Aquatics Staff

I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and was married at the young age of 19 to my soulmate, Dan.  I have two beautiful children, Christopher and Kelly. Being a young mother, it was important that I had a job that allowed me to be at home with my kids and also brought in decent money to the household. So, I took a lifeguarding class in 1987 and, by some miracle, passed the class.  I say that because, at the time, I could not swim and did not even know what freestyle or a breaststroke was. I worked as a guard at my neighborhood pool, which allowed me to have my kids with me at work.  Once my children were of school age, I worked as a substitute teacher in P.G. County at their schools so that I could keep a close eye on them until they graduated.  I worked my way up the ladder, becoming a Pool Operator and a long-term substitute teacher. I worked for Recreational Enterprises, Inc., for 17 years and held the titles of Training Coordinator, Regional Supervisor, Red Cross Instructor, and Office Manager -- and many others too.  After retiring in 2004 from the company, I took a job here at the Aspen Hill Club as their Aquatics Director.  I have been here for 7 years.  It is a great place to work because it's Family- and Employee-friendly. Our General Manager wants us to succeed and grow with the times and gives us the tools to do so. It is very important in life to maintain balance and keep stress to a minimum or nonexistent.  This job allows me to do that and it doesn’t get any better than that!

My philosophy is: To live your life to the fullest and to treat each day as if were your last.  Be kind to everyone and leave the world a better place. Peace

Most of my life has been centered around the pool in one way or another. I joined my neighborhood summer swim team (Strathmore Bel Pre) when I was eight years old because at 4:00 p.m. there was no one left to play with, they were all at swim practice. Clearly this was “the thing” to do! I participated the next two summers, then when I was 11, I was ready to practice year round. (Back then we didn’t have a pool at Aspen Hill, otherwise I might have been ready sooner!)

I quickly grasped the techniques and tough training regimen required of a competitive swimmer -- and I loved it! It was all I wanted to do. I set many records during my summer swimming career, as well as with my high school team at John F. Kennedy, where I won a Metro title in the 50-yard freestyle event my senior year. I also competed at the Junior National level with my local USS team (RMSC). My efforts helped me earn a scholarship to the University of Tampa where I swam all four years and participated in Nationals with the team several times. I graduated from UT in 1989 with honors in the field of Physical Education/Adult Fitness and Health.

During college, I coached my summer swim team. Not long after, I began a 17-year run as a coach of my former high school team. In the Fall of 1991, I started at the Aspen Hill Club, coaching the masters' swim practice and the developing stages of my swim clinic.

Swimming is still what I live for and love. I try to kick/swim everyday. I still coach my summer team. At AHC, between masters' practice, competitive swim clinic, and the various private lessons of all ages and abilities that I teach, you can see me up in the pool almost any given day.

It is a thrill to help people get better at something, and to encourage them to do something positive. It is an even bigger thrill for me, though, the many friendships I have gained and the wonderful relationships that have formed with my swimmers, their parents and grandparents, and my co-workers here at AHC. If I haven’t met, taught or worked with you yet, I certainly look forward to doing so!

Growing up in a neighborhood with a community pool made my love for water and swimming start at a very young age. I was a member of my community swim team for twelve years, beginning at the age of five, and was a member of the John F. Kennedy High School Swim Team. I was able to perfect all four strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly) through swim lessons and stroke and turn clinics. My outlook toward swimming is although, like any other sport, it takes time to learn, you do not lose the skills.

I began lifeguarding in 2004 at my community pool where I had been swimming for twelve years on the summer swim team. I started lifeguarding at the Aspen Hill Club in 2006 and have been working intermittently since. I feel that no matter how long a person has been swimming or how good they are, there should always be someone watching. I enjoy being a part of the Aspen Hill Club Team and having the opportunity to talk with and get to know the members. In addition to lifeguarding, I am currently a full time student at Montgomery College where I plan to pursue a career in Forensic Science.

My name is Victoria R. Copeland, I grew up in the Virginia Beach area and I have always been near the water. As long as I can remember I have been swimming. I began swimming competitively at the age of six and continued through high school. Then I graduated from UNC Greensboro in ’92 and began a career as a social worker concentrating mainly with adolescents and their families.

