Skip to main content

Gold River Messenger

Stingrays' Coaches: 75 Years on the Pool Deck

Feb 28, 2018 12:00AM ● By By Jan Float

The Stingrays' coaching staff will be holding a Parents Info Meeting at the club on March 20 at 6:30 pm. Photo courtesy Gold River Stingrays

Stingrays' Coaches: 75 Years on the Pool Deck [2 Images] Click Any Image To Expand

GOLD RIVER, CA (MPG) - One-and-one-half centuries ago, Sacramento staked its claim to a rich and powerful history. Gold Rush 49ers, having discovered valuable treasures, foretold the story of our swimming territory, likewise steeped in a rich and powerful history. Sacramento is world-renowned for its success in mining for “medals,” and the Stingrays’ coaching staff is regionally renowned for polishing its natural nuggets.          

With an aggregate of three-quarters of a century in coaching experience, these Gold River pioneers whittle their own cutting-edge training approaches, each one designed for a mother lode of fun and black-and-gold-fevered competition. Championing the Stingrays’ “We Believe!” credo are Mia Leisten, Christie d’Eon, Jeff Float, Stephanie Turnbull, Katie Bortoletto and Rachel Lippetti.

Digging into their Up Close & Personal deposits, in order of seniority, Jeff earned membership on two US Olympic Teams. Four years after Moscow’s ‘80 boycott, in LA he struck gold in the 4x200m free relay. Stephanie gleamed as a childhood swimmer, jumped into water polo and, following UCD graduation, crystallized as a coach. The proud mom of two-year-old twin boys, Stephanie looks forward to priceless Mini-Rays and Stingrays days.  

Katie, along with her two resourceful and proficient sons, pitched their family’s tent in the Stingrays’ camp long ago. As a bright-and-shiny young superstar, Katie competed throughout college, grabbed her coach’s sterling silver stopwatch and has never let go. Adding to the decades of fortune, Christie swam and coached for other teams before settling onto the banks of Gold River. Today, with her one-year-old to-be teammate, Christie circumnavigates the waterfront and homestead. Tipping the scales, precious gems Mia and Rachel, both gifted athletes and mentors, sprinkle undiluted gold-flakes around the pool deck … indoctrinating swimmers with an “I Believe I Can!” outlook.         

For a 24-carat coaching comparison, there are five teams within the Stingrays’ capstone Comstock Division, the largest weighted with 350 swimmers and 15 coaches. Gold River flows with one-third the swimmers and one-half the coaches - yet last year extracted first place. While in the Gold Rush Division, cheerful Stingrays built the same pyramid for five consecutive years. Veteran staffers, immersed in lifelong passion and inspired by protégés’ progress, are likely to remain on the pool deck for another quarter-century. “We Believe!” that Gold River has a coaching staff made of heavy-metal, rock-solid pure gold.

Time for March Clinics -- each week focused on each stroke. As athletes mature, they pan for individual minerals and advance as team assets. These exuberant 15-18s, celebrating Midas touches in a medley relay, are emulating their personal virtues. Because they persistently hit Gold River practices, they consistently hit pay-dirt. Catherine Hensley-freestyle, Mia Leisten-butterfly, Laura Blevins-breaststroke, and Rachel Isaacs-backstroke. The Stingrays know how to work hard, play hard and bag the dividends.

Prospecting for registration? The team’s website is equipped with teeming toolkits. Though its coaches and board are always willing to share the wealth, on March 20 at 6:30 pm they’ve planned a Parents Info Meeting at the club. Don’t miss out on this impending Gold River -- Gold Rush Boom!

Sacramento Gold River area arrest records
Vote Republican 2024
Upcoming Events Near You

No Events in the next 21 days.