Allen Jones - National Development Group
Allen Jones started swimming competitively at age 12 in Herndon, Virginia where he grew up. His accomplishments include being a two time Junior National Champion (100 and 200 Breaststroke), U.S. National Qualifier, and 1996 US Olympic Trial Qualifier. He attended college at the University of Tennessee where he swam for four years. There, he was a four year lettermen and team captain. He also served as a student assistant coach prior to graduating in 2001 with a degree in economics. Allen’s coaching career has included all levels of swimming from summer swim teams to his many years of experience as a USA Swimming registered coach. He is also an ASCA Level 2 coach with a commitment to continuing his pursuit of coaching excellence. Allen lives in Sandy with his wife Alicia and three sons Brady, Nolan, and Parker. In his spare time he enjoys running, cycling, and watching football.
Will Leonhart - Adv Jr/Sr (Fairmont Site)
Swimming has always been a huge part of my life. Both of my parents are swim coaches and they introduced the sport to me at a young age. My dad coached me throughout my career until getting recruited by Ron Lockwood and the University of Utah. I came to Utah in the fall of 2006. My main events were the 200 Fly, 200 Breast, and 400 IM. What I remember most about my career is not any individual swim or meet, but the friends I made and the great times I had with them.
My first experience coaching was with my dads club team in Colorado (Grand Junction Dolphins). I worked with the developmental group ages 8-12 and gained a lot of experience and insights on coaching. Over this past summer I coached for Northcrest Swim Club in the Salt Lake City Country Club League. It was a great experience and it was amazing to see how much all of the kids improved.
I’m very excited to have the opportunity to coach for WFFM and I couldn’t be working with better people. I look forward to helping our kids reach their goals in swimming and in life. GO FISH!
Henry Hudson - J2 & J1 (Fairmont Site)
I began my swim career at the age of five in New York where I was born and raised. I swam for Marist Swim Club where I set multiple club records in the backstroke, IM, and distance freestyle events. While in high school I qualified for multiple Junior National events, and finaled in the 200 backstroke and 400 IM. After high school I was recruiting to the University of Washington in Seattle, where I had a successful swimming career. During my career at UW I qualified for multiple Senior National events. During my senior year I broke the school record in the 200 backstroke and qualified for Olympic Trials in the 200 backstroke. After I graduated with a major in History, I had the opportunity to pursue a Masters in Education and work as a grad-assistant coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie New York. After coaching Marist College, I moved back to Seattle to pursue a Masters in Educational Administration, as well as serving as the assistant coach at Seattle University. During my time as the assistant coach at SU I watched the team grow to Division I status, and break a total of 35 school records during my two years. I am very excited to be coaching at Wasatch Front Fish Market under the direction of Ron Lockwood and coaching with a talented coaching staff.
Tamber McAllister- Adv Jr/Sr, J2, J1
(Gene Fullmer Site)
I began Swimming in Sacramento California when I was 5 years old. As a teenager swimming for the Sierra Marlins Swim Team where I was lucky to be on many Junior and Senior National Teams. In the summer of 2000 I was able to go to the United States Olympic Trials where I placed 12th in the 200 Breaststroke and 19th in the 100 Breaststroke. That fall I began my swimming career at Brigham Young University where I set multiple Mountain West Conference Records, School Records and was the Women's Team Captain my senior year.
After graduating from BYU with a Bachelors degree in Public Health in 2004, I began coaching at Steiner Youth Aquatic Club and East High School. In 2005 I was offered a job to work at my Alma Matter (BYU) as an Assistant Coach for the Women's Swim Team. In the four years that I assisted with the Women, we won three Mountain West Conference Championships. In 2009 they combined the Men's and Women's Swim Teams at BYU and I had the chance to continue as an Assistant coach.
I was married in 2003 to my wonderful husband, Eric. We have three children Emma (6), Marcus (3) and Lilly (3 months).
I am excited to be part of the WFFM family. My goal is to be able to contribute to these kids becoming extraordinary individuals through the sport of swimming.
Brian Sorensen - Adv Jr Cottonwood Site
My name is Brian Sorensen, I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I had the wonderful privilege of being born into a family of swimmers. My father swam in the early 60's for Utah State University when they had a swim team. After that he became the Head Coach at Granite High School before leaving to become the first Head Swim Coach at Cottonwood High School when the doors opened in 1972. He coached for 30 years and during that time he coached numerous Individual & Team State Champions as well as numerous All-Americans. During his time he was named the State of Utah Coach of the year multiple times. As the youngest of 6 children we were all fortunate that he coached all 6 of us to Individual State Championships while swimming at Cottonwood. It was by his example that I became involved in coaching. I started swimming at 4 years old in the summer's for The Cottonwood Country Club and continued with them up until I was 12. I continued swimming and developing my skills as a swimmer with numerous year-round programs including Firewater & COLT Aquatics during the 80's and 90's! During my high school years at Cottonwood High School I lettered 4 years in swimming, 3 years Varsity Football, 3 years Varsity Basketball as well as some time spent playing Water-Polo. In swimming I was a 4-time Utah State Champion winning the 50 Free twice as well as the 100 Free twice. My sophomore year I also attended the USA Swimming Zone Championships and took home the titles in the 50 Free & 100 Free! In 1997, my junior year at Cottonwood High School, I was named the State of Utah 4A MVP in swimming, as well as receiving All-American Honors. After finishing my high school career in 1998 I accepted a scholarship to swim at Brigham Young University, I lettered all 4 years at BYU while being a member of 3 Mountain West Conference Championship Teams. I was the third member of my family to swim for BYU following two of my older sisters. In 2001 I met my wonderful wife Shannon, (who just happens to be a UTE!) and we were married in 2003. We have 2 wonderful little boys Drew (5) and Austin (3) who are anxious to join the Fish Market Team!!
