Coach Kenneth has extensive knowledge of the principles used in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the ethical considerations involved in working with children with autism. He has completed training courses on working with kids with Autism and other special needs given by Kahlon Family Services and Inizio Interventions. Kenneth has completed teacher-training sessions with Shana Meyerson of mini yogis® yoga for kids and because of his life-long experience of teaching swimming lessons to children with special-needs, Kenneth has achieved the Level 5 Disability Swim Coach Certification with the American Swimming Coaches Association.

To supplement his swim coaching certifications and his own training, Kenneth is an avid lifter in the Starting Strength method. Since January 2015, Kenneth has been coaching the Starting Strength barbell training method. Adding strength training to your physical exercise program or swim program will make you a faster, more efficient swimmer. In swimming, strength training is required to catapult you to the next level. Whether you are trying to achieve goals for speed or endurance, Starting Strength is the safest way to success. It’s the method he used before breaking a FINA Masters World Record in 2009.

Kenneth is a very active member of the swim community and spends most days being “One with the Water.” If he is not training, coaching, or competing with the local Masters swim team, he is teaching or lifeguarding.

Coach Kenneth, originally from Texas, started “One with the Water” in Southern California. He comes to SoCal via New York, through Spain, Bolivia, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas. Kenneth studied mechanical engineering and has worked over 15 years as a mechanical engineer. He has a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia College.

Kenneth has lived in Bolivia, Venezuela, and Spain, working as a volunteer for “sponsor-a-child” programs which provide education to children in developing countries. The projects he participated in gave sponsored children and their families opportunities to participate in skills training or livelihood initiatives so that they could begin to rely less on sponsorship, and more on their own abilities to provide for their families, creating an educated path out of poverty. This mission aligns with Kenneth’s philosophy and integrates him as a perfect match for “One with the Water.” He lives to help others achieve their dreams and believes that the pool is a magical place that levels the playing field… swimmers understand that they can do anything that they put their mind to, and become “One with the Water.”

Certified Swim Coach Kenneth Rippetoe

American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA):
– Disability Certified Swim Coach: Level 5
– U.S. Masters Certified Swim Coach: Level 3

American Red Cross Certifications:
– First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22)
– Lifeguarding & First Aid
– CPR/AED for Lifeguards (Adult, Child, Infant)
– Administering Emergency Oxygen

Seminar Instructor and Coach:
– January 2015 – Starting Strength
– January 2016 – Starting Strength
– February 2019 – Deadlift and Power Clean

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Kenneth Rippetoe, Adaptive Sports, Swim Coach, Instructor & Founder appeared first on One with the Water.

In high school, she joined the SAMOHI swim team. She also discovered water polo and surfing her sophomore year and joined those teams. During high school, she made All-American for swimming and water polo. In swimming, she was a conference finalist in freestyle. Her interest in water continued to grow, and she joined the junior guard’s program at Will Rogers State Beach. When she turned 16, she began lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons to children at Crossroads School. That same year she volunteered for Boarding House Mentors, as a personal guard and a surf instructor. This program was started by a close friend of hers– it gives inner-city kids the chance to learn and play at the beach.

Moving forward in her life, she began collegiate swimming and water polo at Santa Monica College. She received athlete of the year for water polo and was in the top 5 for state swimming championships in butterfly and freestyle. She again made All-American for swimming and water polo at the community college level. During that time, she began scuba diving and is now on her way to becoming a Master Diver. Once she finished at the community college, she transferred to California State University Northridge to finish her last two years of eligible collegiate swimming. She concentrated on freestyle, helping the team beat conference records in 4 relay events. At CSUN, she graduated with a BA in Psychology.

She now continues her swimming career with US Masters Swimming and was a champion in her events in the 2010 Summer Nationals. Currently, she coaches for the same team she competed on in middle school, the Santa Monica Sharks. She is also an assistant coach for the new swim program at East LA College, teaches Aqua Aerobic classes, and continues instructing all levels of swimming.

Swim Instructor Lysandra Carter-Aaron holds the following certifications:

American Red Cross:
– First Aid for Public Safety Personnel (Title 22)
– Lifeguarding & First Aid
– Water Safety Instructor (WSI)
– CPR/AED for Lifeguards (Adult, Child, Infant)
– Administering Emergency Oxygen
– Basic/Advance Scuba
– Rescue Diver

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Lysandra Carter-Aaron, Swim Instructor appeared first on One with the Water.

