Justin E Ragsdale
Head Coach
Email
Coach Justin took over as Head
Coach of the Sycamore Flying Fish in June of 2007 after two years
as Associate Head Coach and Head Site Coach for Palmetto Aquatics
in Columbia, South Carolina. He also spent time
as Head Coach of several summer league teams and as an assistant
coach with several USA and YMCA Swimming Clubs including the Upper
Main Line YMCA, and Lancaster Aquatic Club both in Pennsylvania
where he grew up.
Justin swam collegiately for
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania prior to transferring to West
Chester University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in
Nutrition. He also spent the summer of 2002 as a
Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of
Tennessee. Justin is Level 3 certified by the
American Swim Coaches Association as well as a Certified Strength
and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and
Conditioning Association.
When Coach Justin is not working
he enjoys spending time with his wife Deann and their two daughters
Claudia & Josephine. He is also an avid fan
of both the University of Tennessee & Philadelphia
Eagles.
Ryan Hammer
Assistant Coach / Team Manager
Email
Ryan is thrilled to be back
in Cincinnati, and coaching again after four years away from
swimming. After living in Chicago for 2+
years, and Orlando for six months, Ryan rejoins the Flying
Fish and will be assisting with the Senior, Senior Prep, and
Junior groups.
Ryan started swimming at the age
of 9, and swam winters with the Cincinnati Aquatic Club as an
Age-Group swimmer. He later swam for Indian Hill
High School. In Ryan's first stint with the Fish, he
coached for nine winters under Coach Dave, producing many
Junior Olympic swimmers and a handful of Top 16 qualifiers.
Beginning in the Spring
2010, Ryan joined the Fish in a full-time capacity as SFF's Team
Manager. In this role, Ryan will be responsible for assisting
the Board and Coaching Staff with the day-to-day
operations of the team.
Away from the pool, Ryan keeps
busy organizing Wiffle Ball tournaments in the summer (including
the annual Classic, benefiting the Cincinnati Reds
Community Fund), playing softball (poorly), and keeping his kitty
(Hairy Carey) happy. He also enjoys whooping
family & friends in fantasy baseball and football.
Rich Cooper
Head Developmental Coach
Email
Rich joined the Sycamore Flying Fish staff in the October, 2007,
Rich is currently the Head Developmental Coach for the Flying Fish
overseeing the Green and Junior groups.
Rich also works extensively with the Senior Prep group as well as
serves as an advisor for the Yellow and Mini Fish staffs.
Rich has over 10 years of coaching experience. He started coaching in the summer of 1998 as an
Assistant coach for the North College Hill Dolphins summer
team. In 2000, he took over as the head
coach of the Dolphins, and in the summer of 2001 he helped lead the
team to its first division two league championship. Also in 2000 Rich joined the coaching staff of
Princeton Aquatic Club (PAC) where he was later promoted to Head
Age Group Coach and eventually helped lead them to their first top
ten Ohio LSC Junior Olympic Finish. In
the summer of 2002, he became the head coach of the Four Bridges
Country Club summer team. He helped
lead the team to its first undefeated season in the summer of
2003.
Rich is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati from which he
attained a degree in History. Outside
of swimming he works full time job at the National Underground
Railroad Freedom Center. Rich enjoys
reading, running, and spending time with his friends and
family.
Lauren Bernstein
Head Coach - Green
Email
Lauren began swimming career at
the age of 4 and swam competitively for the next 18 years. During
her age group years she swam for Carmel Swim Club in Indiana and
the Cincinnati Marlins, while in high school she trained with the
Northern Kentucky Clippers. She attended Sycamore High School,
competing at the state and national levels, and swam under Coach
Mark Sullivan for 3 years. After high school, Lauren
attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA where she graduated with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Art History in 2008. While at Emory, she
was a member of the Varsity Swim Team for 4 years, specializing in
sprint backstroke, and was a 2005 NCAA All-American and National
Champion.
While at Emory, Lauren was a swim
coach and lesson instructor for the Emory Community Swim Camp and
the Emory Special Olympics Team. She also was a lesson instructor
for the Agnes Scott Scotties. In Ohio, Lauren was an assistant
coach with the Mason Manta Rays for one year. She is excited to
head up the Green group in the fall!
During her limited free time,
Lauren enjoys doing artsy things like visiting museums and
attending the opera. Her vices include all reality television and
chocolate. Not just obsessed with swimming, Lauren also is a
football fanatic. Starting this fall, Lauren will be attending the
University of Cincinnati to obtain her Master’s Degree in
Secondary Education. It is her dream to come back to Sycamore and
be a high school Social Studies teacher!
Sara Stacey
Head Yellow and Mini Fish Coach
Email
Sara started her coaching career
during the summer of 2005 as an Assistant Coach with the Flying
Fish’s Yellow group. Sara started out
coaching during the summers while in college at Indiana
University. In the fall of 2008 after graduating
with a degree in Sports Marketing and Management she began coaching
year round with the Fish. During her time with
the Flying Fish she has worked with every group except for the
newly added Mini Fish.
Sara got her start in swimming at
the ripe old age of 13 after trying a variety of other sports and
it did not take long for her to fall in love with the
sport. She started out with the Blue Ash YMCA,
and later also swam for St. Ursula’s varsity team until
shoulder injuries sidelined her at the beginning of her senior year
of high school.
Sara currently works full time at
Shoptech Software in Blue Ash where she markets and sells their
shop floor control software. She has lived in
Blue Ash all of her life and recently moved into an apartment in
Maderia.
Tony Roberts
Assistant Coach - Green
Email
Andy Gantzer
Assistant Coach - Senior / Prep / Junior
Email
I swam with Oak Hills Swimming Torpedoes early in my
career. While attending Oak Hills High School I was a three
time State Qualifier. Also, named GMC Swimmer of the Year and
team MVS (most valuable swimmer). After high school I
attended Eastern Michigan University. While a member of the
swim team, my freshman year I place 3rd in 200y Freestyle at MAC
Championships. Also, a member of the gold medal 200y, 400y, and
800y Freestyle relays. Sophomore year I place 7th in the 200y
Freestyle and member of the 1st place 800y Freestyle relay.
Sophomore year we were the 2007 MAC Champions. Both years I was
second team All-Conference.
I have coached the past 3 years with the Oak Hills Swimming
Torpedo's. Also, this past year coached Moeller and Mt. Notre
Dame Swimming. I have specialized coaching in all strokes and
all distances. I am knowledgeable in the sport of swimming I
am willing to learn more and keep learning. I like to
concentrate on technique and the mental aspect of swimming.
In my off time I enjoy going to Reds games, playing softball,
visiting friends from college, and being home with my family.
I work full-time job at Riley's Pools and Spas. I live with
my fiance Heather, and my daughter Kaylie in Delhi.
Shari Singerman
Assistant Coach - Green / Yellow / Mini
Email