While swimming at BYU, I took advantage of the opportunity in the summers to begin my coaching career as an Assistant Coach at the Cottonwood Country Club. I continued as an assistant coach from 2001-2008, and than in the summer of 2009 I took over as the Aquatics Director and Head Coach for the summer team of over 100 swimmers. After finishing at BYU I began coaching as an assistant coach in 2004 at Utah Valley Aquatics, Inc. (UVRAYS). It was during these years that I was fortunate to learn and be mentored by one of the Top Coaches in the state, Shari Skabelund. It was her willingness to share her passion and knowledge for the sport that hooked me onto coaching. During my time from 2004-2006 I also was an assistant coach at Timpview High School and helped lead the Timpview girls team to a State Championship in 2006. In 2007 I took over as the Head Coach at Timpview High School as well as the Head Coaching & Administrator position with UVRAYS. In 2009 as the Head Coach at Timpview the Girls took their 2nd State Championship in 4 years and I was named the 2009 State of Utah Coach of the Year. In my time as a coach I have had the opportunity to coach State Champions, State Record Holders, and All-Americans swimmers. In 2009 I left Timpview High School to accept the same position at Cottonwood High School. For me it was like coming home! I began the process of bringing a youth program back to Cottonwood High School when I was approached this year with the opportunity to join with the Wasatch Front Fish Market. I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of one of the fastest growing, and strongest programs in the state! I am excited to move forward with the Wasatch Front Fish Market team in continuing to establish what has already started to become a National Program!!
For a little more information on who I am I invite you to read an article (link below) written by Dan Rasmussen of the Deseret News from this past season.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705355159/High-school-swimming-All-in-the-family.html
Randy Christensen - J2/J1 (Gene Fullmer)
Randy Christensen swam for LaytonHigh School and the Layton Surfers. His favorite strokes were the backstroke and distance freestyle. After high school, he coached with the Layton Surfers from 1998 to 2007 and the Layton High Swim Team from 2000 to 2007. As a Surfers coach, he helped build the team from 3 to over 150 swimmers, coaching many state champions, with the team taking fifth place at Long Course State Championships in 2006. He served as the Technical Planning Chair for Utah Swimming, 2003 and 2004 assistant Zones Coach in Arizona and California and the Coaches’ Representative as part of the Utah Delegation to the 2004 USA Swimming Convention, where he helped bring the 2006 Zones Championships to Utah.
Randy graduated with a Bachelors Degree from WeberStateUniversity in Human Performance Management with an emphasis in Sports and Recreation. He has been the Aquatics Program Coordinator at FairmontAquaticCenter (where he worked with Ruth Swallow to begin the Fish Market at Fairmont) from 2007-2009 and Aquatics Manager at MurrayCity from 2009 to 2010. He will be coaching the JV team for HighlandHigh School and the Gene Fullmer Stingrays swim teams. He is excited for the opportunity to coach the Junior 2 swimmers at Gene Fullmer and building the Gene Fullmer site! Swim On!
Maiya Otsuka - J2 & Pre-comp Cottonwood Site
I started swimming for Foothills Swim Team in Colorado when I was 7 years old. I swam for Chatfield Senior High school for four years and was captain for my senior year. I was named a NISCA All- American for two years, and a scholastic All-American. I was a four time League champion, a state champ in the 200 IM and 100 Fly my senior year and was named swimmer of the year as well. I was then recruited to Utah in 2007 and swam for the Utes. I was captain for my junior and senior years. I also hold the 400 IM and 200 Breaststroke school records. I have also achieved national times as well. I was named to the All-MWC team for two years. Named a MWC scholar athlete in 2008-2009. I have accomplished many things through out my swimming career, but swimming has given me many life lessons and many close friends and memories that I will cherish forever.
As for coaching, I started coaching a summer club team, Ken Caryl Lighting, in Colorado in 2007 and then in 2008. I then took a two year break to stay in Utah and train with my collegiate coach, and then went back to Colorado this last summer and coached the same summer club team. As of now this is my first club team and I am also working on deck with the Utes swim team to learn more about coaching. I am finishing my undergrad in Exercise and Sport Science and will graduate this May. I am very excited to continue my coaching career with WFFM and teach these kids the sport that gave me everything!!