I’m thrilled to be your head coach for the 2026 season! Swimming has always been a big part of my life. I started swimming summer league at age 8 with the Smoky Hill Sharks, where I still hold multiple team records. I was not a very good swimmer as a 12 & under, and most club teams wouldn't take me when I tried out. Aquawolves gave me a chance at age 13 and I made my first sectional cut by age 14. I swam for Grandview High school and qualified for state in all events and placed in the top 16 in my main events.
I had a shoulder injury that required surgery my senior year of high school and I even swam with one arm for a year! I received a full scholarship to swim Division 1 at the University of Idaho and now have been coaching for Aquawolves for over 10 years.
I believe there are so many life lessons that kids can learn from swimming, that translate out of the water. I am passionate about supporting swimmers to become stronger, more confident versions of themselves. I teach my swimmers to never give up on yourself!!
I am SO excited to join the Sundance Sailfish Team and have a FUN and FAST summer!!
Hey Sailfish! I am Madie Williams and I will be a Lead Age Group Coach again this summer! This will be my 11th year swimming for this wonderful team! I am an incoming freshman at the University of Idaho! I am so excited to coach and connect with all the kids! Can’t wait to share my passion and love for this sport! I’m so thrilled for this season! Let’s go Sailfish!
Hello Sailfish, my name is Mackenzie Williams and I am so excited to be a Lead Age Group Coach again this summer! I am an incoming freshman at the University of Vermont where I will be swimming and studying biology! This is my 11th year on Sundance and I can’t wait for another amazing season!
Hello Sailfish! My name is Tanner Buckheit and I am a rising freshmen at Northeastern University in Boston. This will be my thirteenth year as a Sailfish and I am beyond excited. Coaching last year was an absolute blast and I am so honored to get to come back this year! I cannot wait to see how much everybody improves!
Hey Sailfish! I’m Luke Jordan, and I’m really excited to be a head coach for Sundance again this year. I’ve been swimming with Sundance for 13 years and also swim year-round with Aquawolves. This will be my fourth year as a coach. I’m looking forward to helping everyone improve and have fun. Let's have a great season! Go Sailfish!
Hey Sailfish! I’m a rising senior at Cherry Creek High School, and I’ve been swimming with the team since I was 6. This will be my 6th summer coaching, I can’t wait for another fun season with all of you. Let’s make it a great one. Go Sailfish!
What's Up Sailfish! I'm Alex and I am currently a rising senior at Cherry Creek High School. This will be my 12th year on the team! I swim competitively for Aquawolves and the Cherry Creek Bruins. This team has been so impactful on my life and I can't wait to add another year of memories to it! Go Sundance!
My name is Lauren, I am finishing up high school at Cherry Creek this year. I swam all four years at Creek with this past year being a varsity captain. I will continue my swimming and academics at Nebraska Wesleyan University in the fall. I love summer swim team and I think it is so important, both socially and a great introduction to swimming. Can’t wait for the season to start!
Hello Sundace, I'm Spencer Greene, I have been swimming with Sundance for a decade now and swim competitively year around for DSA, Can't wait for an amazing season.
Talen is a rising sophomore in college going to DU for division 1 swimming where he swims on the Varsity Boys Swim Team. He has been on the Sundance team for 12 years starting as a six and under. This is his third year coaching, and he is very excited to meet his swimmers! His favorite events are breastroke and freestyle, and when he isn't swimming (which is not a lot) he likes baking, skiing, and playing video games.
Hello Sailfish, my name is Kate McKinnon and I'm so excited to be coaching for you all this year! I am an incoming Junior at Cherry Creek High school and have been swimming for over 11 years now! I cannot wait to meet you all and have an amazing summer!
Hey Sailfish! I'm Cade Palmateer and this will be my 11th year on the team! I swim competitively for Aquawolves and the Cherry Creek Bruins, where I will be a senior next year. This will be my 2nd year as a coach, and I'm so excited for another great season. Go Sailfish!
My name is Coach Jason. I am very excited to be a part of the Sundance swim team and have the honor of working with your child this season. Swimming is more than just a sport—it’s a lifelong skill, a character-building experience, and a passion that I hope to instill in each of my athletes.
My coaching philosophy is centered on three key principles: a love for swimming, strong character development, and technical excellence. I believe that when swimmers enjoy what they do, they grow into confident and motivated athletes. Beyond the strokes and turns, I emphasize the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and discipline—qualities that will serve them well both in and out of the water.
One of my biggest focuses as a coach is technique. Efficiency in the water is crucial, and I will work diligently with each swimmer to refine their strokes, improve their body position, and maximize their potential. Whether your child is new to the sport or an experienced competitor, my goal is to help them swim smarter, not just harder. As a PE teacher I thrive on giving lots of feedback and focusing on form first so as to not build bad habits.
I have been a swimmer throughout my life and coaching combines my love for teaching and aquatics all in one. I started out coaching swim lessons at DU back when I first started teaching PE in 2012. I then started coaching swim team and lessons for Lifetime fitness 2015-2019. After changing PE positions to Cottonwood Creek elementary school I started coaching for ACES swim club in 2022 as well as managing Pools in the summer, such as the Sundance Hills pool, and assisting with lots of private lessons and swim team. I currently teach daily private lessons out of Club Greenwood, teach PE at Cottonwood Creek elementary school, and coach for AQUAWOLVES swim team.
Communication is key to a successful season, and I encourage an open dialogue between parents, swimmers, and myself. If you ever have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can create a supportive and enriching environment for every swimmer to thrive. I’m excited for a season full of growth, hard work, and fun! Thank you for entrusting me with your child’s swimming journey. Let’s make this an incredible experience for all!