Varsity Girls Swimming & Diving
T.E.A.M. – Together Everyone Achieves More – Building a TEAM and creating a synergy that motivates and drives young people to work towards and achieve their goals, to me, are the gifts of coaching.
- Jeff Thompson, Director of Aquatics, Varsity Head Coach
Current Record
Schedule
Roster
NAME | GRADE |
Sofia Bell | Freshman |
Karly Boles | Sophomore |
Charlotte Brazer | Freshman |
Libby Brewer | Sophomore |
Rose Cassidy | Freshman |
Emmeline Chiang | Freshman |
Ella DeCardona (Captain) | Senior |
Sophia DeCardona | Sophomore |
Laurel DePolo | Sophomore |
Madeleine Evers | Freshman |
Julia Fitzpatrick | Senior |
Sarah Freeman | Sophomore |
Taylor Grimley (Captain) | Junior |
Emily Hamill | Sophomore |
Mirabelle Hayes | Freshman |
Camryn Jones | Freshman |
Rachel Khavinson | Junior |
Joie Leoni | Freshman |
CC Leoni | Junior |
Isabelle Lieu | Junior |
Melina Lucarini | Junior |
Katie Martin | Sophomore |
Emma Merrill | Junior |
Eliza Meth (Captain) | Senior |
Maggie Morrissey | Junior |
Claire Murray | Junior |
Ella Paldino | Freshman |
Samantha Rofsky | Junior |
Remi Sasson | Freshman |
Jordan Seidman | Sophomore |
Elsa Simonetti | Freshman |
Kirsten Wetzel | Sophomore |
Coaches
-
Jeff ThompsonHead Coach
Jeff Thompson has developed a simple, four-word motto over nearly two decades as a swimming coach: Grit. Resilience. Reliability. Ownership. These simple but powerful words guide Thompson’s vision as a swimmer, coach, teacher, and administrator.
Thompson wrapped his ninth year at the helm in 2022-23. During his time at GA, Thompson was helped produce 31 All-Americans.
In 2022-23, GA repeated as undefeated Inter-Ac champions and Easterns champions. In addition Taylor Grimley '24 was named league MVP and Easterns' Outstanding Female Swimmer of the Meet.
2021-22 was his eighth season at the helm for Germantown Academy. During the season, Thompson helped lead the girls swimming & diving team to a first-place finish at Easterns, the teams first since 2015. GA also won the combined team title in 2022, the school's first title since Easterns started presenting the award in 2019. Thompson also guided the Patriots to an undefeated record in dual meets and an Inter-Ac League Championship.
In 2019-20, Thompson helped lead GA to a 6th place finish at Easterns. The team went 5-3 in dual meets and had four swimmers and one diver named to the All-League Team.
During the 2018-19 season, Thompson led GA to a third-place finish at Easterns and a 7-2 dual meet record. The Patriots had two First-Team All-League swimmers and four athletes on the Second-Team.
In the 2017-18 season, Thompson helped the GA girls swimming team to a fifth-place finish at Easterns. He coached five All-League Swimmers, four Easterns champions, two Inter-Ac League champions and one All-American during the year.
Thompson led GA to a 7-2 overall record and a third-place finish at Easterns in 2016-17. The Patriots had seven representatives on the All-League team.
In 2015-16, his second year in Fort Washington, Thompson guided the Patriots to a 7-1 dual meet record and a third-place finish at Easterns. Five swimmers were named to the All-League team.
In his first season at the helm, Thompson helped the Patriots win the Inter-Ac League and Easterns, their fifth consecutive title. GA had eight athletes named to the All-League team.
Before coming to GA in fall 2014, Thompson spent 17 years as a USA Swimming Coach for the Terre Haute Torpedoes (IN) and 15 years as the head coach of the Terre Haute South Vigo High School boys’ and girls’ swim teams. With the Torpedoes, Thompson helped grow the club from 60 to 300 swimmers of all ages, as well as developed a learn-to-swim program and a Masters’ swim team. He has developed and mentored state champions, junior and senior national qualifiers, and sent swimmers to compete successfully at Division I colleges and universities. As the head coach of Vigo High School, Thompson led the team to its first boys’ sectional title in February 2010, while the girls’ team enjoyed 15 consecutive winning seasons. He also has experience in the planning, financing and building of two new pools in the Terre Haute area.
Thompson earned his Master of Science degree in coaching from Indiana State University and a bachelor’s degree in math education from the same school. Thompson, who swam competitively at University of Illinois, Urbana, also earned a bachelor’s degree from the school in civil engineering.
In addition to his posts as Director of Aquatics and Head Coach for the GA varsity swim program and the Germantown Academy Aquatic Club (GAAC), Thompson also teaches 5th Grade math in GA’s Lower School.
(Updated: March 2023)
-
Matthew Cox
Matthew Cox knows GA's swimming tradition well. He joined GAAC in 2002 and swam GA Varsity for four years. Cox was a member of two Easterns Championship teams (2005 and 2006). As a senior, Matt was Easterns champion in the 200 IM, placed second in the 500 and was part of GA's winning 200 freestyle relay team. Cox was a nine-time All-American and a two-time winner of the Luis B. Spealer MVP award. He qualified for Senior Nationals in the 200 IM. Matt went on to swim varsity at Penn State University, specializing in the butterfly and IM events. He currently has the sixth fastest time in Penn State history for the 400 IM.
