Joe Neukirch
Head Coach and also 13-18 Head Coach
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Coach Joe started
his swimming career at the age of five with the Aurora YMCA Sharks
and the Westwind Wahoos (old rival of Geneva) continuing through to
college swimming at Southern Illinois University. Joe's events
included the 200, 500, 1000, 1650, and 5 kilometer (open water)
freestyle. Joe was five time YMCA National All-American, three time
IHSA All State Second Team, three time MVP/Captain of the Aurora
Sharks, and varsity letter winner along with team captain his
senior year of college.
Joe started his
coaching career in 1999 as an age group coach with the Aurora YMCA
. Joe also had coached four seasons (2001-2004) for the Oswego
Otters (another River Rat rival). Joe currently teaches U.S.
History and Government at West Aurora High School and is the Head
Coach Boy's Swimming and Diving Team, and just finished his Masters
Degree in Educational/Administrative Leadership at North Central
College.
In his spare time
Joe enjoys swimming in Lake Michigan, biking, running, golf,
reading, boating, and fishing.
Sydney Martin
11-12 Head Coach
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Sydney’s swimming days began with swim lessons
at the age of 4 at the BR Ryall YMCA. She started her swim
team career with the Wheaton Barracudas at the age of 7 with her
older sister, Audrey. She swam summers with the Barracudas
for 10 years, and during the winter she swam with the Wheaton
College Tidal Waves and the Great White Sharks of Carol
Stream. As a high school student at Wheaton North High
School, she swam for Wheaton Coop (also with big sis), where she
specialized in backstroke, IM, and the 500
freestyle.
This is Sydney’s second year coaching with the
Geneva River Rats and her first year as head age group coach for
the 11-12’s. She is happy to be back with this age
group and LOVES the dedication her swimmers are already showing
this season! She is excited at the progress they are making,
and loves seeing them have fun while participating in the sport she
loves. Above all else, Sydney loves watching young swimmers
grow more confident in themselves and taking pride in themselves
and in their work.
Sydney just finished her second year teaching Social
Studies at West Aurora High School, where she also coaches the
Girls’ Swimming and Diving Team."
Janice Clark
9&10 Head Coach
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This is Coach
Janice’s 9th swim season as the head 9-10 year-old
coach. She began her ten year swimming career as a nine year-old on
the original Geneva Swim Team (and remembers when the team chose
the name River Rats!). She swam in the “old days”
when the Geneva pool wasn’t heated and when the swim blocks
were huge “boxes” of wood that the timers had to sit on
or else they would fall into the pool. Janice also swam for B.R.
Ryall YMCA, and she was a Rosary Bead, stepping into the role of
captain during her senior year of high school. For the past 24
years, Janice has been teaching English at Glenbard North High
School in Carol Stream; she just finished another year of teaching
Advanced Placement English, Senior Composition, and World
Literature (all seniors). Janice lives in Mill Creek with her
husband, Doug, and their four year-old son, Dylan who loves the
pool, so who knows…a future River Rat?! Janice is very
proud to have such a long and fulfilling relationship with the
Geneva Swim Team—and she looks forward to another fantastic
summer!! Go Rats!
Natalie Marinello
8&under Head Coach
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Chris Ranallo
Assistant 13-18 Coach
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Courtney Stone
Assistant 11-12 Coach
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Courtney began swimming
at the age of 11 for the Oakhurst Orcas, in Aurora, IL. The next
year her family moved to Sugar Grove where Courtney began swimming
for the Plano YMCA Aqua Force where she swam year-round for 3
years. She than began swimming for the Oswego Otters (The River
Rats Rival) for 3 summers, while also swimming year-round for the
Aurora YMCA Sharks. Courtney specialized in 100 and 200 fly, 200
free, and 200 IM.
Courtney graduated from
Kaneland High School in 2008. She also was a part of
Kaneland’s first “swim team” in which she and her
twin sister (Coach Colleen) started. They only competed in one
meet, Sectionals, for their high school.
Currently Courtney is a
junior at Aurora University and pursuing a double degree in
Business and Marketing. This is her first year as a full-time coach
for the River Rats, however, she coached the Rats during the winter
and spring sessions for the past 2 years. She is really looking
forward to coaching the 11-12 age group especially because that is
the age Courtney began her swimming career!
In her free time
Courtney likes to swim, go boating and water skiing, hang out with
close friends and family, and go to concerts.
Colleen Stone
8&under Head Assistant Coach
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Colleen first
started her swimming career, a little late in the game, at the age
of 11 with the Oakhurst Orcas in Aurora, IL. She then moved to
Sugar Grove and swam for the Plano YMCA Aqua Force year-round for 3
years. Colleen then started swimming for Geneva’s big rival
the Oswego Otters for 3 summers (where she met Coach Joe) while she
also swam year-round for the Aurora YMCA Sharks for 3 years (where
she met Coach Sarah, Coach Natalie, and Coach Jackie). She
specialized in the 200 and 100 fly as well as 200 and 400
IM.
Colleen
graduated from Kaneland High School in 2008. Her twin sister (Coach
Courtney) and she were Kaneland’s first “swim
team” although the only meet they competed in for their high
school was Sectionals.
Currently,
Colleen is a junior at Aurora University pursuing a double degree
in Business and Marketing. This is her first year being a full-time
coach for the Geneva River Rats, however, she coached the River
Rats during the winter and spring sessions for the past 2 years.
Not only is Colleen the assistant coach for the 8 & under age
group, but an assistant coach for the 9-10 age group as
well.
In her spare
time Colleen likes to swim in her pool with her two golden
retrievers, read the twilight series (over and over again), go
boating, and racing her sister (Courtney).
Sarah Pauly
Assistant 8& under Coach
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Sarah started her swimming career at age
8 while swimming for the Aurora Country Club. She continued her
swimming career through college with the Aurora YMCA Sharks. While
swimming for the Sharks, Sarah was a 7-time YMCA National
Championships meet qualifier as well as an Illinois State Finalist
on numerous occasions. In addition to the Sharks, Sarah spent 4
years competing for West Aurora High School. With the Blackhawks,
Sarah broke several school records and served as team captain her
senior year.
Sarah will be joining the River Rats for her
fifth season this summer. She will continue her work with the
8&Under age group and looks forward to some more fun, fast
swimming! In addition to the River Rats, Sarah also coaches
year-round swimming with a local club team. Sarah is a
graduate of Indiana University, where she earned a degree in
Secondary Education. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading,
swimming and good food.
Jackie Iglesias
Assistant Coach
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