Coaches & Directors

2010 Gator Coaching Staff

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. For all questions related to administrative issues, such as dues, safety, or policy, please contact Amy Hippen. 
 
Coaching Staff

Lauren Wencel

Head Swim Coach - 13 & UP Girls

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Hi. My name is Lauren…a lot of people call me “LAW”. This will be my 22nd year with the Middleton Gators and I am thrilled to be back! I will be coaching the 13 & Up’s and well as the 8 & U’s this season. I started swimming for the Gators in 1988 and continued on for 13 years. During that time, I swam for Mad-Town Aquatics (now Badger Aquatics) and Middleton High School, where I was a captain and 4-year varsity letter winner. I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I majored in History and Psychology. During my time there, I was a member of the UW Triathlon Team where I competed in 2 of my 4 Ironman competitions. I then attended Edgewood College for my teaching degree. I currently am a history teacher at La Follette High School in Madison and am the Middleton High School girl’s head swim coach. I am taking a break from the Ironman world this year, but look forward to cheering on my little brother in his 2nd Ironman as well as the many team parents who will be competing. In my free time I love to exercise, knit, read and cook. I believe that swimming is a lifelong sport to be enjoyed by all as well as a sport which truly makes us better, more well-rounded people. I am looking forward to another great Gator season! Let's "do it again in 2010"!

John Rice

11-12 Girls & Boys

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Hi. My name is John…people call me “JR”. This will be my 4th year as a Gator coach. I will be coaching the 11-12s this season and am looking forward to many new and old faces. I swam for the Middleton Gators for 10 years, Middleton High School for 4 years and am currently swimming distance events at Gustavus Adolphus College. I was a 2-year MHS swim captain and a 4-year varsity letter winner. During my freshmen year at Gustavus, I was a MIAC finals qualifier in 3 individual events and was voted “Most Improved” by my coaches & teammates.  This past season, I was a Junior captain, obtained All-Conference honors for the 1650 freestyle and was voted "Most Dedicated" by my coaches and teammates.  I am majoring in History and Religion and plan to attend Law School following graduation.  
 
Fun Fact: I swam down rapids on a river while white water rafting!

John Debrauske

9-10 Boys

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Why hello there, my name is John Debrauske…people call me Johnny D or some variation to that. This will be my 3rd year as a Gator Coach. I will be coaching the very cool 9-10s along with Kayla! I swam for seven years with the Middleton Gators and also competed for ten years for Badger Aquatics Club. I swam for Madison Memorial where I was captain and 4-year varsity letter recipient. I attended MATC this past year and am in the 2-year transfer program which seems to be working out. My interests are coaching, exercising, and dancing! I’m very excited for this summer, especially after last year’s All-City victory!!  GO GATORS!!! BTW. I ♥ LAW.

Mitch Buenger

13 & Up Boys

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Hey y'all. I'm Mitch.This is my first year with the Gators and I'm very excited about it. I'm originally from Racine, WI.  I've been swimming since 6th grade and continued to swim competitively through college as a walk-on at Wisconsin. I was a part of a school record setting 200 free style relay for UW at the NCAA championships. I've been coaching for 3 years. I started with the West YMCA and had my first season with the Middleton High School Boy's last year. I'll be a Senior at UW in the fall.

Kayla Beckwith

9-10 Girls

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Hi. My name is Kayla…a lot of people call me “KB”. This will be my first year as a Gator Coach!! =) I will be coaching the 9-10’s along with Johnny D this season. I swam for the Middleton Gators for 10 years, and on the Middleton High School Swim Team where I was a 4-year varsity letter winner. I also competed on the Varsity Basketball and Varsity Track team at Middleton. My greatest accomplishment in high school athletics was being able to compete in eight WIAA state tournaments in four years. I am currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and recently joined the UW Triathlon Club. I competed in my first race in Lubbock, Texas this spring and plan to compete in many more races in the future. I am looking forward to another FUN and successful swim season!! BTW!!

Alisa Kekula

8 & Under Girls

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Hi. My name is Alisa. This will be my first year coaching for the Gators and my 11th as a part of the Gator family. I have always thought about coaching Gators while I was swimming on the team and now the time for me to do so has come around! I feel so lucky to be coaching the super awesome 8 and undies this summer season!! I have been swimming for the Gators since I was 7 years old and continued swimming at Middleton High School where I was lucky enough to have Lauren Wencel as my coach for my senior year! I just finished my freshman year at Marquette University in Milwaukee where I kept swimming during my free time. I am really excited for this summer, it’s going to be lots of fun and I look forward to having the opportunity to be the kind of role model that my gator coaches have been to me!

Grace Jarzemsky

8 & Under Boys

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Hi!  My name is Grace but a lot of people call me "Gracie J."  This will be my first year as a Gator coach!!  I started swimming with Gators when I was 6 and this year is my 12th and final year!  I'm so excited to continue to be involved with Gators through coaching the 8 & Unders this summer and cannot wait!  I swam on the Middleton High School Swim Team where I was a captain for two years and a 4-year varsity letter winner.  Next year I will be attending UW-La Crosse where I am planning to continue swimming and will be majoring in education!  I can't wait for another great Gator season!

Lauren Callin

Assistant Dive Coach

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Hey! My name is Lauren. This will be my second year as a Gator coach. I am going to be a senior at Middleton High School next year. This will be my 10th summer with the Gators. The past 3 years I dove for the varsity dive team and was a dive captain the last 2 years. Last fall, I also swam for MHS along with diving.  I plan on swimming and diving for the Gators this summer.  I also compete for the Mad City Divers club team year round. I am excited for the opportunity to be able to coach a great team this summer and am looking forward to another successful season!  Maybe Gators can be champs in both swimming and diving!

Bill Reilly

Assistant Dive Coach

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Hi. My name is Bill. This will be my first year as an assistant dive coach for the Middleton Gators. I am currently a junior at Verona Area High School. There, I have dove varsity for 3 years and earned a varsity letter each year. I have been a Middleton Gator for 6 years. When I am not diving, I am usually skateboarding and once in a while even swimming ;). This summer is going to be AWESOME!!!!!

Board of Directors

Amy Hippen

President

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Justine Delaney

Vice President

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Nicki Prestigiacomo

Treasurer

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Cheryl Callin

Dive Chair

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