Tay Stratton
Co-Head Coach LRRC
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Coach Tay Stratton has led the Laser Swim Team as
Founder and Head Coach since 1992. Under her direction, the team
grew into one of the largest teams in the State. She has trained
swimmers to compete at the State, Regional, Junior, Senior
Nationals, and Olympic Trial levels. Under her coaching, the team
has had 40 Top 16 swims posted, had two swimmers rank 2nd in the
nation in their age group, set over 56 State and LSC Records, and
had many State High Point Champions. One of her alumni set a World
Record while on a NCAA Div. I relay. Coach Stratton was the
Arkansas Zone Coach for the 1996, 1997, and 2003 teams. She is an
ASCA level five coach. She has been named Arkansas Age Group Coach
of the Year and was inducted in the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame.
She has served as ASI Age Group Chair two terms and currently
serves as ASI Technical Chairman.
As a
competitive swimmer from the age of five, Tay swam for Millers Swim
Gym, and the Little Rock Dolphins. She attended the University of Arkansas at Little
Rock on a full swimming scholarship and was swim team captain two
years. Her competitive background, coupled with 24 years of
teaching 1000’s of students, has allowed Tay to further her
dedication and knowledge of stroke mechanics, motivation, racing
strategy and training methods. Her mission statement remains the
same: To provide a positive and motivating experience that builds
self esteem, develops the athlete to their fullest potential, and
gives swimmers the skills and lessons of competitive swimming that
they may take with them through all walks of life. She is excited about the
future of the Dolphin- Laser Swim Team and looks forward to
continue providing direction and vision for its future. Tay
oversees all aspects of the team in partnership with Coach Keith
McAfee, coaches the Age Group Team as well as oversees all
developmental practices at the Little Rock Racquet
Club.
April 28, 2007 Induction
into Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame
Bio
Keith McAfee
Co-Head Coach Jacksonville-Sherwood
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Coach
Keith is the Head Coach of our Jacksonville and Sherwood sites and
Team Administrator. He joined the Dolphin coaching staff in 1986.
He took over the Jacksonville program in 1994 and developed the
Sherwood site in 2004. As a coach for the Dolphins, he has been
instrumental in the development of many of the tops swimmers in
Arkansas.
Coach Keith is a Little Rock native and began his swimming career
at age 6 as a member of the Millers Swim Gym. He joined the Little
Rock Racquet Club Dolphins swim team in 1972. As an age group
swimmer, he held several state records and was selected as team
captain for the Dolphins his senior year. While at swimming Hendrix
College, he not only served as Team Captain but, received the
prestigious Carl Babcock Award for Outstanding Leadership in
Athletics.
White attending Hendrix College, he coached the Hendrix Aquakids
from 1983-1986. He has taught hundreds of children how to swim as
an instructor at the Little Rock Racquet Club.. He was active in
the development of the West Little Rock Optimist Summer Swim League
and coached five of the competing teams over a four- year period.
In 2003, in addition to his Dolphin coaching duties, he took over
the coaching of the struggling Sherwood Sharks Swim Team, which is
part of the Central Arkansas Swim League. Through his direction, he
took this summer program to the top of the league with four
straight undefeated seasons and is one of the largest in the
state.
He has been involved in many aspects of Arkansas Swimming, Inc. He
has volunteered his time by serving as Equipment Chair and Awards
Chair. He has been the Meet Director for many ASI Age Group Champs
meets. He has been instrumental in the Arkansas Swimming Hall of
Fame, serving on the committee since 1987. He is currently the
Chairman of the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame. He was awarded the
highly coveted Conoco Phillips 66 Volunteer of the Year in
2000.
Recognizing his numerous contributions’
to Arkansas Swimming, Keith McAfee was inducted into the Arkansas
Swimming Hall of Fame in 2009.
Matthew H Adams
Head Senior Coach
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Matt has an extensive background in competitive
swimming as a swimmer and coach. He most recently has served
as the Senior Coach of the AquaHawgs swim team in
Fayetteville. Matt coached swimmers age 14 and
older. During his time with the AquaHawgs his swimmers
achieved success from the State level to the Senior National
level.
Matt has a background in Arkansas
Swimming, as an age group swimmer he grew up swimming for the
Razorback Aquatic Club in Springdale, AR and swam summers during
college for the Arkansas Dolphins Swim Team. As a collegiate
swimmer he swam for the University of Missouri at Rolla where he
was a four-year letterman and a 2 year team captain. As
a national qualifier, he received numerous All-American
awards, and logged several school records. He graduated with
degrees in Business Administration and Economics. Upon
graduation he worked as a Business Systems Analyst for DaySpring
Cards in Siloam Springs Arkansas.
