Ellen Johnston
Senior Coach
Ellen joined the Water Rat Swim Team in November 1986 as an assistant coach, working with swimmers at every level in the program. She quickly became a full-time assistant coach and was promoted to Senior Coach in 1990. Prior to working in Westport, Ellen coached the Bulldog Swim Club in Bowie, Maryland, where she was the Senior II and Head Age Group Coach. She also coached all levels of the South Carolina Aquatic Team in Columbia. Ellen twice has been Connecticut Senior Coach of the Year and was nominated for the honor again in 2008 and 2009. Ellen strives to help her swimmers mature as individuals as they progress from the age group to senior level and she encourages them to challenge themselves physically and mentally every day.
Mark Sedlak
Age Group Coach
Mark recently joined the Water Rat Swim Team and the 2009-2010 Short Course season is his first as Age Group Coach. Mark comes to Westport from Greenwich, where he was the Head Coach of the Greenwich YMCA Marlins for two years. Previously, Mark served as Head Junior Coach and Assistant Senior Coach for the New Canaan YMCA Caimans as well as Aquatics Director and Head Coach at Greenwich Country Club. A longtime swimmer, Mark swam for The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. Later, he was a varsity member of the Tar Heels Swimming Team while he earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina (class of 1995). Mark firmly believes that every swimmer can reach his potential if given the right coaching and motivation. That is why he enjoys participating in the development of young athletes at all levels.
Kelsey Slater
8/Under Coach
Kelsey, who is in her first year with the Water Rats, has been swimming competitively since she was a young child. She swam in high school and later at Southern Connecticut State University. She graduated in December 2007 with a B.S. in Research Psychology. After graduating, Kelsey coached her former Parks & Recreation swim team in West Haven, Connecticut. Later, she joined the OMNI Swim Club in New Haven. Kelsey loves teaching swimming fundamentals, such as stroke technique, and YMCA core values to young swimmers.
Jacquie Tumminia
Senior Director of Aquatics and Competitive Swimming
Jacquie joined the Westport Weston Family Y in June 2009. She came to Westport from Rochester, New York, where she was the Aquatics Director of the Westside Family YMCA. Prior to working for the YMCA, Jacquie worked as aquatic coordinator, coach and swim teacher at ther Roycefield Swim Club in Hillsborough, New Jersey. She also worked at the Hillsborough YMCA the Oxford Athletic Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jacquie started swimming as a child for the YMCA and ended her Y swimming career at the Hillsborough YMCA, where she was Team Captain. She went on to swim for Duquesne University while earning a degree in business management. She has a passion for the YMCA and she is excited to be leading the Water Rats. Jacquie, her husband Frank and three boys Zack, Hayden and Roman are very happy to call Connecticut home.
Senior Coach
Ellen joined the Water Rat Swim Team in November 1986 as an assistant coach, working with swimmers at every level in the program. She quickly became a full-time assistant coach and was promoted to Senior Coach in 1990. Prior to working in Westport, Ellen coached the Bulldog Swim Club in Bowie, Maryland, where she was the Senior II and Head Age Group Coach. She also coached all levels of the South Carolina Aquatic Team in Columbia. Ellen twice has been Connecticut Senior Coach of the Year and was nominated for the honor again in 2008 and 2009. Ellen strives to help her swimmers mature as individuals as they progress from the age group to senior level and she encourages them to challenge themselves physically and mentally every day.
Mark Sedlak
Age Group Coach
Mark recently joined the Water Rat Swim Team and the 2009-2010 Short Course season is his first as Age Group Coach. Mark comes to Westport from Greenwich, where he was the Head Coach of the Greenwich YMCA Marlins for two years. Previously, Mark served as Head Junior Coach and Assistant Senior Coach for the New Canaan YMCA Caimans as well as Aquatics Director and Head Coach at Greenwich Country Club. A longtime swimmer, Mark swam for The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. Later, he was a varsity member of the Tar Heels Swimming Team while he earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina (class of 1995). Mark firmly believes that every swimmer can reach his potential if given the right coaching and motivation. That is why he enjoys participating in the development of young athletes at all levels.
Kelsey Slater
8/Under Coach
Kelsey, who is in her first year with the Water Rats, has been swimming competitively since she was a young child. She swam in high school and later at Southern Connecticut State University. She graduated in December 2007 with a B.S. in Research Psychology. After graduating, Kelsey coached her former Parks & Recreation swim team in West Haven, Connecticut. Later, she joined the OMNI Swim Club in New Haven. Kelsey loves teaching swimming fundamentals, such as stroke technique, and YMCA core values to young swimmers.
Jacquie Tumminia
Senior Director of Aquatics and Competitive Swimming
Jacquie joined the Westport Weston Family Y in June 2009. She came to Westport from Rochester, New York, where she was the Aquatics Director of the Westside Family YMCA. Prior to working for the YMCA, Jacquie worked as aquatic coordinator, coach and swim teacher at ther Roycefield Swim Club in Hillsborough, New Jersey. She also worked at the Hillsborough YMCA the Oxford Athletic Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jacquie started swimming as a child for the YMCA and ended her Y swimming career at the Hillsborough YMCA, where she was Team Captain. She went on to swim for Duquesne University while earning a degree in business management. She has a passion for the YMCA and she is excited to be leading the Water Rats. Jacquie, her husband Frank and three boys Zack, Hayden and Roman are very happy to call Connecticut home.