At Minnetonka Swim Club we firmly believe that success in sports extends far beyond the pool. It's a journey that requires a strong partnership between coaches, athletes, and parents. We're not just a team; we're a collaborative unit dedicated to nurturing well-rounded individuals who excel in both sports and life.

Our coaches are not just experts in the sport; they are mentors, motivators, and educators. They play a pivotal role in an athlete's development, tailoring their coaching to meet each individual's unique needs. Whether it's refining techniques, setting personal goals, or offering unwavering support, our coaches are dedicated to helping athletes reach their fullest potential. We understand that success is a journey, and we're here to guide athletes every step of the way.

Athletes are the heart and soul of our team. Their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment are what propel us forward. We encourage our athletes to dream big, set ambitious goals, and believe in themselves. Through open communication and trust, we create an environment where athletes can flourish, not only as competitors but also as individuals. Our athletes inspire us with their resilience and determination.

The parents role is essential. The unwavering support, both on and off the deck, fosters an atmosphere of positivity and encouragement. Parents are the pillars upon which our athletes lean, providing the foundation for their success. We value your involvement and welcome your questions and concerns. Together, we form a strong support network that empowers our young athletes to thrive.

At Minnetonka Swim Club, we understand that success is not solely defined by wins and trophies. It's about personal growth, teamwork, resilience, and the invaluable life skills learned through sports. Our partnership is built on these principles, with each member contributing their unique strengths to the equation. Together, we achieve our shared goals, celebrating not just victories but the journey itself. Together, we're shaping not just exceptional athletes but extraordinary individuals ready to conquer life's challenges. We invite you to be a part of our journey towards success, growth, and lifelong achievements.

John Bradley

Aquatics Director

Coach JB has been an active swimming coach since 1991. He has coached in both Minnesota and Wisconsin and has had many successful athletes at all levels, from beginner to Olympic Trials. He has been voted Age Group Coach of the Year in both Minnesota and Wisconsin and was recently voted as AA High School Coach of the Year for his work with the Minnetonka High School Girls team in 2021. Coach JB is currently the Aquatic Director for the Minnetonka School District as well as the General Chair for the Minnesota Swimming LSC. Coach JB has three cats (Huckle, Pickle, and Buddy) and enjoys traveling, hanging out with his friends, peanut M & M’s, and naps.

 

Dennis Dadashev

Head Senior Coach

Coach Dennis starts his first year as the Head Senior Coach for the 2024-2025 short course season. He most recently spent 6 years at St. Croix Swim club along with prior stops at Minnetonka High School, Hudson High School girls, University of Kansas Women’s Team, Eden Prairie High School, Hamline University Men’s and Women’s Swim Team and, River Falls High School boys and girls. 

While at St. Croix Swim Club, Dennis was primarily an assistant coach for the Senior program that included Junior National champions, Paralympic Qualifiers, and countless division 1 commitments. In his time at SCSC, he was a lead coach for two seasons, leading their 9-12 aged group. During his time as a lead coach, the group produced multiple Minnesota state champions and Zone qualifiers. During his time at SCSC, they were named a USA Swimming Bronze Medal Club 4 straight years from 2018-2021. While at SCSC, Dennis was named a Zone’s coach for Team Minnesota in the 2021. 

While at SCSC, Dennis has taken on multiple high school coaching jobs which includes a stop at Minnetonka High School. At River Falls High School, as the head coach of the girl’s team, they improved their team standing at the section meet every year going from 7th, 4th, and 3rd. While at Hudson High School, as the head coach, they had their highest team finish at the state meet in ten years. Over his two-year span, the Hudson girls produced multiple section champions, all-state recipients and two school records were broken. In 2020 the Hudson girls won their team sectional championship by 2 points. 

Most recently for high school roles, Dennis worked with both Boy’s and Girl’s programs at Minnetonka High School. In his time as an assistant coach and co-head coach (respectively), he has led their mid-distance groups that produced 2 individual state champions, All-Americans, and section champions. Both boy’s and girl’s teams have never lost a section meet and have been team state runner up’s in 3 of 4 seasons. 

Dennis has also volunteer coached at two universities, Hamline University and the University of Kansas. During his one year at Hamline, they produced their first women’s MIAC individual champion in nearly 2 decades. While at Kansas, the team saw multiple school records fall and produced their first Big 12 individual conference champion in 4 years. 

