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John Fitzpatrick John Fitzpatrick is the owner and head coach of Chicago Blue Dolphins, an adult aquatic fitness business based in downtown Chicago. He was selected \"Best Swim Instructor\" in \"Chicago Magazine Best of 2006\" magazine. He is a Total Immersion Teaching Professional (TITP) and a Director at Total Immersion Weekend Workshops. He is an member of the American Swim Coaches Association(ASCA) and an ASCA Certified Level 2 Masters Coach. He is also a USA Triathlon Level 1 Certified Coach. He has been a competitive swimmer for over twenty-five years and competes as a Masters swimmer in backstroke and individual medley events. He enjoys teaching and coaching swimmers of all ability levels as he learns new things about swimming from watching each of them engage the sport in their own way.

George Adcock George comes to us all the way from New Zealand -- just one sentence from him will lead you to that conclusion. While swimming in New Zealand, George was a national level swimmer in the 100m and 200m Backstroke. He gave up a career in banking in 2008 to pursue his passion for teaching and coaching swimming. He\'s coached swimming since 2007 in New Zealand and currently here in Oak Park with the TOPS swim club. He is a USA Swimming Coach and an American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Level 1 coach. He has a keen eye for stroke mechanics and has lived its importance as a swimmer and now as a club and Masters coach.

Lauren Hammond Lauren is a Chicago transplant by way of Falls Church, VA. She began her swimming career at the age of 7 and continued throughout high school where she specialized in the 100 breaststroke. During her high school and college years, she taught swimming to children and adults for 6 years and helped managed the Sleepy Hollow Country Club near her home in Virginia. In spite of a love and talent for soccer and swimming, Lauren chose to focus on field hockey in college at Miami University, a sport where she could do some real damage to her opponents; she was a four year member of the co-ed club field hockey team, which was undefeated her senior year. In her spare time Lauren can be found at The Friendly Confines cheering on the Cubbies or simply out enjoying the city. Lauren is currently pursuing a career in public relations.

Lizza Igoe Lizza brings to us almost ten years of swim coaching and teaching as well as almost twenty years of swimming experience. Growing up in Arizona, she was a high school state champion in the 100 and 200 Freestyle. She carried her success to the Univeristy of Missouri where she finished in the Top 8 at the Big XII Conference Championships in mid-distance freestyle. Liza has taught swimming to kids and adults with her club team in Phoenix, AZ and at a swim school in Columbia, MO. Her coaches growing up put a premium on excellent technical fundamentals as the foundation for the training volume and intensity. She currently works at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Sara Krajnik Sara’s been a competitive swimmer her entire life. Growing up, she swam on a USA Swimming team in Wisconsin for over 15 years, until she went to U of WI – LaCrosse, where she swam distance freestyle during college. She was team captain in ’01, and in ’99 and 2000 the team won NCAA Division 3 nationals. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Exercise and Sport Science and moved to Chicago where she is currently working full time as a personal trainer at Phenomenal Fitness and competing as a national fitness competitor.

Paris Lewbel Paris grew up swimming throughout his life and continuing into high school at Groves High School (the cross town rival of Fitz\'s high school). Paris\' best event was the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. He has coached all ages from toddlers to masters, as well as had a multitude of different life experiences from many different walks of life. He is currently attending Columbia College as a broadcast journalism major. Paris embraces for the moment when a swimmer is able to see what they are doing in practice pays off in a race.

Mike Maggard Mike is a commodities trader by day and a swim swami by night. During his college years at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, Mike specialized in the 200 IM and Breaststroke events, receiving Division III All-American honors his freshman year and setting two school records that still hold today. Before arriving in Chicago in 2006, Mike coached age groupers for the Sun Valley Dolphins and Masters for Zenergy Health Club in Sun Valley, ID. In his free time he enjoys swimming, cycling, golf, and Frisbee golf, a favorite past time from his college years.

Jess Stephens Jess found her passion for swimming in her hometown of Bloomsburg, PA where she swam competitively for ten years. She continued her swimming career at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in breaststroke, butterfly, and IM. Her collegiate accolades include Big East conference champion in the 200 breast, NCAA Academic All-American HM, and Notre Dame school and pool record-holder. Jess has been coaching and instructing in the pool for over a decade. She believes the key to good swimming is proper form and technique, allowing for an efficient stroke. She is an ASCA Level 1 certified coach.

Valerie Tyler Valerie joined the Chicago Blue Dolphins coaching staff almost 4 years ago and works primarily with our Level 1 group. Valerie brings to Chicago Blue Dolphins her athletic experience as a triathlete and marathoner, including competing in Half-Ironmans and ultra-marathons. She has been an assistant swim coach with the Team Dream Triathlon Club, a stretch-core and pace leader for ChicagoFit Marathon Training Group, and an aerobics instructor of Mayfair Academy. She\'s made her career in IT Sales and Sales Management and currently works as a National Sales Director for CDW Corporation. Additional activities and interests include run training with RunChicago, run training with CARA (Chicago Area Runner\'s Association) and she recently qualified for the Boston Marathon and will run in the April race. She also enjoys Bible study, serving on the Board of the Loretto Hospital and Arts & Business Council, a member of the A2 Book Club, skiing and roller-skating, and parenting a young adult that is going to work for JP Morgan Chase in New York after she graduates from Spelman College this year.

Laura Wegner Laura grew up in Batavia, IL and over the years has transferred her natural athleticism to swimming, soccer, and track. Laura started competitive swimming at age 5, when her mother decided she needed her daughter to burn off extra energy. She quickly excelled in the sport, breaking numerous age group records for 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and achieving a NRT (13th in the nation) in 9-10 medley relay. She qualified for the Junior Olympics in each age group for nearly 9 years, scooping up many Top Ten times for butterfly, breaststroke, and IM. Along with swimming, her club soccer team was a consistent top performer in the state, winning state championships and tournaments in the Midwest. In high school, she ran hurdles in track and played high school soccer, and swam independently representing her high school in the IHSA sectionals in the 100-yard breaststroke. She attended Concordia University in River Forest; suiting up for the soccer team, where she was the leading scorer on the team for two years and was selected All-Conference. She graduated with a degree in Exercise Science and Fitness Management, with a minor in Coaching. She currently holds a USA Swimming Coaching license. Laura has been coaching and instructing in the pool for over a decade. She believes the key to good swimming is proper form and technique, allowing for an efficient stroke. In her free time, she takes full advantage of the Chicago summers by being as near to the beach as possible, either swimming or running along the lakefront. If the weather doesn\'t lend itself to the beach, she could be found at Wrigley Field cheering on the Loveable Losers.

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