Upper Perk YMCA Swimming

Get to know your 2011 Summer Season Coaches!

Head Coach Corinne Guntz

  Alma Mater:  Rider University 1994

Corinne Guntz returns for her 5th non-consecutive season as the Otter’s head coach.  Guntz began her coaching career as the head coach of the masters swim team for Highpoint Athletic Club in Montgomeryville, prior to moving into the Upper Perk area.

“I have been exposed to swimming competitively since the age of five. I swam throughout high school, college, and for the enjoyment of the sport long after my competitive days.”

 Guntz’s personal coaching philosophy is to hone the mechanics of swimming, while motivating and encouraging young athletes to strive for personal best achievement.  “I want kids to have the same positive experience that I had growing up into a sport that I continue to love to participate in.”

Guntz earned a B.A. honors degree in English Writing/Art from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ.  While at Rider she qualified and participated in the Eastern Coast Athletic Conference Swimming Championships.

She is a published children’s book author and licensed wildlife artist. Through her writing experiences she provides assembly programs to get children excited about reading and writing.

“Now I enjoy working with children and adults, and feel confident in sharing the knowledge and skills that I have learned (and continue to learn) over the years. Swimming will always be a part of my life!”

Assistant Coach Michele Heimes

Coach Michele has been around the pool most of her life. Michele started competitive swimming at the age of 5 and has won PIAA States three years in a row. She competed in numerous USS swimming nationals across the United States. Michele also competed in the Olympic Trials in the 400 Individual Medley. 
Through her dedication to the sport, she was able to earn a four year swimming scholarship to University of Virginia where she received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology.  
 
Michele's coaching career started as an assistant coach for Wissahickon Aquatic Club and Mermaid Lake Swim Club.  She currently coaches for Upper Perk YMCA and Upper Perk Aquatic Club. 

Coach Michele's philosophy is that you can teach kids to have fun while they also learn discipline, dedication and how to work to achieve their goals.Swimming teaches kids the skills to succeed in and out of the water.

Assistant Coach Ryan Himmelwright

Ryan has been swimming since the summer of 2000, Throughout his childhood, Ryan swam with the Upper Perk YMCA team in the summer and the USA Age group team in the winter. Ryan has qualified for USA Junior Olympics multiple times in backstroke, freestyle, and butterfly events. 

Ryan also played water polo and swam every year in high school. During his four years, he swam the max amount of events at districts every year and even medaled multiple times. Ryan was the team captain for the Boys team both his Junior and Senior year. He was also a Summer Team Captain.

Ryan is also part of the 200 Freestyle Relay that currently holds the High school team record by 5 seconds from the previous relay's time That relay also went to PIAA States Ryan's senior year where they placed 7th, earning a medal.

Ryan is also a current, certified, YMCA lifeguard. He has been working for the Y for the past three summers.

Ryan is currently attending Lafayette College where he continues to swim.

Assistant Otters Coach Blade Umstead

Blade's swimming career started in the Summer of 2003. He has swam for the Winter Age Group Team, and the YMCA Summer Team since then. He has also been a strong competitor for the Upper Perkiomen High School Swimming and Diving Team for the past two years. He has also been a diver for this team.

Blade also played water polo and swam every year in high school. During the past years, he has been a PIAA District Qualifier. Blade was a varsity Swimmer his Freshman and Sophomore years.

Blade is also a current YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor. He has been working for the Y for over a year and will be continuing his career as an Instructor this coming summer. This summer he will also be working as a certified YMCA lifeguard. He has coached the Otters for two years now.

Assistant Otters Coach Zak Kibler

 Zak will be returning again this year as an assistant mentoring coach. He has been coaching for two years. He has been on the team since the winter season of 2003-2004. He has also been working for the YMCA as a swimming instructor for two years.

During his high school career, he has been a strong asset to the Upper Perk High School Water Polo and Swimming Teams. He has played on the water polo varsity team for the past two years and swam as a varsity swimmer also for the past two years. He has made districts both years in the 200 IM and the 100 Breaststroke.

Zak also works as a certified YMCA Swimming Lesson Instructor. He will also be continuing his career as a YMCA Lifeguard this summer. Among all of this, he will be again be running a Survivor Program again this summer and coaching for the third year.

 

Assistant Mentoring Coach Collin Junk 

NO INFORMATION TO POST AT THIS TIME.

Assistant Mentoring Coach Jordan Williams

NO INFORMATION TO POST AT THIS TIME.