My Story:
I began my swimming career with the Blue Dolphins at the age of 8, where I competed for over 10 years. During my junior and senior years of high school, I also swam for the Tiger Sharks Summer Swim Team while competing on the John P. Stevens High School Varsity Swim Team. I continued my competitive swimming career at the NCAA Division III collegiate level before beginning my coaching career.
In 2002, I began coaching with the West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics Department, leading the Recreational Swim Team. I quickly discovered my passion for teaching and developing young swimmers. After returning to New Jersey in 2006, I coached the Blue Dolphins Training Team before transitioning to coaching the Blue Dolphins Swim Team in 2008.
Since 2008, I have coached more than 100 swimmers, ages 6–17, in the NJ JCC Swim League. During that time, the Blue Dolphins have captured multiple overall team championships while achieving several undefeated seasons.
As a coach, my goal is to provide a safe, fun, competitive, and positive environment where every swimmer can grow. I encourage each athlete to strive for their personal best by emphasizing proper technique in all four competitive strokes—butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle—as well as starts and turns. Through individualized instruction and goal setting, I help swimmers build confidence, develop strong fundamentals, and achieve both their short-term and seasonal goals.
I look forward to coaching your child and helping them develop a lifelong love for the sport of swimming!
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!