Dennis grew up in Minnetonka and graduated Hopkins High School where he was a captain his senior year. He swam club at Aquajets and went on to swim at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he was only able to compete for one year due to state-wide budget cuts. In his one year at UW-River Falls, he and his teammates broke the school record in the 400 medley relay and he swam in multiple finals events. Dennis graduated from UW-River Falls in 2017 with a degree in political science and in 2020 from the University of Kansas with a master’s in public administration. 

In his spare time, Dennis enjoys baking, running, and trying new restaurants. Dennis lives in Minneapolis with his girlfriend, Sydney and their dog, Clover.

Mikaela Bagley

Head Age Group Coach

Mikaela has been with Minnetonka Swim Club since 2021, and has previously served as a lead coach for several years at a different club. She's coached many swimmers to their first state and zone competitions. She has served as a Team Minnesota Zones head coach, team manager and assistant coach along with serving as a Minnesota Swimming All-Star assistant coach, serves on the Minnesota Board of Directors as the secretary and on multiple committees. She has served a team manager at the Zone Select Camp level for USA swimming and continues to strive to reach new levels. 

As a swimmer who grew up on a lake and continues to do so, she stays heavily involved in aquatics from instructing, to lifeguarding, to coaching. Mikaela has a true love of coaching and teaching, and prides herself on making everyone feel welcomed on the pool deck, and building a lifelong love for the sport. Making each swimmer a little better every day is something she strives to accomplish at Minnetonka.

 

Allie Maxwell

Lead Coach

Before coming to Minnetonka, Allie coached as an assistant coach and head coach. Allie has served as an All Stars Coach and now adding Team Minnesota Zones and always seeks new learning. 

Allie started competitively swimming at the age of 8. She swam for New Hope Crystal Plymouth into her High School years for Rogers/Elk River. Allie made 5 year All State and All Conference with setting two records.  After graduating from High School, Allie swam three years for the University of North Dakota specializing in Butterfly and Distance with majoring in Kinesiology; minoring in Assistant Coaching finding her place back at a pool.  

Allie strives to watch and educate swimmers on technique as well as building a great love for the sport and life. Allie is honored to be part of a great, hard working club team here at Minnetonka as well as working with a great group of coaches.  

 

Jeff Recker

Assistant Coach

Jeff began his swimming career at the age of 7 with ABC Swim Club in the north metro and later for Coon Rapids High School Swim Team where he earned team captain, MVP and All State honors.   Jeff also taught swimming lessons, lifeguarded, and coached for 8 years with the Anoka-Hennepin School District.   

In College, Jeff swam for St. Olaf College, specializing in sprint/middle distance freestyle and backstroke events.  Jeff was a 12 time All American and team captain.   Jeff currently swims with Minnetonka Masters, most recently competing in the 2018 & 2019 U.S. Masters Swimming Short Course National Championships.   

Coach Jeff has 3 kids on the swim club and is thrilled to be able to be on deck sharing his love for the sport with whoever he can.   

 

Chris Kline

Assistant Coach

Chris joined the coaching staff in 2016 officially, prior to that she was a volunteer coach.  She has two sons that have both swam for the club and the Minnetonka High School swim team.  When not at the pool, Chris works as an Engineer at General Dynamics.

Chris began competitive swimming in Duluth MN, swimming during both Junior High and High School on the varsity team.  During this time, she specialized in the 500 Free and Backstroke events.  Chris currently swims with Minnetonka Masters when she can and enjoys being in the water whenever possible. 

Chris is honored to be part of such a great community as Minnetonka and enjoys spreading her love for the sport both on the pool deck as a coach and in the stands cheering. 

 

Danielle Wefring

Assistant Coach

Danielle growing up a child of a zones level swimmer, felt the draw to be a swimmer at a young age. She started competitively swimming at age 9 and swam through high school at Eastview High School. Her love for swimming didn’t stop there, as she moved into swim instructing, lifeguarding, and coaching as a young adult. 

After 7 years, she still loves coaching and continues to do so. Her sweet spot of coaching is with 12&Us, she loves refining technique and giving swimmers all the tools they need to be the best they can be. As the oldest of many, she has inspired her younger siblings to join the sport. In her free time, she loves to spend time outdoors and study up on Psychology. She’s excited to bring her love of the sport to Minnetonka Swim Club.

 
 

Allen Yuan

Assistant Coach

Allen began his competitive swimming career in Cary, North Carolina at the age of 8 with New Wave Swim Team. In High School, he joined The Marlins of Raleigh. While attending Raleigh Charter High School, Allen was a four-time qualifier for the State meet in the 200 free and 500 free. He earned All-State honors and was a member of the 2018 Conference and State Championship team.     