After completing a B.S. in Kinesiology, Cox coached at Upper Merion Aquatic Club (where he started his swimming career) before joining GA as an assistant coach in 2013. He coached stroke mechanics and dryland training with the senior group athletes as well as the water polo team. As Head Age Group Coach, Matt designs and oversees the training and competitions of the age group program, ensuring that the needs of all athletes are met. He has ASCA Level 2 certification. Matt has coached over 15 Junior Olympic qualifiers and two age group swimmers ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
-
Thomas HenningerDiving Coach
Henninger is the Head Diving Coach at his alma mater, Germantown Academy. After graduating in 2007, he competed for the University of California, Berkeley where he helped the Bears win the NCAA Division I Team Title in 2011.
Henninger's accomplishments include being a Junior Olympic and Senior National Qualifier, PAC 10 Finalist, GA Record Holder, NCAA Qualifier, Inter-Academic League Record Holder. He also has five years of Junior Olympic coaching experience (Centennial Diving) and has spent two summers working with John Wingfield (2008 Olympic Head Diving Coach) along with various Olympic, collegiate, and international coaches at Ripfest Diving Camp in Indiana. Tom is fully certified and safety trained through USA Diving, USA Swimming, American Red Cross, and Amateur Athletic Union.
-
Nina SmithUpper School Assistant Coach
-
Patrick KennedyAssistant Coach
-
Peggy BradleyPart-Time Meet Assistant
Facility
The Patriots play and practice in the Edward Lavino Natatorium. It is located below the Big Gym and sits across from the Field House.
The GA swimming pool is a heated, six-lane, 25-meter indoor pool. Starting blocks line the deep end that includes a rope swing and two different height diving boards. The pool also has an electronic timing system and a learn-to-swim platform. Male and female changing rooms are available. There is spectator seating for about 150 in the gallery area above the pool deck. Restrooms can be accessed on the pool deck floor. There is an area to set up ticket sales near the spectator entrance, as well as a small concession stand.
Germantown Academy Pool
- 6 Lanes
- Rectangle, 75 x 45'
- 21-meter Diving Board (12 feet water)
- Turn Ends, 4'
- Fitness Room and Equipment
- 5 Pull-up Bars
- Plyometric Blocks
- 9 Vasa Incline Boards
- 9 Spin Bikes
- 4 East German Incline Boards
- 3 Stepping Machines
- 4 Erg Machines
- Treadmills
- Recompense Bike
Records
History of Captains
League championship seasons are bolded.
1970-79
1980-89
1980 - Mary Kate Bendon & Meghan L. O'Reilly
1981 - Marie C. Figge & Kelley E. Petrilli
1982 - Georgia A. Spolsky & Amy M. Studer
1983 - Terrianne C. McGuirk, Suzanna P. Porer & Jennifer C. Thomas
1984 - Lee Anne Gardner & Christina M. Paukstis
1985 - Samantha R. Rorer & Jill R. Samuels
1986 - Kathleen A. Hettche & Susan L. Butler
1987 - Jane R. Samuels & Suzy A. Buckovich
1988 - Melissa Kline & Katrina Radke
1989 - Melissa Kline & Katrina Radke
1990-99
1990 - Kristin Heath, Melissa Hambly & Jean-Rowe Woods
1991 - Julie Kole & Sara Lawson
1992 - Gretchen Hambly & Melissa Marcinkowski
1993 - Martie Duffet & Elizabeth Rice
1994 - Karin Bunting & Lauren Haibach
1995 - Jennifer Kurth
1996 - Tracey Elliott & Madeleine Crippen
1997 - Tracey Elliott, Megan Smith & Jessica Smith
1998 - Krista Emmett, Madeleine Crippen & Marlana Root
1999 - Jessie Carr, Lovisa Gustafsson & Margaret Hirce
2000-09
2000 - Marie Labosky, Stefanie Lawlor & Lauren Rossi
2001 - Meredith Blackman, Meghan Peart & Eliza Manson
2002 - Roxanna Hernandez, Meghan Peart & Caroline Reilly
2003 - Rachel Ahrenhold, Meredith Cocco & Sarah Stein
2004 - Stephanie Battaglia, Kirsten Jones & Suzanne Rossi
2005 - Kerri McLivani & Jennifer McMillin
2006 - Alicia Aemisegger, Sara Coenen & Danielle Visco
2007 - Claire Crippen & Jennifer Kopenitz
2008 - Teresa Crippen & Katherine Riefenstahl
2009 - Allison Ladley & Kelly Scheirer
2010-19
2010 - Bryn O'Neill & Margot Wummer
2011 - Bridget Casey, Kacie Ciampoli & Taylor Sneed
2012 - Angelina Heyse & Madeline Mahr
2013 - Shelley Zhao & Rachael Zalinskas
2014 - Meagan Dollard, Hayli Randolph & Carolyn Yang
2015 - Shannon McKernan, Julia Pacitt, & Madison Visco
2016 - Lauren Henasey, Ingrid Lillis, & Mackenzie Meyer
2017 - Karlee Carminati, Sook-Hee Evans, Alaina Schumann
2018 - Katherine Commale, Riley Gobora, Caroline Osman, & Emily Thompson
2019 - Emma Atkinson, Erin Merke, Emily Morrissey, & Emily Thompson