We are here to support
your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets,
events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please
contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to
administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please
contact David Tait, our Club Director.
Mike coached at Irish
Aquatics from 2005-2009 as the Head Coach of the satellite
location. During his tenure, Irish Aquatics
swimming achieved multiple Age Group state champions,
Junior National qualifiers, two US Open, and one Senior National
qualifier. He was also the volunteer assistant for the Notre Dame
Women's Swim Team from 2006-2008 where the Irish won two Big East
Championships, 10 NCAA berths, and qualified 11 athletes for the
2008 Olympic Trials. A 2003 graduate of Ohio University, he
most recently completed his Master’s Degree in Communication
from The Ohio State University in September of 2005.
While completing his
Master’s degree, Mike was a Graduate Assistant and gave
lectures on public speaking and persuasion. His classes finished
with the first, third, and fourth highest test averages for the
department. Mike was recognized by the Communication department for
his ability to create a fun and educational environment for his
students. His thesis was advertising and marketing strategies for
minorities in the U.S.
A native of Massillon,
Ohio, Mike enjoyed a successful high school swimming career, making
the state meet his junior and senior years, and earning
All-American Honorable Mention honors his senior year. His
specialties were backstroke and butterfly. In addition to his
swimming achievements, Mike was also a two-year letterman for the
Massillon tennis team.
After graduating from
Massillon High School in 1999, Mike attended and swam at Ohio
University in Athens, Ohio. He specialized in the 100 and 200
backstroke, and the 100 butterfly and freestyle. While in college,
he also served as Head Coach for Brookside Country Club swim team,
in the summers of 1999-2002. While at Brookside, the club enjoyed
their best ever swim team record. After graduating, Mike returned
to his alma mater in Massillon to become the assistant coach under
his mentor, Coach Dave Rotthoff.
Mike has also been active
in the University of Texas and University of Notre Dame swimming
programs, working the program's summer camps in 2004-2005, and
2006-2008, respectively. He is a fan of Pearl Jam and connoisseur
of good music.
Melissa Belote was born on
October 16, 1956 in Washington D.C. and grew up in Springfield,
Virginia. She has been called one of America's greatest
swimmers. Melissa is the middle child of Florence and Buddy
Belote. She has two sisters Barbara and
Jenny.
Melissa first appeared on
the national swimming scene at the age of 12 when she qualified for
her first United States National Championship.
In 1972, Melissa won both
the 100 and 200 meter Backstroke at the United States Olympic
Trials and set a world record in the 200 meter
Backstroke.
Later that year in Munich,
Germany, Melissa led the women's American Swim Team as she won
three Gold Medals. She placed first in the 100 meter
Backstroke, setting an Olympic and American record. She
finished first in the 200 meter Backstroke setting a World,
Olympic, and American record. She also swam the lead off leg
on the World, Olympic, and American record setting 400 Medley Relay
team.
In 1973, Melissa continued
her dominance when she won the 200 meter Backstroke at the World
Championships.
In 1976, Melissa made her
second Olympic team, which competed in Montreal,
Canada. Melissa finished fifth in the 200 meter Backstroke,
setting a new American record.
From 1970 to 1979, Melissa
won 8 AAU Individual National Championships and was a 16 time AAU
All-American. She also won 6 individual National Collegiate
Swimming Championships and led her college team, Arizona State
University to two National Championships. Melissa was a
four-year All-American at Arizona State
University.
In 1972 and 1973, Melissa
was the runner-up for the Sullivan Award, the highest amateur award
recognized in the United States. In 1977, she won the
Broderick Award as the Outstanding Women's Collegiate Swimmer in
America.
Melissa is in the Virginia
Sports Hall of Fame, the Washington Hall of Stars, the Arizona
State University Athletic Hall of Fame, and the International
Swimming Hall of Fame. In 1999 Melissa was selected to the United
States Swimming “Team of the Century,” as well as,
Sports Illustrated top 50 athletes from the state of
Virginia, and the Arizona Republic Newspapers top 100
Athletes of Arizona.