Silke’s professional career spans from international banking, international marketing to extensive experience as a business manager in higher education. Through her athletic success as an Olympic medalist in swimming, she has been active in the field of training and education of swimmers for thirty years, focusing on teaching master’s swimmers, fitness swimmers of all ages and special needs children. Her great passion is working with athletes for Special Olympics.

Silke has developed swim programs in Europe as well as the US. She is a member of the World Swim Coaches Association, the American Swim Coaches Association as well as US Masters Swimming. Silke received her International Baccalaureate in Bonn, Germany, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Southern California.

She currently serves as program manager for One with the Water, working as a spokesperson for the non-profit section as well as swimming instructor. Married to a Brazilian scientist and researcher, she is the mother of three adult children, all former swimmers.

Certified Swim Coach Silke Rogatko holds the following certifications:

U.S. Masters Swim Coach: Level 2
Disability Swim Coach: Level 3
Member of the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA)

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Silke Rogatko, Swim Coach & Olympian appeared first on One with the Water.

In high school, he joined the swim team at Palisades High, and swam the 100 and 200 butterfly, as well as the 100 butterfly in the IM relay. His school won finals twice while he attended.  After high school, he continued swimming and joined LA city lifeguards, where he started teaching lessons and working with kids. He continued lessons in Boulder, CO. while attending the university for a degree in creative writing. He currently bikes, swims and runs daily to train for century bikes and triathlons for charity.  He hopes to compete in the Norseman Triathlon later in life.

He is certified in lifeguarding/ first aid with bloodborne pathogens training, CPR/AED for lifeguards, and has a WSI certification.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Eric Nissen, Adaptive Sports Swim Coach & Instructor appeared first on One with the Water.

Jen was a powerful competitive swimmer when at Minnetonka High School and summers in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).  She was a member of both winning relay teams (freestyle and medley) when Minnetonka High won the State Championship.

Jen served as the Waterfront Director for five seasons at the summer camp Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. There she taught all levels of swimming and lifeguarding as well as canoeing, sailing, and water skiing to hundreds of kids.  She was the assistant coach at the YMCA in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, for many years and for the Lincoln High School Girls Swim Team for 4 seasons.

During her college years, Jen worked as a Handicapped Children’s Aide in the Madison Public Schools, gaining insight and experience working with students with diverse abilities and disabilities. Jen found an amazing opportunity to be a live-in aide for six years to a brilliant quadriplegic boy. Working and living with his family cemented Jen’s core belief that people can accomplish great things no matter what their limitations are.

After graduating from UW Madison with a B.S. in Elementary Education, Jen has taught students of all ages during a full and rewarding career in education.  A lifelong learner, Jen earned her Master’s Degree and has taken dozens of courses in special education.  She is trained to facilitate support groups of students with alcohol and other drug abuse issues.  She also volunteers regularly for The Family Center in Wisconsin Rapids, which shelters women and children in domestic abuse and dangerous situations.  Jen teaches in an elementary school with a strong majority of students in poverty, and she has studied the special needs of these kids.  She successfully works with challenging student behaviors, having supplemented her own years of classroom experience with coursework including “The Total Transformation Program.” Jen consistently strives to inspire others’ confidence in their own ability to take charge of their life and move in a positive, successful direction. Jen’s supervisors have commented:

“Perhaps Jen’s greatest strength can be found in her students’ comfort level within her classroom.  Her students are continuously challenged yet demonstrate that they are extremely comfortable in the expectations she has placed on each of them individually…. Her greatest impact has been in making whatever content area she is teaching ‘relative’ and memorable for her students.”

“Jen has embraced every challenge…. Her students have benefited from her fun, genuine spirit.  As the year goes on, the students seem to follow her model of focused, calm determination.”

Jen is thrilled to be joining “One with the Water” in the Central Wisconsin area and to tie her love of the water with her passion for teaching and learning. Jen understands the importance of water safety for everyone, whatever age or ability, and embraces this opportunity to share the fun and fitness of swimming, while empowering her swimmers to achieve their aquatic goals and beyond!

