Monica comes to Temescal Masters from Brazil, having lived in the Bay Area since 2004. She holds a degree in Physical Education from the Federal University of São Carlos. She brings over 20 years of swimming experience to Temescal, including coaching a masters team in São Paulo, coaching children's swim teams, instructing water aerobics, and working as assistant to the head coach of Clube Paineiras do Morumbi, the Brazilian national synchronized swim team. She also has years of her own competitive swimming to give her perspective. She says "I really love what I do and I am very happy for having the opportunity to work at Temescal."
Vanessa is one of two coaches who have teamed up to lead our weekday morning workouts. She comes to Temescal Masters as a native of Oakland who learned to swim through her community Parks and Recreation programs. Beginning at the age of seven, Vanessa spent her childhood summers swimming as a Live Oak Hammerhead until she reached high school age when she also swam for Oakland High's varsity team and Oakland Undercurrent's senior age group. Once in college, she returned to coach her high school's varsity men for one season, Live Oak for four summers, and Oakland Undercurrents for three years as a developmental and jr. age group coach before becoming director of the Undercurrent Swim School.
Vanessa graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Spanish Linguistics. She spent her last semester studying abroad in Chile, where she swam for the selection team at La Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
She looks forward to seeing you at her 5:30 AM workouts on Wednesday and Fridays!
Stevann was born and raised in Detroit, MI. He started recreational swimming at four years old and started competitively swimming at 7 years old. By now, he's managed to master 8 strokes and has done a combination of lifeguarding and instructing for 10+ years for YMCA and other public and private organizations. He says: "I am extremely happy to be a part of such a dynamic team of coaches and swimmers."
The only thing more impressive than Tiffany's swimming career is her coaching career! She holds a B.S. in Exercise Science from Southern Illinois University and a Masters in Exercise Physiology from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Tiffany was the 1996 Colorado Swimming Inc. Age Group Coach of the Year and was selected to the 2004 and 2008 USMS World Masters Championships USA Coaching Staff.
Tiffany was the founder and director of the Boulder Swimming Academy. Established in Boulder, Colorado, BSA offered Learn-to-Swim (kids and adults) swim lessons, clinics, underwater video analysis and a “Women’s Only” swim program. Tiffany spent most of her time coaching in Boulder, with BSA, and with the Boulder Aquatic Masters (BAM). She also did do some coaching with the Dallas Aquatic Masters and the Olympic Club, both having large influence on her coaching style and philosophy.
Tiffany brings her enthusiasm and passion for swimming to the Temescal Masters coaching staff. She hopes to impart that same passion to all of the swimmers participating with TEME program. She looks forward to participating with the swimmers in many events, in the pool, and outside of the pool.
Her dog Cisco looks forward to making some dog “friends” on the team, as well; maybe a hiking companion for those non-swim hours? Tiffany and Cisco cannot wait to move closer to the Temescal area, and enjoy this great neighborhood. They are also looking forward to meeting some ski buddies!