My Story:
I began swimming competitively for the Blue Dolphins and Tiger Sharks since I was 8 years old. I swam for John P. Stevens Varsity Swim Team and continued for a little while at my college division 3 team until I transitioned into coaching a youth swimming program in 2002 for the West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics department: Recreational Swim Team. I enjoyed coaching the kids so much that I continued to coach a training team for the Blue Dolphins Swim Team once I returned to New Jersey in 2006. Since 2008, I have been training over 100 swimmers of all ages from 6 – 17 who are on the NJ JCC Swim league: Blue Dolphin Swim Team. During my time, I have helped our swimmers win states. Since 2008, our team has won first place overall and we have been undefeated. My commitment as your Coach, is to facilitate and maintain a safe, fun, competitive and learning atmosphere for all participants. I will encourage every swimmer to swim their personal best and enact swimming techniques to help achieve their goals. I will work alongside with all athletes to develop training plans to meet short-term and seasonal goals. My practices emphasize proper technique in all the competitive strokes; Butterfly, freestyle, breaststroke, and backstroke. I will reinforce proper technique with each stroke and when performing starts and turns.
Coaching Experience:
- Head Coach, Princeton YMCA Swim Team (Present)
- Head Coach, South Plainfield Tiger Sharks (Present)
- Assistant Coach, Jewish Community Center: Blue Dolphins Swim Team (2008 – 2019)
- Assistant Coach, Jewish Community Center: Training Team (2006 – 2008)
- Assistant Coach, Wv Wesleyan Athletic Department: Recreational Swim Team (ages 8 – 17): (2002 – 2006)
Competitive Experience:
- Jewish Community Center: Blue Dolphins Swim Team (1991 – 2002)
- John P. Stevens High School Swim Team (1998 – 2002)
- West Virginia Wesleyan Division 3 (2002)
Education: M.A.T., Duel Certification: Elementary Education (K-6) and Special Education (K-12)
Swim Hard, Swim Fast, and Have Fun!!
Coach Karim
Hi! My name is Avery Cassio and I’m a coach for the South Plainfield Tiger Sharks. I have been swimming since I was 10 years old. I started off on the Tiger Sharks and have since then been a part of the JCC Blue Dolphins and captain of the South Plainfield High School swim team. I have helped coach the Blue Dolphins during practices as well as aided coaches in meets for all three teams. I taught private lessons at the Edison JCC and taught the training team as well. As someone who has been a part of this team for so many years, I can’t wait for another wonderful season!
Hey, I'm Nick and I'm an assistant coach. I have been a part of the Tiger Sharks for over 10 years and have lived in SP all of my life. I have experience across multiple swim teams, such as Blue Dolphins and MEY. I was captain of my high school swim team at St. Joes. I have taught swim lessons to all levels of swimmers for two years and have also coached at the Blue Dolphins.
I am now enrolled at the Rutgers Honors College studying Political Science and Sociology on a pre-law track. I aim to use all of my prior experience to make all of my swimmers the best they can be. I hope we can make the most of out this season and do better than we ever have!
