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Coaches & Directors

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 below.

For all questions related to administrative issues, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact one of the Board Members or Committee Heads below.

Coaching Staff

Don Henshaw

Sr & Masters Head Coach-Team Dir.

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After club swimming in North Miami Beach, Miami Carol City High School and Indian River CC, Coach Don Henshaw started his coaching career in 1975 in Miami, FL and later (1978) continued coaching with GLCY. After a brief hiatus to build a family business and help Coach Connie raise Coaches Heather and Jen, Coach Don rejoined the coaching ranks in 1985 with Swim Florida.  He coached there unitl he started Gulf Coast Swim Team in 1998.  Coach Don has developed numerous National Top 16 swimmers, Florida High School State Champions (including Coach Jen Seluk), Junior National, Senior National, and Olympic Trial qualifiers.  His coaching philosophy is "train hard, swim fast".  Don married Connie Henshaw in 1976.  They raised two daughters, Heather (Fort), and Jennifer (Seluk) who have blessed him with seven grandchildren.

Connie Henshaw

Junior Team - Head Age Group Coach

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Coach Connie Henshaw is a graduate of Hialeah High School, and swam for Hialeah Swim Association and North Dade YMCA where she qualified for Senior Nationals in the 200 Butterfly. She was also one of the top female waterpolo players in the USA. 
Coach Connie has produced some of the fastest age group swimmers in the United States in the last 15 years, many National Top 16 swimmers, Florida LSC record breakers, and helped them reach the top with several #1 rankings and NAG records.  
She is married to Coach Don and has 2 daughters, Heather Fort, and Jen Seluk, as well as 6 grandchildren.

Jen Seluk

Gold Team Coach

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Coach Jen Seluk (formerly Henshaw) joined GCST in her current capacity as Senoir Group Stroke Coach in 2005.  Prior to that she attended Florida State University and Cleveland State University where she competed in the 400 IM, 200 Fly, 200 Breast, 1650 Free, and 1000 Free.  She is the 1997 2A State Champion in the Girls 200 IM and that same year she also made her Sr. National cut in the 200M Breast while winning Jr. Nationals.  Coach Jen’s philosophy is oriented toward stroke technique and efficiency but balances her work outs with good old fashion hard work. She is currently the Head Boys and Girls Swim Coach at Estero High School.  Jen is married to Matt and they have three year old triplet sons Hunter, Parker and Ryder, as well as a little girl, Karter Rose Seluk born on April 20, 2010.  Her loyalty resides in GCST and is confident that they will continue to make strides towards excellence!  Go GCST!       

Gregg Cross

Silver Team Coach / OW Director

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I began my swimming and coaching careers at age 16 as a member of the University Swim Club, in Cleveland.  In 1979 I graduated Kent State   University ’s Education Program and moved to Ft. Myers where, in 1980, I became (and remain) a teacher at Bonita Middle School .
 
In 1985, I joined Swim Florida as a coach, and in 1987, moved to Cape Coral to establish a separate entity of Swim Florida; Swim Florida Cape.  In nine years with
Swim Florida Cape , I helped develop several Sr. and Jr National Swimmers, as well as numerous high school state champions.  In 1996, I was promoted to head age group coach for Swim Florida, and subsequently helped expand the south Lee County age group program at FGCU.  Since 1999 I have served as race director for the USA Swimming Open Water National Championships, and was race director for the USA Swimming World Trials, twice.  For my open water involvement, I was awarded the Glen S. Hummer Award.
 
I have continued my love of swimming through an extensive career as a triathlete, and later in open water swimming having completed the 12.5 Key West Swim three times, the Tampa Bay 23 mile swim, and numerous others. I reside on my farm in Estero with my wife, Sandy. Additionally, I have a son Matt, 25, who is a horse trainer in Colorado .  Above all, I am proud to be a part of this first class program!
 
 
 
 

Michael S. Verwest

North Team Head Coach

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In his youth, Coach Mike swam for the Fort Myers Swim Association, and four years at Fort Myers High School. In 1976, his senior year, he was co-captain of his H.S. team. 

