COACHES – SUMMER 2021
Alexandra Kouzas
Head Coach & Coach Practice Time 1: SR1 and SR 2
Coach Alex grew up in South Africa and swam competitively for 13 years. In 2013, she moved to Canada to continue swimming, while attending the University of British Columbia. Alex’s best stroke has always been Freestyle (sprints), with the 50m Free being her favourite event. She competed at the National and International level for South Africa and, in 2012, qualified for the South African Olympic Trials.
Her proudest swimming moment, however, was after she took a year off swimming in 2015 and then returned and qualified for the 2016 Canadian Olympic Trials. Shortly after the Trials, Alex partially tore her bicep tendon and supraspinatus which meant, unfortunately, that she had to take some time off training. She attempted to make a return to the pool, but soon after decided that it was time to hang up her goggles.
Alex has coached for the Vancouver Vikings Swim Club for six years. Having worked her way up from the MV2 group, all the way through to the P1 group this Summer. Currently, she is the Head Coach for the Vancouver Vikings and also the UBC Masters Swim Club for adults.
Alex graduated from UBC in 2019, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Special Education. She is now finishing up her second degree at UBC in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) to teach elementary school education.
Alex prides herself on being a technical coach, who is able to create a fun and supportive environment for all her swimmers. She is extremely excited to be coming back as both the head coach and group coach this Summer and cannot wait to get to know each of the swimmers in her group!
Alexandra’s email address is coachalex@vancouvervikings.com.
Hugh Dauvergne
Assistant Head Coach - floating between groups as needed
Hugh is very excited to be the assistant head coach this summer! Hugh will be floating between groups assisting Alex and the other coaches where needed.
Hugh spent the last 10 years both swimming and coaching for the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club where he was a provincial medalist and an age group national qualifier. Although Hugh never swam or coached with Vikings before this summer, he is no stranger to the coaching team. In fact, Hugh swam competitively with Coach Alex and Coach Mackenzie, and has won high school provincial medals swimming with Coach Sam.
Currently, Hugh is completing a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Toronto with a major in History.
Hugh’s coaching style emphasizes fun and technique and he can’t wait to contribute positively to the already amazing Vikings community.
Go Vikings!!
Mackenzie Gunther
Practice Time 2: Coach Senior 2 and Intermediate 1
Mackenzie joined the Vikings in 2011 as a swimmer in the Junior group, and over the next four summers became a provincial medalist and record holder. She then joined VPSC where she swam for the next three years. Mackenzie swam at UBC where she was a member of the UBC Thunderbird Swim team. She just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and will be attending a Master’s program in the fall in Global Affairs.
Mackenzie has been a Vikings Winter Maintenance coach for the past five years and was the MV1 coach in the summer of 2019. She has also coached for the UBC Masters Swim team. Mackenzie is so excited to continue to be a part of the Vikings family this summer and pass on her knowledge and passion of the sport to her swimmers.
Mackenzie G’s email address is coachmgunther@vancouvervikings.com.
Hadley Gunther
Practice Time 3: Coach, INT2
Coach Hadley is thrilled to be returning to coach with the Vikings this summer! Having coached MV2 for the past two seasons she is very excited to be coaching INT2 this summer. Hadley has swam from the Vikings for 9 summer seasons. When she wasn’t swimming, Hadley played water polo competitively throughout high school and competed at the 2017 USA Junior Olympics along with earning a silver medal at the U19 Canadian National Championships in 2018.
Hadley is currently attending the University of Calgary majoring in History with a goal to graduate in 2023 and pursue an after degree in Nursing.
In her spare time Hadley enjoys playing volleyball, making awesome playlists on Spotify and watching Jeopardy!
She can’t wait to meet the INT2s and get the season underway!
Hadley’s email address is coachhadley@vancouvervikings.com.
Sam Watanabe
Practice Time 4: Coach JR1
Sam is looking forward to another great season with the Vikings this year! He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s of science degree studying pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Toronto and is thrilled to be returning to Vancouver for the summer.
Sam has spent many seasons as a swimmer with the Vikings, and was coach for the MV3 group in 2019. He has also spent many hours teaching at learn-to-swim programs as well as coaching his high school swim team.
Sam is quite the outdoorsman, so when he’s not on deck, he likes to spend his time at the beach or exploring the mountains! This year, he will be returning as coach for the JR1 group and can’t wait for the season to get underway.