I am currently a resident of Brookeville, MD and have three children ages 11, 8 and 2 ½, they are all avid swimmers and began swimming at the age of nine months. Shortly after the birth of my first child in 1997 I began teaching at the YMCA in Silver Spring, where I taught for five years. I taught many different areas, water baby classes, adult beginner, stroke development, private lessons, and anything in between. Once I moved back to Brookeville in 2003, I began teaching at the Olney Aquatic Center.

Learning to swim is very important for all. It is a skill that can save lives-your child’s and your own. I teach all levels and ages, one is never too young or too old to lean to swim. I look forward to meeting and teaching the families of the Aspen Hill Club.

I have been involved in the sport of swimming for as long as I can remember. I swam competitively for my summer swim club starting at age five and continued to swim through the age of 19. During this time I swam for Rockville Montgomery Swim Club (a USS team) and for the swim team at John F. Kennedy High School. During my competitive days, I favored the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 500 freestyle. During high school I began teaching swim lessons, now with 10 years experience teaching swimming, I have worked with children and adults of all ages. During college, I coached for a USS team in Blacksburg, Virginia and was also a coach for my summer swim team in Maryland.

My philosophy for swimming is that everyone can learn to swim; all it takes is practice and the desire. What I enjoy most about swimming is that moment when it “just clicks” and an individual swims for the first time. The excitement of that moment for both the student and teacher is great; I cannot imagine a day when swimming will no longer be a part of my life.

My name is John Kelly and I go to Good Counsel High School. I am a senior applying to a variety of different colleges. I play lacrosse and participate in many different school activities. I have been lifeguarding at outdoor summer pools for the past two years and I look forward to continuing to lifeguard over the fall and winter at the Aspen Hill Club.

My name is Sylvie Vu and I’m currently a Junior at the University of Maryland in College Park, majoring in pre-pharmacy. This is my 4th year working at the Club, and I have been guarding for 4 years as well.

Background: My name is Anais Gabriella Guevara, but I almost always go by Nissi. I’m 18 years old and just graduated Northwestern High School last year. I’ve been a lifeguard since April of last year and I love my job. I love all things musical, artistic and eccentric. My biggest passion in life is music and I’ve been singing in various groups, ensembles, choirs and chorales since I was six years old. I’ve only left the country once, but I want to go all over the world to experience other cultures, see different views on life and feel the music. I’m not currently in school but I intend to go to college in the spring or fall; my major is undecided at the moment. In late January, I also hope to enroll at the Maryland Bartending Academy.

Hobbies: singing, listening to music, being with friends and loved ones, swimming, sleeping, reading and writing.

Interests: Harry Potter, peace, love, unity, respect, art, music, tattooing, animals, traveling, LGBT rights, psychology, audiology and anatomy and physiology. Motto: Free from the world, closer to myself, farthest from normality.

Noah Leotta is 20 years old and has been a lifeguard at the Aspen Hill Club since May 2011. Noah is at Montgomery College studying to get his Criminal Justice degree. He will then attend school to become a Police Officer.

Information coming soon...

Hello! My name is Diana McDermott. I am 17 years old and currently attend Sherwood High School. I swam on the Olney Mill Swim Team for several years and I love being in and around water. I look forward to ensuring safety in the pool and on the deck.

My name is Maira Bruck and I am a second-year lifeguard. I am currently a junior at John F. Kennedy High School and enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program. Last year I left for a year abroad in Chile. I play soccer at my high school and I also swim on my high school and summer swim teams.

Hi my name is Gabby. I'm currently a sophomore at Northwood High School. I started swimming at the Kemp Mill Swim Club when I was 7, and this coming summer will be my 10th year on the team. This past summer, I was a lifeguard at my pool, along with assisting with coaching the team. I also swim for my high school, and I cheer and play softball.

Hi, my name is Adriana Hernandez Palomino. I am 15 years old and currently a sophomore at Stone Ridge. Although I have been working at the Aspen Hill Club for only one year, I have been a member since I was four years old, and still love it. I learned to swim at the Aspen Hill Club and I continue to swim today, on both my summer team and high school team.

My name is Rebecca Connor; I have been a swim instructor at the Aspen Hill Club since November. I am a senior at Magruder High School. Over the summer I operate and lifeguard at Mill Creek Towne Pool. I swim for Magruder, RMSC and Mill Creek Towne. I was also a coach in training and taught lifeguard lessons at Mill Creek Towne.