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We are here to support your needs so please
feel free to contact any of the coaches for questions related to
workouts, meets or technique questions. For administrative
questions including dues and billing, please contact our Team
Administrator Carla Shaw at: shawc@episcopalhigh.org |
| Coaching Staff |
Coach DeMotte became
the AmberJax swimming’s head Coach in March 2007. Among Head Coach Benjamin “Benji”
DeMotte’s greatest accomplishments was coaching one of his
swimmers to compete in the 2004 Olympics in the 50-freestyle, and
recruiting
Benji earned his Bachelors of Science
in exercise physiology from
Cell: 904.735.7417
Pool: 904.396.5751, 1643
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Carla Shaw joined the staff of the
Amberjax in the Summer of 2011 and is currently Episcopal’s
Administrative Assistant and works as Receptionist for Episcopal
School of Jacksonville.
Carla has been involved in swimming most of her life. As a
child, she swam at Fort Caroline Country Club, which is now Fort
Caroline Flying Fish in the River City Swim League. She was a
lifeguard, taught swim lessons, assisted with coaching and
administrative duties at University Country Club, now known as The
USA Swim Team in the River City Swim League. Carla became
involved in swimming again in 2001, when her daughters began
swimming at Arlingwood Swim Club. In 2002, Carla became a certified
Swim Official.
Carla’s daughters, Emily and Madison have been members of
the Episcopal Amberjax since 2008.
Coach Garcia joined the Episcopal swimming staff in January 2007. Coach Garcia was a First Coast high school all-star in Jacksonville. After high school he attended the University of Florida where he was a team manager for the Gator swimming and diving teams. Coach Garcia was the head coach for the Ponte Vedra Country Club swim team and is currently the Associate Episcopal High School Head Swim Coach and the Senior Assistant swim coach with the Episcopal AmberJax year round swim team. Coach Garcia is also in his second year at Episcopal, teaching History for seventh and eighth grade.
Coach Bergren joined the AmberJax swimming staff in August 2008 after wrapping up a successful swimming career at Clemson University. Coach Bergren was a First Coast high school all-star and state champion in the 200 I.M. for Wolfson. After graduating high school, he received a swimming scholarship from Clemson University where he set numerous school records and received awards for both, “Performance of the Year” and “Coaches Award for Outstanding Leadership.” He has extensive experience in the Jacksonville swimming community and throughout the state of Florida and still holds Florida age group records and a 13-14 Junior Olympic record in the 200 breast. He is currently earning his Masters in Business Administration from the University of North Florida.
Lauren Smith joined the Amberjax coaching staff in May of 2011. Lauren had been swimming for the Episcopal Amberjax since 2004. Lauren graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School in 2009. While in high school, Lauren was All-Conference, a state qualifier for 3 years, and holds numerous school records. Lauren, attended Florida International University. At FIU, she holds numerous school and was All-Academic in the Sunbelt Collegiate Swimming Association conference. Lauren was also awarded for most service hours on her team.
Coach Alyssa moved to Florida
after high school. When she arrived here her involvement in
swimming began when
she got a job as a lifeguard at Gulf Coast Community College, in
Panama City. After working there for one year, she received
her Water Safety Instructors certificate from the American Red
Cross and began teaching swim lessons. Shortly after, she
became the novice coach for Panama City Swim Team.
While coaching with PCST, she obtained her Level 2
Certification through ASCA. In 2007, she moved to
Tallahassee to attend Florida State. While in Tallahassee, she
coached for Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club. After her graduation
from Florida State, she moved to Jacksonville to attend law
school. she coached the novice and FLAGS swimmers for North
Florida Swimming for two years after moving to Jacksonville.
Currently, she is in her third year of law school,
and finishing the ASCA level 3 test.
Axie Phillips joined the Amberjax coaching staff in December of 2008 and has been coaching at the Cecil location since January 2010. She swam competitively for ten years with The Birmingham Swim League, The Bolles School Sharks and The Episcopal Amberjax. Along with being homeschooled thru high school, she competed for and was team captain of the Wolfson High swim team. She previously coached for five seasons with JaxParks City swim team and is currently the JaxParks Swim Team Program Manager. She is currently finishing her Bachelors of Arts.
Kitzi joined the Amberjax staff in August, 2010, bringing with her 30 years of instructional experience to the club. Originally from Virginia, she discovered competitive swimming in high school when her family moved to Oklahoma. She lettered in swimming, track, and was the feature twirler for the high school band. At the age of 16, she was off to Wofford College as a chemistry major, a club swimmer, and a lifeguard/swim instructor at the local YMCA. Throughout college and graduate school, academics took priority, but swimming followed a close second. Her career path led her to NIH in cancer research laboratories at Ft. Detrick in Frederick, MD, but her spare time was spent submerged. She and her husband moved to Jacksonville in 1993 and aquatics became her main vocation. Since then she has been a familiar face at pools all over Jacksonville, swimming, teaching and coaching all ages at UNF, Brooks, numerous country clubs, high schools, backyards and now JCDS with the Amberjax. She resides in St. Johns county with her husband and their two (almost grown) children.
Coach Mike began coaching at AmberJax in 2009. Mike swam for Western Kentucky and has many years of coaching experience. His knowledge of the sport and personable skills as a parent made him a perfect fit with the team. Mike and his wife Angie currently have four children swimming on AmberJax.
Shannon joined the Amberjax coaching staff in August 2007 she worked at our Cecil Field location with our younger swimmers until December of 2009. Currently she is at the Jacksonville Country Day School location where she continues to work with children that are newer to swimming in our Garnet and Bronze groups helping them to develop proper stroke mechanics. Every summer Shannon runs our River City team where both our year round swimmers and summer only swimmers have a chance to participate in a fun city wide recreational league. Her son Kyle is a year round swimmer with the Amberjax.
Amanda Singleton has been swimming in the Jacksonville area since 2003. She began swimming at Bartram Trail High School, as the teams first home schooled swimmer. After competing for them for 3 years, she competed on the first Women’s Diving Team at Bartram Trail her senior year. Her senior year Amanda signed with Pfeiffer University on a full ride. She completed her freshman year earning the title of All-Conference in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference.
After one year at Pfeiffer, Amanda returned to Jacksonville to attend and swim for the University of North Florida, where she is currently majoring in Nursing. Amanda competed for UNF for one season where she earned the status of All-Academic in the Costal Collegiate Swimming Association, as well as being awarded an athletic letter.
Shannon Blizzard has been swimming for the Episcopal Amberjax since 2004 and holds numerous club records. Shannon graduated from Stanton College Preparatory School in 2009. While in high school, Shannon was All-Conference for 4 years, a state qualifier for all 4 years, and holds numerous school records. Also while in high school, Shannon was a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American for having over a 3.5 GPA and for having Junior Nationals qualifying times. Shannon has also qualified for Winter Nationals in the 100 Fly. Currently, she is attending Florida Gulf Coast University. At FGCU, she holds a freshman record and was All-Academic in the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association conference.