Brett Caswell
Practice Time 5: Coach, JR2
As a long-time member of the Vancouver Vikings since 2011, Brett has always taken great pleasure returning to the summer season and is beyond excited for the 2021 season.
In his first season as a group coach, Brett hopes to make this summer enjoyable and memorable for the JR2 swim group.
When reflecting upon the quintessential experience of summer swimming, Brett is reminded of water gun fights, scores of potlucks, and swim meets that were as exhausting as they were fun. Although these activities may not be possible this year, Brett is confident that the Vikings spirit will persevere!
Brett’s previous coaching experience comes as a Vikings Junior Leader (volunteer coach), an assistant coach, and as a Vikings Winter Maintenance group coach. He is also completing his certification in Swimming Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program. Brett is currently completing his final year at Kitsilano Secondary School, and will be attending UBC in the fall, pursuing a degree in Science. Away from the pool deck, Brett enjoys reading, cooking, and jogging.
Eager for the summer season to start, Brett can’t wait to improve the technique, morale, and speed of the JR2 swimmers!
Maya Kennedy
Practice Time 6: Coach, MV
Maya is ecstatic to be joining the Vikings team for her first summer as a group coach and sixth season overall! Having been an assistant coach for two years and a group coach through two Winter Maintenance sessions, she is looking forward to working with the Mini Vikings this summer and developing young swimmers into athletes.
Having started as an anxious swimmer who was terrified of diving and developing into a two-time Provincial Championship finalist, Maya strives to foster resilience, leadership, and a lifelong passion for fitness in her swimmers.
A current grade 12 student at Kitsilano Secondary, Maya will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall to study economics and life sciences. She enjoys picnics at the beach, road trips with good coffee, and (of course) being at the pool. GO VIKS!!!
COACHES – SUMMER 2022
Andreas Sinats
Head Coach & Senior 1
Coach Andreas grew up in Victoria where he swam competitively for Island Swimming for 8 years, during which he swam a little bit of everything and excelled in the 200 IM. In 2016, he began attending Simon Fraser University and swam with the varsity swim team in the NCAA for four years as a sprint freestyler. He was the captain of the men’s team during his senior year and went on to graduate with a B.Sc in Biomedical Physiology. When he wasn’t in the pool or studying, he could be found volunteering in the varsity weight room, helping to train the other varsity teams at SFU.
Andreas also spent 13 years training in Muay Thai kickboxing and earned his black belt when he was 16. Now he primarily lifts weights, though he may jump in the pool from time to time to race his swimmers or to participate in relays.
Previously, Andreas coached for Island Swimming, working with their pre-competitive swimmers for three years. He also spent some time teaching Red Cross swim lessons during the summers in Victoria. In 2019, he made the switch to summer swimming, working with the Penticton Pikes as their Assistant Head Coach and then as the Head Coach of the Kamloops Tsunami for the last two summers.
Andreas focuses on swimming technique first and foremost and emphasizes building a strong and supportive group environment. He is excited to be joining the Vancouver Vikings for the 2022 season and is looking forward to meeting the team.
Andreas' email address is coachandreas@vancouvervikings.com
Hugh Dauvergne
Senior 2
Coach Hugh is really looking forward to returning for his second summer season with Vikings.
Before becoming a coach, Hugh spent 10 years swimming with VPSC, competing both provincially and nationally. Hugh’s favorite strokes are freestyle and backstroke, although he also likes starfish float.
Hugh firmly believes that swimming should be a fun and social activity. As a coach, he works hard to cultivate a friendly environment on deck and he tries to include something exciting in every practice. Hugh also emphasizes technique, having learned as a swimmer that good technique is key to fast swimming. He can’t wait to help his swimmers achieve their goals and have a fun season!
Hugh has just finished his third year at the University of Toronto where he majors in History. Outside of swimming and school, Hugh likes to spend time reading, playing sports with friends, eating good food, and being in the forest.
Hugh's email address is coachhugh@vancouvervikings.com
Hadley Gunther
Intermediate 1
Coach Hadley is very excited to be returning to coach with the Vikings this summer. Hadley began her coaching career with the club in 2018 but has been swimming with the Vikings for just over a decade now! Although she used to be a breaststroker then a backstroker, Hadley's favourite event is 50 fly. While swimming with the Vikings, Hadley pursued a career in water polo earning herself a silver medal at the U19 Canadian National Championships, and a spot playing at the Junior Olympic tournament in California in 2017.
Hadley now attends the University of Calgary and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a major in History. She is headed into her final year with plans to graduate in the Spring. In her spare time, Hadley plays volleyball, scuba dives, and loves listening to any and all things Broadway.