Melissa has been involved
with swimming, either as a swimmer or coach, since 1965 when she
started competing as an 8 year old at her community swim club,
Springfield Swim & Racquet Club. In addition to her
coaching responsibilities at RIO, Melissa is the Head Swim Coach at
McClintock High School.
Melissa is married to
Richard A. Ripley and they have two children, Rachel Alexandra (19)
and Erik Alexander (17). Rachel is currently swimming at the
University of Missouri. Erik will be entering his senior year
at McClintock High School.
Melissa Belote
Ripley
29 year’s coaching
age group swimming
Four time All-American for
Arizona State University
Six time National
Collegiate Champion for Arizona State
University
Olympian (1972 &
1976)
Three-time Olympic Gold
Medalist (World, Olympic and American Record
holder)
World Champion 1973
– 200 m Backstroke
Sullivan Award Runner-up
(1972 & 1973) - Top Armature Athlete in
American
Broderick Award for
Outstanding Women's Collegiate Swimmer (1977)
Fiesta Bowl All-American
(1977)
Arizona Republic Newspaper
- Women Athlete of the Year (1977 & 1978)
Inducted into the Arizona
State University Athletic Hall of Fame (1981)
Inducted into the
International Swimming Hall of Fame (1983)
Inducted into the Virginia
Sports Hall of Fame (1989)
Arizona Republic 100
Greatest Arizona Athletes
Sports Illustrated Top 50
Virginia Athletes
USA Swimming - Female 200
Backstroker of the Century
Caleb Stodghill started
swimming club at the age of 7 and continued through the age of 19.
He swam for Red Mountain High School in Mesa AZ,
‘02/’03 through ‘05/’06, lettering all four
years and making the state team sophomore, junior and, senior
year.
Caleb stared teaching swim
lessons and lifeguarding when he was 15 years old. He taught swim
lessons and lifeguarded for Gilbert Parks and Recreation from the
summer of 2004 through the summer of 2008, he also taught at
SwimKids USA from September of 2006 through November of 2007; then
he continued his teaching at EVO swim school from November of 2007
through August of 2009. In addition to this Caleb also taught
special needs swim lessons at Desert Pain Institute from May of
2005 through February of 2007.
Caleb started coaching
Gilbert Parks and Recreation summer league swim team in 2005 and
continued through 2008, he was the head coach in 2008. Caleb has
been working with Rio, pre-comp groups since January of 2008 and
with Rio, competitive groups since August of
2009.
Caleb is currently a
senior at Arizona State University, working towards his BS in
Exercise and Wellness, under the College of Nursing and Health
Innovation. In the future Caleb plans on working with collegiate
and national level swimmers; both on deck as a swim coach and
stroke technique consultant as well as in the strength and
conditioning field as a strength-coach.
Bob Chen was
born in Taipei, Taiwan in March of 1990 and is the oldest child of
Gary and Hellen Chen. His younger sister Ann swims for the RIO
competitive Silver group as well as Hamilton High School.
Bob Chen began club swimming at the age of 11, and
within 6 months, achieved his first National Reportable Top 16
(NRT) in the 200 yd breaststroke. Bob continued swimming
competitively until his senior year of high school; throughout his
brief career he achieved NRT’s in multiple age groups and
events, while qualifying for US Sectionals, NCSA Junior Nationals,
and Far Westerns. He is a former national record holder as a member
of the 11-12 boys 400 yd medley relay, and also the current meet
record holder in the 13-14 200 yd I.M. at RIO’s very own Lost
Dutchman Invitational. A 2006 Scholastic All-American and 2008
graduate of Fremont, CA’s Irvington High School, Bob is
currently completing his undergraduate work in political science at
Chandler Gilbert Community College.
Upon graduation, Bob attended San Jose State
University for 1 year as a political science and philosophy double
major before moving back home with his family in Chandler, AZ.
During his short stay at SJSU, Bob was a part of the
university’s Associated Student Body, working in the public
relations division.
