Sam Cates (Head Coach)
Hey Stingrays! I’m so excited to be back for my second year as Head Coach. This will also be my 12th summer swimming season with the Ladner Stingrays, and my 8th as a coach. I am currently in my fourth year as a kinesiology undergraduate at UBC, and am so grateful to get the opportunity to apply what I learn all winter long at the pool.
My favourite races are 50 fly and 200 IM. But aside from swimming, I love listening to music, spending time with family/friends, cooking my favourite foods, and going on bike rides! I hope you’re excited and ready for another amazing summer Stingrays! I can’t wait to see and meet you all soon!
Co-Assistant Head Coach Ella
Hey Stingrays! I’m so excited to be back for another summer season and even more excited to be your new Co-Assistant Head Coach! This will be my 11th year swimming with the Stingrays and my 4th year coaching. Being at the pool is honestly my favourite part of summer!
When I’m not at the pool, you’ll probably find me out for a walk, spending time with friends and family, listening to music (I’m a Swiftie), or grabbing Starbucks. A couple fun facts about me: my favourite strokes are freestyle and backstroke, and my favourite events to swim are relays, especially with my friends and fellow coaches. I can’t wait to meet all our new and returning swimmers!
Co-Assistant Head Coach Sophie
Hi Stingrays! I’m Coach Sophie and I’m so excited to be back at the pool this year! This will be my twelfth season with the Stingrays and my fourth year coaching. It is also my first year as Co-Assistant Head Coach!
Last summer my favourite races were relays with my teammates and 100 breaststroke. Aside from swimming and school, I love being with my friends and family. I also love listening to music, going to the gym, and watching TV. I can’t wait to see all our returning Stingrays and meet all of our new swimmers joining the family!
Coach Sara
Hi Stingrays! I’m coach Sara and this will be my 13th year swimming (trust me, I can’t believe it either) and my 4th year as a coach. I absolutely love swimming and learning new things about the sport every year!
I love swimming the 100m backstroke in swim meets as well as competing in relays with friends that I’ve grown up swimming with. Outside of swimming and coaching you could probably find me either relaxing at home or relaxing anywhere comfy enough to take a nap. The outdoor pool has become my home away from home and I’m so happy to be able to help make it home for so many other Stingrays!
Coach Jade
Hi everyone! My name is Coach Jade and I am so excited to return to the pool again this summer! This year will be my third year of coaching and I couldn’t be more excited.
My favourite events are the 50m freestyle and the 100m freestyle. When I’m not in the pool or on the deck, I love to play basketball, bake, go for hikes or go for bike rides or drives with my friends! I am super excited to meet all the new swimmers and to welcome back all the returning Stingrays!
Coach Michelle
Hey Stingrays! My name is Coach Michelle, and I am so excited for this summer! This will be my eleventh year with the Stingrays and my second summer coaching. When I’m not at the pool, I love to spend time outside, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family. My favourite part of swim meets is doing relays with my friends and the 100-meter breaststroke! I can’t wait for another super fun season and to meet all the new swimmers and welcome back all of the returning Stingrays!
Coach Parker
Hello everyone! My name is Coach Parker. This is my first year coaching a division 1 group and I could not be more excited! I started coaching a Little Stingray group in the winter, and I have been swimming with the Stingrays for 9 years!
My favourite races are definitely the 100 backstroke and 200 IM. When I’m not at the pool for Stingrays, I’m at the pool for my second favourite sport, water polo, which I train for 6 days a week! I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and playing video games. I can’t wait to meet my groups and see you all at the pool!
Coach Goldie
Hi Stingrays! I’m Goldie. I have been a member and a volunteer for the Stingrays for 2 years now and this summer is my first as a coach. I consider myself quite the enthusiastic and dedicated individual who brings the jokes to the group. I have a deep passion for breaststroke and it’s the event I catch myself getting the most excited for at meets.
I’ve made many memories with this club and I’m thrilled to make more as a swimmer and a coach! This summer I am looking forward to creating a supportive environment encouraging swimmers to push their limits, while also fostering their love for the sport and being a leader during and outside of senior practices. Outside of swimming, I play rugby, and I love camping and being outdoors with my friends and family.
Coach Lauren
Hi everyone! I am very excited to be back in the pool for another season. This is my first year as a Little Stingray coach, and am more than excited to share my love of swimming with everyone. I once was a Little Stingray, and have been with the club for 13 years.
My all time favourite memories as a Little Stingray were the swim meets, getting to do the cheers and meeting other swimmers. Throughout racing I made many good friends and memories. With swimming for so long I am bound to have a favourite event, which is 100m freestyle. When I’m not on the pool deck I play rugby and badminton, and enjoy reading, baking, biking and playing with my dog Koda. I can’t wait to see some new and old faces back on the deck this year.
Coach Lauryn (Masters Coach)
Hey Stingrays! I’m Lauryn, and I’m so excited to be back on deck for my fifth summer with the Stingrays—this time as your Masters Coach! I grew up at the LOP, swimming with the Stingrays for 12 years before life took me on a little detour to Winnipeg. But I couldn’t stay away from Ladner for too long—I missed my Stingrays!
When I’m not bossing around the masters, I keep busy running my freelance website business and bartending at Britannia. Outside of swimming, I competed in triathlons for several years and have a big passion for running. So, if you ever need running tips or just want to swap race stories, I’m your girl! Pumped to make some waves again this season! BCSSA, get ready to EMBRACE THE STING!