LA Surf and Swim

		Coach Sydney Lovelace Coach Sydney brings his proven aquatic methods and over two decades of coaching & teaching swimming to the Los Angeles community. A former Florida State swimming standout in both Sprint Butterfly and Individual Medley, Sydney has been a full time aquatics coach since 1991. Originally from Nashville, he still has a swim school franchise there that bears his original name, “SydsKids”. While living in Nashville from 1991-2002, he launched and ran three successful swim teams. The prestigious Belle Meade Country Club has even dedicated an award of excellence in his honor. The Sydney E. Lovelace award is given out at the end of each summer to the top swimmer in the community. Once Coach Sydney made the big move to Los Angeles in 2003, he was hired as the Guest Head Coach at the all girls’ high school, Marlborough Prep, and was Interim Head Coach of the Hollywood High club team. Wanting to focus more on individual teaching and less on team coaching, he has consistently turned down offers to work full time with teams again. From Olympic Trial qualifiers, to High School All Americans, to Special Needs kids, to 6-month-old toddlers, Coach Sydney and his teams have done it all! He especially enjoys the unique challenges of helping children overcome acute fears of water. 3-4 days each month, Coach Sydney boards a plane and flies across the country to offer private instruction to some of the nation’s brightest age group and collegiate swimmers. One of his brightest stars is his nephew Curtis Lovelace, currently on full scholarship at Stanford, who is a six time All American, and ranked 6th in the world in the breaststroke. In addition to swimming and surfing, Coach Sydney is a champion windsurfer, former jet ski racer, an underwater fine art photographer, and a co-founder and former owner of Venice Del Play Surf & Yoga Beach Camp. Coach Syd likes to compete in SUP surfing, SUP ocean races, bodysurfing, and tandem surfing with his dog and swim school mascot, Booda. *His most magic moment in the ocean – On his first open water scuba dive, Coach Syd found a rare 20 foot Whale Shark, and sensing no threat from the majestic giant, swam under the shark mirroring his movements by doing dolphin kicks to keep up. After a half-mile of swimming together, the big fish even allowed him to rub his belly.

		Courtney Toomey Coach Courtney was a year-round competitive swimmer her entire childhood and through high school. She started playing water polo in high school and was scouted to play at LMU. Shortly after joining the college team, a knee injury ended her career. She has been with LA Surf and Swim since 2008 and she runs the office in addition to coaching.

		Brett Etre Coach Brett grew up in and around the ocean, from the shores of Cape Cod, MA to the beaches of Cape May, NJ and now in Venice Beach. He is the epitome of a water pro. He has been boogie boarding, body surfing and surfing for a combined total of 25 years. Brett has extensive experience as a state life guard for three summers in Massachusetts and loves teaching kids about the beauty of water.

		Alison Casey Coach Alison began swimming competitively at the age of 6. She swam through high school where she was a member of the Varsity team her entire 4 years. During high school and college, Coach Alison was a lifeguard for 6 years through high school and college. She was also a competitive surfer for 7 years and still enjoys getting out on the waves as often as possible. Coach Alison is beginning her second season as a coach at LA Surf and Swim

		Gabrielle Olko Coach Gabby has always loved swimming and water sports. At age 15 she became a lifeguard at the neighborhood lake where she literally grew up. She has always loved the ocean, bodysurfing, boogie boarding and started surfing at age 15. Since age 16 she has taught swimming lessons to people of all ages both private and for the community. Gabrielle has a Master’s degree and teaching certificate in Early childhood education and has just this summer moved to Venice CA. from Virginia. to pursue her education in Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture.

		Tommy Natoli Coach Tommy was a competitive swimmer through high school and has been teaching lessons for most of the last decade. He has been a highly successful teacher at programs including the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club and the Michael Phelps IM Program. One of his favorite passions outside of the pool is Improv Comedy. Coach Tommy is in his first season with LA Surf and Swim

		EMILY TILLETT Coach Emily swam and played water polo all four years in high school. She is currently on the swim team at Santa Monica College. She worked at a swim school in Thousand Oaks for 2 years during high school as well. Coach Emily loves kids, surfing and anything else involving the water. Emily is very enthusiastic with the children. She is in her first season at LA Surf and Swim.

		SCOTT PASSAGLIA Coach Scott swam on a team growing up and was at one point 8th in the state of Georgia for backstroke. Scott previously spent time as a children’s music teacher. He is in his first year with LA Surf and Swim.