Mark Sedlak Honored as Coach of the Year
Our very own Mark Sedlak was honored as the Connecticut Swimming Coach of the Year at CSI’s Top 16 Banquet this past Sunday (11/6). Coach Betsy introduced him and described his many accomplishments:
“Mark is a born and raised native of Connecticut. His presence as a swimmer, as well as a coach, is felt throughout the region. As a swimmer, he set a national age group record in the 50 yard freestyle, and 26 years later, he still owns the 13+14 50 and 100 yard freestyle CT State Records. As a coach, he has had an influence on many of the state’s top swimmers. Mark has produced YMCA National Champions, multiple CT state record holders, multiple Connecticut Senior Open, Age Group, and YMCA New England champions as well as numerous National Top 16 swimmers. Many of his swimmers have also gone on to swim at top-level NCAA Division I schools.
This past year, in only his second year with the Westport Water Rat Swim Team, Mark had six WRAT swimmers earn 20 top 8 finishes at Zones. At the short course Connecticut Age Championships, he had 23 top 8 finishes with 3 1st place winners. At the 2010 Long Course Age Groups, he had 20 top 8 finishes, 9 first place winners and 2 state champions. Mark coached Ed Stolarski to a State Record in the 11/12 50 meter backstroke and Daniel Williams to a State Record in the 11/12 200 meter Butterfly. Ed, along with Mia Bullock, ranked in the top 10 in the nation in the 50/100/200 back and breaststroke respectively. Mia’s 100-yard breaststroke time as an 11-year-old made qualifying cuts for the YMCA SC Nationals.
As you can tell, Mark is very versatile in coaching all strokes and distances. It is his phenomenal ability to create interesting and exciting workouts along with his infectious smile and crazy sense of humor that makes him a favorite with all his swimmers as well as his staff. If his former coaches were here today, they would be smiling to themselves as they remembered a talented swimmer who made them work hard for their money.”
The entire Water Rat Team and everyone at the Westport Weston Family Y are very proud of Mark—congratulations!
To read Mark's acceptance speech, click here.
“Mark is a born and raised native of Connecticut. His presence as a swimmer, as well as a coach, is felt throughout the region. As a swimmer, he set a national age group record in the 50 yard freestyle, and 26 years later, he still owns the 13+14 50 and 100 yard freestyle CT State Records. As a coach, he has had an influence on many of the state’s top swimmers. Mark has produced YMCA National Champions, multiple CT state record holders, multiple Connecticut Senior Open, Age Group, and YMCA New England champions as well as numerous National Top 16 swimmers. Many of his swimmers have also gone on to swim at top-level NCAA Division I schools.
This past year, in only his second year with the Westport Water Rat Swim Team, Mark had six WRAT swimmers earn 20 top 8 finishes at Zones. At the short course Connecticut Age Championships, he had 23 top 8 finishes with 3 1st place winners. At the 2010 Long Course Age Groups, he had 20 top 8 finishes, 9 first place winners and 2 state champions. Mark coached Ed Stolarski to a State Record in the 11/12 50 meter backstroke and Daniel Williams to a State Record in the 11/12 200 meter Butterfly. Ed, along with Mia Bullock, ranked in the top 10 in the nation in the 50/100/200 back and breaststroke respectively. Mia’s 100-yard breaststroke time as an 11-year-old made qualifying cuts for the YMCA SC Nationals.As you can tell, Mark is very versatile in coaching all strokes and distances. It is his phenomenal ability to create interesting and exciting workouts along with his infectious smile and crazy sense of humor that makes him a favorite with all his swimmers as well as his staff. If his former coaches were here today, they would be smiling to themselves as they remembered a talented swimmer who made them work hard for their money.”
The entire Water Rat Team and everyone at the Westport Weston Family Y are very proud of Mark—congratulations!
To read Mark's acceptance speech, click here.