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Jennifer Huntington, Swimming Instructor – Wisconsin appeared first on One with the Water.

Post-swimming, Melanie became a member of the TIMEX Multi-Sport team as an Ironman competitor. She holds a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Virginia and enjoys balancing life as an athlete, full time professional and 40-year-old female.

Sponsored Amateur Ironman Competitor

• TIMEX Multi-Sport Team Member.
• Ironman top 20 age-group finisher.
• 2007 TIMEX Fitness Director representing TIMEX in various media forums.
• Secured the first ever tri-bike sponsorship by a rock band: CHEAP TRICK.
• Personally designed and created all graphics for the custom made bike.

National Team Member

• 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist.
• 1993, 1995 & 1997 Pan Pacific Championship Gold Medalist.
• 1998 World Championship Gold Medalist.
• Represented NIKE as a spokesperson and model.

University of Virginia Varsity Swim Team

• Earned a full scholarship.
• Team captain: 1990-91.
• Nine time NCAA Division I All-American.
• ACC swimmer of the year: 1990.
• 1989 and 1990 University of Virginia MVP.
• First female Olympic Gold Medalist at the University of Virginia.

United States Swimming

• Participated in competitive swimming from ages 5 to 31.
• Numerous U.S. National Championship finalist.
• Fastest female 100 freestyler coming out of high school: 1987.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Melanie Valerio, Olympian Ambassador, Instructor appeared first on One with the Water.

As a swim instructor, Piotr enjoys working with both children and adults, including triathletes and open-water swimmers. He is also available for long-term training plans consultation.

In addition to teaching swim lessons and coaching masters and age-group teams, Piotr has also taught poetry and literature undergraduate and graduate courses at SDSU, University of San Diego, Antioch University Los Angeles, University of Delaware, and at UC Riverside.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Piotr Florczyk, Swim Instructor appeared first on One with the Water.

A huge fan of the sport of swimming, Mohammad began coaching at the Santa Monica YMCA in 2006. He took over the YMCA team as head coach in 2011 and was able to increase membership and improve performance across the board.

Mohammad joined One with the Water® after his 10th year of coaching swimmers ranging from beginners to sectional qualifiers. His age group swimmers have been competitively ranked in Southern California and nationwide. He has also had the pleasure of coaching Olympians, Senior and Junior National qualifiers, college swimmers, and master’s swimmers in his many swim programs. Over the past two years, Mohammad has been working with kids and adults, and more frequently with special needs swimmers which he has found extremely rewarding.

Coach Mohammad is currently working alongside coach Dave Kelsheimer, a USA National/Olympic Team coach, and has attended the USA Olympic Trials as a swim coach for multiple swimmers.

Coaching since 2005, Mohammad is an ASCA Level 3, and USMS Level 2 coach and the head coach for the FINA World Cup in Hungary, June 2019. He aims to impart his unparalleled joy for swimming to swimmers during every practice. Mohammad believes that anyone can learn to swim and be a great swimmer at any age. Mohammad also believes that every athlete can reach their potential through hard work and goal setting, and he challenges his swimmers to do exactly this – in the pool as well as in their personal lives.

“Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.”

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Mohammad Khadembashi, US National Swim Team Coach appeared first on One with the Water.

Molly is a free-lance writer, 14-year Veteran of the Army National Guard, former helicopter pilot, and mom to four active, extroverted babes. She has a B.A. in English from Covenant College, an addiction to coffee, and an obsession with the written word. Her lifelong love affair with the water began at the ripe age of two months old, and she was diving into the deep end of pools by the age of two. She is passionate about early swim lessons, equipping children with special needs, and treating veterans with PTSD.

As a long-time advocate of both the special needs and Veteran community, Molly’s desire is to partner with parents, swimmers, and coaches to foster growth, community service, and confidence, in and out of the water.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Molly Huggins, Community Outreach appeared first on One with the Water.

Kenny

Kenny is a baby Bottlenose dolphin, of the genus Tursiops, one of the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin. He is very playful and friendly and loves to frequently leap above the water surface. Kenny plays with water toys, enjoys making bubble rings, and plays well with other dolphins or other animals.

The post Devin Brady, Swim Instructor appeared first on One with the Water.