Revised 5-9-10
Coaches Corner

Click here to see the practice schedule for this season
or to learn more about the HORNETS!

Hello Hornet Families and Friends!

I’m very excited about this coming season! We are going to have a fantastic staff and a great team.  Coach Rogers, and Coach Jordan will both be returning to coach this year.

We will have three new coaches: Helen Gagnon, Willie Mendleson, and Eric Kaylor. Some of you may recognize these names because all of these coaches have swum for Hamilton at some point! I’m really excited to work with this staff.

As you all probably know, our first meet is June 8th. I am aware that this is during the school week. I will be teaching that day so I understand how it will be a busy but it is very important that every that can make it, come to the meet!

I also encourage swimmers to be at every practice possible until then. Pre-season practices start up in April. The earlier our swimmers can get in the water, the better and more confident they will feel by June 8th.

Can’t wait for this awesome season!!!! GO HORNETS!

Coach Catherine

Please know that while your concerns/ questions are important to our coaches, the time that they have scheduled practices is reserved for the swimmers.  If you need to speak to the coaches, please do so before/after practice or via email/telephone.  We appreciate your
co-operation regarding this matter.  Hornets Coaching Team

We are so happy to have all six Hornet Team Coaches for the 2010 Season.

Catherine Cecchini will be back as our head coach for a third year. For those who are new to the team, Catherine has been around the pool for years. Besides being an assistant coach in the past, she swum for HL for ten years, as well as swimmming for GSA and Wesleyan Christian Academy in High School. Catherine is certified as a" Water Safety Instructor." She graduated in December, 2009 from Appalachian State University with a degree in elementary education, and is currently teaching 2nd grade at Nathaneal Greene Elementary in Liberty NC. She has coached the Watauga High School Swim Team for the last 2 years as well as head coach for an Elks team in another year. Because of her long history at Hamilton, her knowledge of swimming, and the excitement she brings, we know this will be a great season! Welcome back Catherine!

Rogers Cecchini is back for his third year coaching at HL. He has swum for Hamilton Lakes since he was 6 until age 19. Rogers was a dedicated High school and competitive swimmer at Wesleyan Christian Academy and GSA. He was even his High school conference MVP 5 years in a row. (The school competes in the 3A division of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association-- NCISAA). Out of the water Rogers has been a Lifeguard since he was 15; and currently the Assistant Manager at Sherwood Swim and Tennis Club. He plans on working toward a degree in Parks and Recreation at UNCG this fall.

Jordan Rogers will be attending the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University next year with the intended major of Biomedical engineering/premed.  This is Jordan's third year as a Hornet Coach. He too, has been swimming since he was 6. Jordan started swimming competitively at the age of 10 with High Point Swim Club, then moved to Greensboro City YMCA, and then Greensboro Swimming association at around 12 or 13. He swam for Adams Farm for 3-4 years, Grandover for two years, and joined Hamilton four years ago. Jordan was ranked as All State in swimming this year in high-school state swimming. We look forward to a great season with Jordan.

Helen Gagnon:completed her freshman year at UNC-Wilmington where she is majoring in childhood education.  Helen is part of the UNCW Triathlon club and has competed in Triathlons and Half Marathons during the year.  Helen swam for Hamilton lakes for the 10 years from 1999 until 2009. Additionally, she swam for the Bishop McGuinness High School team, and for GSA for 5 years.  This is her first year coaching for Hamilton Lakes and says, "I am SUPER excited!!!"

 

Willie Mendleson is a graduating IB student from Grimsley High School .  He will be attending the School of Engineering at Cornell University in the fall, where he has been recruited to swim on the Men's Swim Team.  Willie is a scholastic All American Athlete who was named the Metro 4A Most Valuable Swimmer in 2009. He was also the Grimsley Men's swim team captain for the 2010 season.   He currently holds the Grimsley High School record for the 100 yard Backstoke.   He was recently named Most Valuable swimmer for the Greensboro Swimming Association, his year round swim club.  He is excited to be joining the coaching staff at Hamilton Lakes and looks forward to sharing his passion for swimming with the younger athletes.

 

Eric Kaylor is in his 10th year as a Hamilton Lakes Hornet, but the first year coaching.  He swam year-round with Greensboro Swimming Association for a while.  He is a student a Western Guilford High School, and was on the swim team and soccer team.  For the past 6 years he has played club soccer, hung out with friends, and mostly anything outdoors.  This year he has begun to participate in YoungLife.  He is sometimes known by my nickname, "White Lightning", which has stuck with Eric because of his extremely pale legs.  Eric says, "I am really looking forward to working with a great swimming program complete with hard working kids, focused coaches, and supportive parents.