquely qualified to lead the Gators this year.
Returning to Avalon this summer is Maggie Cuthbert. Maggie currently attends Vanderbilt University. She joined the Avalon Gator swim team in 2007 and swam for 6 consecutive seasons before graduating. She attended Collegiate School where she competed on their varsity swim team, was an All-American Academic and served as team captain during her junior and senior years. Additionally, Maggie was a year-round swimmer at NOVA where she also became a swim instructor and taught water safety and stroke technique to disadvantaged youth.
Also joining Avalon this summer is Danielle Myers. Danielle is the current head coach at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy. Last summer she coached at Ridgetop. Before moving to Richmond, Danielle was the assistant swim coach at Dover Area School District in Pennsylvania. She is an avid Master’s swimmer and is the Virginia Masters Age Group Record holder in the 1000 Free, 100 & 200 Breast, and 200 Fly. She is also the National Age Group Champion in the 100 Fly (2011), 1000 Free (2012).
Last but not least, Elizabeth Berry will be the final new addition to our coaching staff. Elizabeth currently attends the College of Charleston where she competes on the swim team and achieved membership to the Coastal Collegiate Swimming All-Academic team. Prior to college, Elizabeth attended St Catherine's where she was a member of their varsity swim team. She also swam at NOVA year-round and taught lessons. Elizabeth has also been a swim instructor at Westwood CC and Kanawha Recreation Assoc.
Everyone is looking forward to a fantastic year of swimming and fun.