Mike has been coaching at the North Fort Myers satellite locale for GCST since January 2010 and is certified as a Level 2 coach by the American Swim Coaches Association and certified STROKE TECHNICIAN  by the American Learn to Swim Teachers Association. 

Mike and his wife Laura are blessed with two children, Elisabeth and Matthew who both  swim for  GCST!

Coach Mike believes that every child has the inner potential to be a champion, if he or she dedicates themself to developing technical, physical and mental excellence. But he emphasizes that there is much more to being a true champion than just swimming fast. Coach Mike is excited to be part of the GCST tradition of producing champions in the pool, in school, and in their community.

 

Timothy N. Smith

North Team Assistant Coach

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Tim Smith is a native of the Fort Myers area having been born in Lee Memorial Hospital.  He grew up loving sports of all kinds, He played soccer and basketball while in school, but always had a strong interest in swimming.  He graduated from Fort Myers High School and the University of Florida.  His degree was in Family Youth and Community Science with a minor in Education.  Tim believes in building respect, trust, and great communication with everyone involved in the team. He thinks that every child can be a great swimmer,  it’s just his job as a coach to help them get there.  It is his goal not only to improve each swimmer, but also to continuously improve his skills as a coach.  Tim is excited about the challenges and opportunities that GCST will provide.  Mostly, Tim is just so happy to be part of the team.

Laura G Verwest

North Team Assistant Coach

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Jose R Rodriquez

North Team Assistant Coach

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Charles Lee Valentine

North Team Assistant Coach

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William Paul Wood

Bonita Springs Team Head Coach

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Eddwie Perez-Arriaga

FGCU Bronze Team Coach

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Pieter K Ritz

Assistant Senior Team Coach

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A native of Fort Myers, Fla., Pieter Ritz was member of the Gulf Coast Swim Team for 16 years.  He also swam for the Florida Zone Team in 2006. During his prep swimming years, he was a district champion in 2005, was a three-time regional finalist, and was a state finalist in 2006 and 2007.

Pieter Ritz swam collegiately for four years at Division I Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. While at Cleveland State, he was a finalist at the Horizon League Championships all four years. In 2009, he reached the podium at the conference championships with a 7th place finish in the 1000 freestyle and an 8th place finish in the 1650 freestyle. He also reached the conference podium in 2012 with an 8th place finish in the 1650 freestyle.  Along with his accomplishments in the pool, he was also named to the Dean’s List three years at CSU, and in 2012 received the Men's Swimming and Diving Leadership Award.
 
Pieter is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration at Henderson State, while working with the Henderson State Swimming and Diving Team as the Graduate Assistant Coach.  In his first year at the position, he guided the women's team to a 2nd place finish and the men's team a 3rd place finish at the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference meet in Cleveland, Mississippi.  From there, he also was apart of the group that went to the 2013 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving National Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, where the men finished 20th and the women finished 35th. 

Sam Wilson Moreland

Assistant Masters Coach

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Jill D Moreland

Assistant Masters/Club Coach

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Coach Jill Moreland has been an active member of the GCST Masters team since its startup in early 2010. She swam briefly with the Sarasota Sharks from age 8 to 9 but stopped to pursue soccer and has always regretted that decision. Jill has two boys, Jack and Max who both swim for GCST and her husband Sam is also a GCST Masters member. Her love of swimming and involvement with GCST led her to pursue her coaching certification so that she could fill in for other coaches on an as needed basis. Jill is a Mechanical Engineer and also holds an M.B.A. She also participates in triathlons and makes an effort to actively recruit triathletes for the Masters program.

Board of Directors

Don Henshaw

SFSCI President / Director

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Karl Ritz

SFSCI BOD

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Scott Jamieson

SFSCI BOD

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Connie Henshaw

SFSCI Treasurer

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Jen Seluk

SFSCI BOD

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Lauri Albion

Hospitality Chairperson

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Ellen Elicker-DeVeny

Concessions Chairperson

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Adele Woodrow

Meet Computer Chairperson

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Vanessa L Brewer

Volunteer System Administrator

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Maria Medina

Parent Information and Communication

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