Coach Sam Gelberger has been a part of the Dolphins program since 1991. Over her 14 years of competing, she only missed one swim meet to play high school water polo. Growing up, she competed on both the Nova and Nadadores swim teams. She lettered in swimming at El Toro High School as a freshmen. Among her other various achievements in high school and college swimming are two top 8 records at Golden West College, as well as earning 8th in the Nation for the 50 yard breastroke and 12th in the 100 yard breastroke. She has competed at the Junior Olympics with Nova Aquatics, and medaled at State Championships for college swimming. Coach Sam is now attending college at Concordia University. She is competing on full scholarship in swimming and is also the team captain of the women’s water polo team.
Coach Sam has been coaching swimming and water polo over the past five years. In addition to the Dolphins, she coached the SVA Marlins swim team for three years. Coach Sam has been the head coach of the 10U co-ed SET water polo team for the past three years, and began coaching there just after winning the 18U silver medal in the Junior Olympics. During the off-seasons, Sam helps coach El Toro Varsity water polo, El Toro Frosh-Soph water polo and has helped out with El Toro JV swimming.
Coach Sam is extremely excited to be coaching the Dolphins for her third season. She believes that the Dolphins are a competitive swim team with a fun spirit! The Dolphins are getting some new equipment in for training, such as 3 brand new flip trainers. These will help teach the swimmers how to perform proper flip turns, and they are tons of fun to practice with! Coach Sam believes it’s important for her Dolphin swimmers to learn to dive off the blocks no matter how old they are and Coach Sam’s philosophy is to teach her Dolphin swimmers to be very focused on stroke technique and learn to know there swim times. Coach Sam also plans on teaching the importance of individual and team goals.
Coach Sam is also bringing back “Dolphin Dollars”, Dolphin coloring pages, prizes, the Dolphin Talent Show, Friday Fun-Days and much much more! Coach Sam is looking forward to a fun and successful season with all new and returning Dolphins!
You can reach Sam at coach@lf2dolphins.org
