Private Instruction for Stillwater Starz Members & Siblings ONLY
During our Team Development block (10:20-10:50 on weekday mornings) coaches are available for private lessons for Stillwater Starz swimmers and their siblings ONLY.
Private lessons are $30 if working with a junior coach, $35 if working with our Head or Asst. Head Coaches. A swimmer can also pair up with one other teammate of similar ability and split the cost of the half-hour session. Payment for private lessons is made directly to the coach, at the time of the lesson, by cash, Venmo, and/or Zelle. (Please see coaches' preferences on the Google sheet).
2025 Google Sheet Private Lesson Signup (2025 Registered Families Only)
(Swim team families are invited to book one lesson slot ONLY through May 31. On June 1, this restriction will be lifted, and families can schedule as many lessons as they'd like from this date on. This policy is designed that all team families have an initial opportunity to take advantage of our private instruction program.)
Cancellation Policy: 24 hours notice is politely requested for all cancellations. Lessons will be held rain or shine (except in the event of lightning/thunder, when notification of teamwide cancellation will be made). If you need to cancel, please remove your swimmer's/swimmers' name(s) from the Google sheet AND notify the appriopriate coach by clicking his or her name to email at least 24 hourse in advance.
Private Instruction for Stillwater Community (non-swim team families)
Some of our Starz coaches are available to teach private lessons during regular pool hours outside the Team Development block. These lessons are scheduled jointly between coach and parent and are open BOTH to Starz swim team members AND other Stillwater families. Rates are $30/half hour session (junior coaches) or $35/half hour session (Head/Asst. Head Coaches), and payment is made directly to the coach at time of lesson. Children taking private lessons must have a valid Stillwater pool pass/be Stillwater residents.
Please refer to the coach bios below and contact the coach with whom you'd like to schedule a lesson. Please refer to the cancellation policy above if you are unable to keep a scheduled lesson.
The following coaches are available for independently scheduled private lessons for Stillwater families in addition to private team coaching during the Team Development block. Contact them individually to schedule.
Asst. Head Coach Emeritus Megan F (20) Is a rising junior at Rollins College, where she competes year-round as a member of the swim team. She graduated from Neuqua Valley High School in 2023, where she was a member of the high school's varsity swim and IHSA state team. Megan is currently a part of Fox Valley Swim Team's national team and specializes in breaststroke/IM. This is her fourth year coaching for the Stillwater Starz. She is an Assistant Head Coach Emeritus for the Starz and is American Red Cross Lifeguard/CPR/AED/First Aid-certified. Megan is experienced in working with swimmers of all ages, skill levels, and strokes. Contact Megan at 630-364-6630.
Junior Coach Madelin H. (17) is a rising senior at Neuqua Valley High School where she’s also a member of the swim team. Madelin is also a club swimmer for the Mavericks swim team and has been swimming competitively since she was 7. She coached and taught private lessons at South Pointe for two years and also teaches swim lessons for the Geneva River Rats. Madelin is lifeguard/CPR/AED/First Aid-certified. She swims every event but loves freestyle and backstroke the most. She also plays water polo and loves to coach young kids. Contact Madelin at 630-699-1685.
Asst. Head Coach Hannah P. (18) is a rising sophomore at University of Illinois Chicago majoring in Kinesiology to follow the path of a physical therapist. She loves working with our Starz swimmers and is becoming knowledgeable about the psychology of sport and healthy training. Hannah has swum competitively for eight years, starting on the Otters Swim Team, then the Fox Valley Swim Team, and finally, throughout her entire high school career, with the Neuqua Valley Girls Swim Team. This summer will be Hannah's fourth coaching for the Starz. This year, she will serve as an Assistant Head Coach. Hannah specializes in Freestyle and Backstroke but is comfortable coaching swimmers of all ages and abilities in any stroke or skill. Contact Hannah at 331-625-4324.
Junior Coach Shyam S. (16) is a returning Junior Coach who will enter his senior year at Neuqua Valley High School this fall. Shyam is a club swimmer and also swims for the NVHS swim team. He is American Red Cross lifeguard/CPR/AED/First Aid-certified and is also a certified instructor at Dupage Swimming Center. Shyam swims every event (best at backstroke) and is great with kids. Contact Shyam at 630-854-6625.
Junior Coach Simran S. (19) is a rising sophomore at Case Western Reserve University. This will be her sixth summer coaching with the Starz and she absolutely loves working with our Starz swimmers. Simran has been swimming competitively since the age of six and has swum for numerous clubs, including the Naperville Area YMCA and Fox Valley Swim Team. Simran graduated from Neuqua Valley High School where she swam on the girls swim team her entire high school career. She is comfortable coaching swimmers of all ages and abilities in any stroke or skill. Contact Simran at 630-352-1879.
Junior Coach Sachin Sivakumar (16) attends Neuqua Valley High School and has been swimming competitively since the age of 7, starting with the Stillwater Starz and continuing his journey with the Fox Valley Swim team and the Neuqua Valley Swim and Dive team. He has many years of experience with the Starz, both as a swimmer and coach. Although primarily a butterflyer and freestyler, Sachin is comfortable swimming and teaching all strokes and events. Contact Sachin at 341-314-8260.
Head Coach Mary Szweda has over 20 years of experience coaching swimmers of all ages and skill levels. A graduate of Naperville North High School, Mary swam all four years on varsity and competed at the IHSA State Meet, placing in the Top 16 all four years. Mary also competed at the National level with BRRYALL Swim Club and coached with Wheaton Swim Club under Bob Strube and Chris Delgado. Mary received a four-year scholarship to swim at Illinois State University, competed at the collegiate level, and placed at the MVC Conference Meet all four years. Mary is dedicated to each swimmer, whether beginner or advanced, and can provide specialized techniques in all four strokes. Mary is also an American Red Cross certified in Lifeguarding/CPR/AED/First Aid. Contact Mary at 630-597-3746.
Asst. Head Coach Gabe W. (18) is entering his fourth year with the Stillwater Starz. He has been swimming for 10 years and is a recent graduate of Neuqua Valley High School where he has been a member of the Varsity swim team since his freshman year. While he specializes in freestyle, Gabe is experienced in coaching all four strokes and enjoys working with swimmers of all ages and skill levels. Gabe also plays water polo and will be attending Harvard University this fall. He can be reached at 858-242-0738.
Junior Coach Rachel Y. (16) is a rising junior at Neuqua Valley High School and has been swimming competitively for Fox Valley Swim Team since she was 8. She currently swims for the NVHS girls swim team. She is a regional-level swimmer, and her main events are fly and IM. Additionally, she is a certified lifeguard and has experience teaching younger kids who aren’t quite ready for the demands of team membership and training. Contact Rachel at (312) 802-6762.
Junior Coach Ted Y. (16) is a returning Junior Coach entering his junior year at Neuqua Valley High School. He has been swimming competitively since the age of 8 and currently swims year-round for the Fox Valley Swim Team and on the varsity team for NVHS. Ted primarily swims distance freestyle and is comfortable working with all ages, skill levels, and strokes. Contact Ted at 331-243-5892.