She can’t wait to meet the swimmers and get the season underway! Hadley’s email address is coachhadley@vancouvervikings.com
Sam Watanabe
Intermediate 2
Coach Sam is looking forward to another great season with the Vikings this year! Sam has spent many years as a swimmer with the Vikings, and has also been a group coach since the 2019 summer season. He has also spent many hours teaching at learn-to-swim programs as well as coaching his high school swim team.
Sam is current pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree studying pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Toronto and is thrilled to be returning to Vancouver for the summer.
Sam is quite the outdoorsman, so when he is not on deck, he likes to spend his time at the beach or exploring the mountains! This year, he will be returning as a coach for the INT2 group and can't wait for the season to get underway.
Coach Sam's email address is coachsamwat@vancouvervikings.com
Maya Kennedy
Junior 2
Coach Maya is so excited to be back with the Vikings for her eighth summer season and second season as a group coach. Having started as a winter maintenance swimmer who was terrified of racing, she eventually became a multi-time Provincial Championship finalist and a proud/active member of the Vikings family.
Throughout her years with Vikings, Maya worked her way from volunteer junior leader, to assistant coach, and eventually group coach in 2019. She’s worked with the littlest of Vikings up to our most senior swimmers, and loves the challenges that come with each group. As a coach, she strives to instil a love of fitness in her swimmers, while also encouraging leadership and self-compassion. She obtained her Level 1 National Swim Coaching certification in 2020.
Maya just finished her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania in the Life Sciences & Management program. Outside of studying and being on deck, Maya enjoys walking the seawall with her dog, practicing yoga, and catching up on all the TV shows she missed during her time at school. Looking forward to another amazing Vikings season! Maya's email address is coachmaya@vancouvervikings.com
Brett Caswell
Junior 1
Since 2011, Coach Brett has been loving his time on the pool deck with the Vancouver Vikings. When reflecting on his favorite moments swimming with the Vikings, he is reminded of water gun fights, potlucks, and swim meets that were as exhausting as they were exhilarating. Brett’s favorite individual events are 200 IM, 100 butterfly, and the breaststroke, but he finds nothing can compare to an exciting relay with his teammates!
Brett’s coaching history with the Vikings includes working as a Junior Leader (volunteer coach), as an assistant coach, and as a group coach during both the summer and Winter Maintenance seasons.
Outside of the Vikings, Brett has also shown his love for swimming as a coach for the Special Olympics of BC swim team and as the head coach of his high-school swim team. Brett is a UBC student currently completing his degree in the Faculty of Sciences.
Outside of coaching, you might find Brett hanging out with friends, cooking, or swimming at Kitsilano Pool! Brett's email address is coachbrett@vancouvervikings.com
Aamiya Sidhu
Novice 2
Coach Aamiya is very excited to return to Vikings this summer as the Novice 2 Coach. She started with the club in 2013 as a Division 1 swimmer and swam with Vikings until she was in Division 5. She then moved to winter swimming with VPSC in 2018 where she also coaches the younger memebrs of the club.
Aamiya is currently finishing Grade 12 at WPGA where she swims and coaches for her high school team. She plans to attend university next year to study health sciences. She is looking forward to sharing her love of swimming with her swimmers and supportig them on their journeys to becoming young athletes.
Although she spends the majority of her time at the pool, Aamiya also loves playing the violin, watching movies with good snacks, and consuming an unhealthy amount of bubble tea.
Jocelyn Chambers
Novice 1
Coach Jocelyn (Jos) is very excited to be a Viking once again!! This may be her first year as a group coach but she is no stranger to the Vikings family. Jos started swimming with the Vikings at the age of 6 in 2009 and continued until 2017 during which time she obtained several club records. She then switched to VPSC and then the University of Victoria to further her swimming career. Jos is currently studying in the Faculty of Education at UVic and hopes to become an elementary school teacher.
Jos is a sprinter. Her favourite events are 50 free, 50 fly and 100 fly! In additon to swimming, she loved track and cross-country, and played volleyball at a national level throughout high school.
Jos worked as a Junior Leader with the Vikings in her SR1 years and was also Coach Maya's assistant coach last summer. She had a blast working with the kids and watching them succeed and could not resist coming back for another fun filled summer of fast swimming and team events.
Jos can's wait to meet all the new swimmers and get her first seasons as a VIkings group coach started! Jos' email address is coachjocelyn@vancouvervikings.com.