During his 4 years at Carleton College, Allen specialized in distance freestyle, the 400Im and the 200 Fly. Allen was All Conference Academic twice and team captain. He graduated from Carleton in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Statistics with a minor in Mathematics.  

 

Makayla Kryck

Assistant Coach

Makayla Kryck is currently a Junior at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Sport Management and considering a minor in coaching. This marks her inaugural year coaching competitive swimming, following six years of experience as a youth softball coach with Mound Westonka and Chaos. Having engaged in athletics since the age of 4, Makayla has participated in various sports and holds her coaches in high regard. Initially invited to assist with coaching during high school, she discovered a passion that she anticipates will endure throughout her life. Growing up on Lake Minnetonka, water activities are a significant part of Makayla's family life. Her enthusiasm for water is evident in her hobbies, including waterskiing, wakeboarding, and barefooting. Joining the MTKA Swim Club coaching staff presents Makayla with an exciting opportunity, and she eagerly anticipates creating more cherished memories at swim meets and practices.

Anna Gard

Assistant Coach

Anna started swimming competitively at age 13 in Naperville, IL for her local YMCA. She fell in love with how technical the sport was, and continued swimming competitively at the age group, high school, and college club levels over the following 8 years. During that time, she specialized in sprint freestyle and backstroke. 
 
Prior to coaching with Minnetonka, Anna was the lead coach for the 8 and unders at the Naperville YMCA. Most recently, Anna has enjoyed coaching two seasons with the Minnetonka Girls' High School team, one season with the Eden Prairie Boys' High School team, and one season with the Minnetonka Boys' High School team. 
 
Anna graduated from the University of Southern California with a dual bachelors degree in Mathematics and Economics and minors in Risk Management and Data Analytics. When not at the pool, Anna works as a financial analyst at General Mills, and she spends much of her free time trying new workout classes, baking/cooking, and hanging out with her 10 year-old American Foxhound, Copper. 
 

Spencer Tabor

Assistant Coach

 

Originally from Maple Grove, MN, Spencer started swimming at age 8 and fell in love with the sport. 

Swimming originally for Hurricanes Swim Team and beginning with Minnetonka Swim Club at age 12. With Minnetonka Swim Club, Spencer progressed into a strong swimmer, receiving an Anchor Award for leadership. From there, Spencer went on to swim for Minnetonka High School, where he lettered and won a Team Spirit award, eventually being voted a captain and leading The Skippers to a True Team State Title and a 3rd place finish at State his Senior year. Spencer is also a Mechanical/Industrial Engineering student at The University of Minnesota Duluth.

Spencer will be coaching his 3rd season at Minnetonka Swim Club after coaching a season at Lake Superior Swim Club in Duluth.  In his time with Minnetonka, Spencer has worked with all age groups from Developmental through Senior. He challenges his athletes to become better swimmers and people. Spencer is thrilled to be back coaching with Minnetonka Swim Club and is looking forward to working with your swimmers.

 

Kristyn Gansen

Assistant Coach

 
Kristyn joined a swim team at the age of five because neither of her parents could swim. That same year, she broke her first five-and-under YMCA state record. It didn't matter that the record only stood until the end of the next heat. She was hooked, and she knew she would be a swimmer for life.

Kristyn grew up in Michigan, where she spent 15 years swimming for YMCA and USA teams before she began her coaching career. As a swimmer, she competed at state, zone, and national levels. 
 
As a coach, she spent about 10 years working with USA and summer clubs in Michigan before moving to Minnesota. Here, she coached with Waconia Swim Club and Lifetime Minnesota before finding a home at Minnetonka. She has experience as both an assistant and a head coach, and she's coached all ages and levels, ranging from four-year-old tykes to college-level swimmers. 

Kristyn strongly believes that she learned many of life's lessons throughout her years of swimming. She learned the value of hard work, of dedication, of perseverance and of time management, all while working with others. She learned to handle disappointment and failure, and after those failures, learned to pick herself up and keep working toward her goals. Of course, she hopes to provide her swimmers with the technical skills needed to be successful in the pool, but in the process, she hopes they are able to learn some of the tools needed to be successful in life, as well. 

 

Teagan Schwantes

Assistant Coach

Teagan, now a freshman at the university of colorado Boulder, joined Minnetonka Swim Club when she was eight years old back in 2011. She has swum for a decade now and continued her swimming career on the Minnetonka High School Girls Swim & Dive team, as well as club during off season, with a specialty in mid to long distance freestyle events.