Starting at the age of 14, Bob worked as an swim
instructor during the summer for SwimAmerica. By the end of his
junior year in high school, he was also coaching the summer league
team at the Ohlone College campus. Bob began his tenure with RIO in
March of 2010, as an assistant pre-competitive coach at the
Hamilton site before taking over as head pre-competitive coach for
the Hamilton/Chandler site in June of 2010.
With his quickly disappearing spare time, Bob is an
avid movie fan and amateur critic. He is also a big TV fanatic,
following 5 shows (LOST, The Office, Mad Men, Friday Night Lights,
and Dexter) religiously.
Rich has been coaching
with RIO Salado since 2003. During that time, he has coached
and seen many past and current RIO swimmers continue on with
success in swimming and in life. Rich grew up in Seattle, WA
and attended the University of Washington and Arizona State
University. He graduated from ASU in 2005 with a Degree in
Communications and Recreation Management, but still loves to cheer
on his Seattle sports teams. Upon his graduation, Rich
completed his post-baccalaureate degree in Physical
Education. He currently works in the Chandler Unified School
district, where he enjoys the opportunity to teach elementary
children grades K-6 the benefits of life-time activity through
success oriented physical education.
Rich had much success
during his swimming career. Some of his top swimming results
include qualifying and competing in the 2000 Olympic Trials,
finishing 31st in the 400 IM. He also made the
final and finished in the top 8 in the 2001 Summer Nationals in the
400 IM. In 1998, he finished 2nd in the Junior
National Championships in the 400 IM. Some of Rich’s top
times are:
Yards:
Meters:
200 IM:
1:49.92
200 IM: 2:07.90
400 IM: 3:50.65 400 IM:
4:26.49
200 Free:
1:43.78
400 Free: 4:12.27
500 Free:
4:31.21
1000 Free:
9:28.33
Coaching Swimming and
Teaching PE are great ways for Rich to teach children, young
adults, and adults alike how to improve themselves by hard work and
dedication. Rich tries to his best ability to bring a positive
atmosphere where everyone not only learns how to swim efficiently,
but also learns how to challenge themselves while still enjoying
the experience.
He currently lives
in Gilbert, with his beautiful wife, Jamie and their dog,
Koco. Rich contests to this day that Jamie makes him a better
person.
Becky Triemstra, Northern Arizona University
Swimming & Diving Alumni, has been swimming since the age of 7
when she joined her first USA Age Group team. From the start her
love of swimming and determination has shown in her accomplishments
which took her all the way to USA Nationals and earned her athletic
scholarships to attend Northern Arizona
University.
She was a standout performer during her high school
years at Munster High School, qualifying for Indiana High School
State Championships all four years and along with her teammates,
led her team to 2 third place finishes. She not only qualified in 2
individual events each year (200yd Free & 500yd Free) but also
was on two relay teams all four years, earning top 8 finishes along
the way. Becky was also the recipient of All American honors both
junior and senior years.
Becky graduated NAU in 2008 after a successful four
year career with the Lumberjacks. Her career included two bronze
medals in the 500 yard and 1,650 yard freestyle at the WAC
championships her junior year. She also earned two silver medals
her senior year in the same events. Becky was named first team
All-WAC her senior year for the same events. Other career
highlights include four time Golden Eagle Scholar Athlete award as
well as a four time Academic All-WAC
recipient.
Morgan was born in Chandler, Arizona and grew
up swimming recreationally and then transitioned into club swimming
around the age of 13. She swam for Sun Devil Aquatics during high
school and then was recruited by Loyola Marymount University to
swim in college. At LMU she swam under Bonnie Adair, and
specialized in the 200 and 100 breaststroke. Morgan also served as
captain of the team her junior and senior year. She graduated from
Loyola Marymount with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Art
History.
After college Morgan worked for Team Santa Monica,
as an Age-Group Coach and for UCLA Athletics, as an Academic
Coordinator.
Morgan recently moved back to Arizona and she and
her husband welcomed their first child, Charlotte Jacqueline Hatch.
Morgan enjoys working with athletes of all ages, and being a mom!
