Private lessons work best when the swimmer feels understood. SwimTec’s Gainesville instructors bring different competitive, child-care, fitness, water-safety, and adaptive-teaching backgrounds to lessons shaped around each swimmer.
Coach Sebastian Itriago
Coach Sebastian is a lifelong swimmer who competes in sprint freestyle and butterfly. He has worked as a high-school water polo assistant coach and holds certifications in lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and swim instruction.
Sebastian teaches in English and Spanish. His lesson range includes adults, teens, kids, toddlers, parent-and-infant pairs, adaptive swimmers, and swimmers preparing for a team.
Coach Mia Clark
Coach Mia is a former high-school swimmer who qualified for state in backstroke. She has more than seven years of child-care experience and previously served as a YMCA director.
Mia works with children and families to build essential skills, confidence, and enjoyment in the water. Her specialties also include adult lessons, adaptive instruction, early water adjustment, and team preparation.
Coach Michelle Burridge
Coach Michelle is a certified fitness instructor with more than 25 years of experience, including more than 15 years in aquatic fitness. Her background also includes lifeguarding, high-school swimming, and one year on Florida State University’s synchronized swim team.
Michelle teaches adults and children, including toddler, parent-infant, and adaptive programs. She also brings her fitness experience to Water Movement sessions.
Coach Lauren Merrell
Coach Lauren has a background in water-safety instruction, coaching, and swimming. She brings a patient, encouraging approach to lessons focused on confidence, safety, and technique.
Lauren teaches adults, teens, children, toddlers, parent-and-infant pairs, adaptive swimmers, and swimmers preparing for a team.
Coach Vasi Benos
Coach Vasi is a lifelong swimmer with more than 10 years of club-swimming experience. He competed in freestyle and backstroke on his high-school team and is CPR/AED certified.
Vasi helps swimmers of different ages build new skills and confidence in a safe, enjoyable setting. His specialties span adult, teen, and kids lessons, early water adjustment, adaptive instruction, and team preparation.
Coach Josh Zeffren
Coach Josh is a lifelong swimmer and water polo player from Orlando. He holds certifications in swim instruction, lifeguarding, CPR, and First Aid, and has eight years of private-instruction experience across ages, skill levels, and ability levels.
Josh pairs positive encouragement with an appropriate challenge. His lesson range includes adult, teen, kids, toddler, parent-infant, adaptive, and team-prep programs.
Coach Shannon McCarthy
Coach Shannon has taught swim lessons for more than 14 years. She has experience supporting children with disabilities and sensory differences and holds a Social Work degree from Florida State University.
Shannon takes time to build confidence before moving into new skills, particularly with fearful swimmers. She speaks and understands basic Spanish and knows basic ASL.
Find the right starting point
The best match depends on the swimmer’s goal, comfort, and preferred teaching style. Explore the full Gainesville location and instructor profiles, then choose the lesson and coach that fit.
Ready to meet your coach in the water? Book a private SwimTec lesson and select an available Gainesville instructor.