*Coach Matt is the contact for college
coaches.
Evan M Johnston
Age Group Coach
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Coach Evan has been
involved in swimming for the last 42 years. A coach in
Arkansas since 1995, Evan has had the opportunity to work with
swimmers from the novice level to the National level. Evan
has coached countless swimmers on to State Championship
performances, the Sectional level, Junior Nationals and the U.S.
Open.
Evan swam
competitively until he was 28 years old and then hung up the
suit. Evan hails from a large family of swimmers (7 in
all). After high school Evan was recruited by and attended
Iowa State University. After his freshman year at Iowa State,
Evan entered the United States Army and served as an Army Medic for
three years in San Antonio, TX. Upon completion of his Army
service Evan went on to swim at Henderson State University in
Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he was a 16 time NAIA
All-American. Evan was also a member of numerous school
record relay teams. Evan earned a BS in Recreation/Sports
Management while at Henderson State University and graduated
in 1994.
Evan has been named
Arkansas Age-Group Coach of the Year 4 times. He has
served Arkansas Swimming over the years as
Membership/Registration Chair, Club Development Chair, Age-Group
& Senior Chair and been an Arkansas Zone Coach eight
times.
Evan and his wife
Traci now reside in Maumelle, Arkansas with their two daughters,
Tori (age 8) and Tessa (age 2). Evan’s daughter Tori is
keeping the Johnston swimming tradition alive, swimming for the
Dolphin-Lasers with Tessa soon to follow.
Eimear M Fuller
Head Coach Little Rock Athletic club
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Coach Eimear Fuller is the Head Coach and
Aquatics Director at the Little Rock Athletic Club. Eimear has been
swimming all her life. She is one of the founding swimmers for the
Laser Swim Team. Eimear was team captain from 1999-2001, a Region
VIII swimmer and a member of the Arkansas State Champion team of
2001.
Eimear attended Little Rock Cental High school. As team
captian, she lead the Tigers to two Arkansas
state championship titles (2000 and 2001) and
was named to the Arkansas high school All-State Team
from 1998-2001. After graduating from Central, she
attended the University of Arkansas Fayetteville where she swam for
the Lady Razorbacks from 2001-2003.
In 2003 she went on to swim
for the University of Arkansas Little Rock Trojans on a swimming
scholarship. At UALR, Eimear was swim team captain, 5 time school
record breaker, an Athletic Scholar and was on the Sun Belt
Conference Honor Roll for academic excellence.
Eimear graduated from the University of Arkansas Little
Rock in May of 2006 with a Bachelors of Science with an emphasis on
health and exercise science. She is
also a Lifeguard, CPR and Water Safety instructor for the American
Red Cross.
From 2006-2008 Eimear was a director, instructor and
marketing manager with the British Swim School, in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida. Eimear joined the Dolphin-Laser family in
August of 2008.
Eimear is an
active member and volunteer for the Irish Cultural Society of
Arkansas. She currently serves as the ICSA's Rock to North Little
Rock St. Patrick's Day Parade Co-Chairman.
Steve Hall
Age Group Prep Coach
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Steve Hall has been coaching Developmental Swimmers (ages 5 to
13) for the Dolphin-Laser Swim Team since the summer of 2009. A new
and welcome challenge arrived in 2012 as Steve began developing the
Age Group Preparation program. Working with Dolphin Laser Swim Team
not only affords Steve more quality time with his daughter Hannah,
an age group swimmer herself. It also gives him a chance to give
back to the sport that made him who he is today. Naturally, Steve
sees being a swimming coach as something more than just a hobby.
“Developing well-rounded athletes not only helps these young
athletes achieve their personal training goals but also gives them
building blocks to achieve anything they want, including being
future leaders of society.
Born and raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Steve attended
Northeast High School before going on to be awarded Henderson State
University’s Men's Swimming scholarship. Steve started his
career swimming for the Indian Hills Sting Rays Summer League,
which led to swimming year-round for the North Little Rock Boys
Club Marlins, then to Central Arkansas Swim Team Seals (CAST),
finally ending up on the Dolphin Swim Team (LRRC). 1985 saw Steve
become a swim coach for the West Optimist Club under the mentorship
of legendary swim coach Paul Blair. In the summer of 1992, he took
on the Head Coach Position for the Lakewood Wave Swim Team. Even
more than continuing his close relationship with the sport, Steve
really enjoyed passing on his swimming knowledge while working with
kids of all ages and backgrounds.
Steve has trained with all levels of swimmers from State
Qualifiers, Region 8 (Sectionals), Junior Nationals, Senior
Nationals, and Olympic Trials qualifiers to Pan-American Swim
Champions.
Steve has coached swimmers to club records and state level
Qualifiers.
Steve Hall’s personal awards and accomplishments include:
Arkansas State Age Group 1st Place (100 Fly & 200 Fly), Top 8
at Zones 100 Fly & 1st Place 200 IM Relay and Junior Nationals.
Qualifier for Arkansas State Age Group 1982 - 1989, Arkansas Zones
Team, Region 8 "Sectionals" 1984 -1989, USA Junior Nationals
Qualifier 1988-1989.
Other athletic accomplishments: Age Group Triathlete Awards 1981
– 1985 and Track & Field City Meet first team 1982 -1984.
Tasha Stratton
Masters Coach
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Tasha Stratton joined the
Laser team in September of 1998 as LRAC Head Age Group Coach.
Tasha swam competitively through her high school years. She
has a competitive background in swimming where she swam for the
Little Rock Racquet Club. She began teaching swimming at age
16 at the Pine Bluff Country Club. She taught swimming
as well as water aerobics and lifeguarding while attending
Lyons College and Emergency Medical Technical School. She
also has had experience working in childcare through independent
organizations including the Montessori school system. Tasha
is the Head coach of the Laser Masters program where she oversees
training of Lasers Masters Swimmers.
Tasha was the aquatic director at the LRAC for eight
years where she oversaw swim instructors and lifeguards. She
also teaches private and group lessons. When not
coaching you may see Tasha with her fourteen-year-old daughter Skye
or her six-year-old son Ronan or her one and a half year
old son Finn. Tasha has always loved working with
children and wants to help them achieve high self esteem and
success through the sport of swimming.
Brian E Bowen
Cabot Coach
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Growing up in an Air Force
family, Brian traveled to many places,
including
Hawaii
,
Japan
, and
the
Philippines
, but eventually settled
in
North Little
Rock
, where he began his
swimming career with the Lakewood Waves. In high school, Brian made
the state swim meet his sophomore, junior and senior years. While
attending college at UALR, he continued to swim on his
own.
Originally from a small town outside
Austin
,
Texas
, Brian had always looked up to his rodeoing
uncle. Always a competitor, Brian pursued a career as a
professional bull rider. For twelve years he hit the road as a
professional bull rider in the Professional Cowboys Rodeo Assoc.,
Professional Bull riders Assoc, and the Arkansas Cowboys Assoc.
Brian won the1995, 1996, and the 1999 Arkansas State Finals and
many other titles over his career.
Brian coached for the Waves as a senior and into
college. He also taught swim lessons on a regular basis, coached
soccer for many years, and now over the past ten years has become
an avid rock climber. He has now coached for the Dolphin- Lasers
for two years and is heading up the Dolphin-Laser program in Cabot.
Brian also coaches the Sharks summer league team along with Coach
Keith and volunteers as the head coach for the Sylvan Hills Swim
team. He is married to Christina Bowen and has two son, Tristen,
age 9, and Maddux, age 4. Both Tristen and Maddux have followed in
daddy’s foot steps and have found a love for
swimming.
Mary Jo Heye
Jacksonville Sherwood Coach
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Elaine Schienvar
Swim Team Coordinator
Email
Elaine joined our Staff as Swim Team coordinator in 2010 after 5
years of time on the pool deck with her 5 Dolphin-Laser Swimmers
(Emily, Karin, Meghan, Rebecca, & Catherine).
Elaine herself has a swimming background. Originally from NJ,
she began to swim competitively at the age of 7 with the Twin
Rivers Torpedoes and finished her career as an All-Conference
swimmer with the Central A- State Champion Highstown High School
Rams. Following that she went on to graduate with a Bachelor's
degree in Nursing from Saint Louis University, marry her high
school sweetheart Scott, and grow her family through moves to St.
Louis, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and most recently Little
Rock.
*OFFICE
HOURS are Monday through Thursday
8:00am-11:30am. You can also
call/leave message or email elaineschienvar@lrrcfc.com
