Meet Our Staff

Our commitment to providing our customers with an unforgettable experience while producing exceptional results starts and ends with our staff. We’ve assembled Southern Indiana’s best swim instructors with over 100 years of combined experience instructing / coaching swimming. Our instructors have taught and developed individuals of all ability levels from beginners to Olympic gold medalists!

Each class will include up to four of the listed instructors. While instructors may rotate classes and sessions, the professionalism and experience of each instructor will provide reliability and consistency for class members to have the best possible swim lesson each time.

Aaron Opell & Family (Owners)

More information about Aaron, Emily & their purpose for creating GMSA can be found HERE.

Elysia Carmona


 

Elysia brings with her over 30 years of experience as a swim instructor and coach and loves teaching individuals of all ages how to swim through fun and silliness. Having taught over 1000 children how to swim, Elysia has a way of connecting with kids and teaching them in a way that allows them to love the water as much as she does.

Kyleigh Mayer

Kyleigh is a student at the University of Evansville and is majoring in applied exercise science with a minor in psychology. It’s her hope to continue schooling after her undergraduate work is complete so that she can become an occupational therapist. Kyleigh has swam both competitively and recreationally since she was 4. Her love of swimming led her to become both a lessons instructor and high school swim coach in 2019.

Colton Tang

Colton learned to swim at the age of four and has seen his swim career excel from Learn to Swim all the way to competing at the Division I level as a USI Screaming Eagle (where he currently is a member on their team)! Colton's love for the activity and sport of swimming is only matched by his passion for helping others.

Kenzie Wakefield

Kenzie's love for children and teaching swimming began when she was a teenager and has continued to grow throughout her life. As a former competitive and recreational swimmer, Kenzie enjoys teaching both aquatic safety and competitive swimming to children of all ages and abilities. She's entering her senior year at USI and is majoring in Biology with plans to apply for medical school.

Elizabeth Broshears

Elizabeth recently graduated from Indiana University where she was a member of the IU Women’s Swimming team. Her love of swimming and helping others has compelled her as both a student athlete (multi-time Academic All Big 10 recipient) and instructor (6+ years teaching swim lessons).

Pat Williams

Pat Williams has been teaching swimming to children of all ages and abilities for over 30 years. When she initially moved to Southern Indiana from Caroilna, her love for helping children took her to Easter Seals in Evansville where she taught swim lessons and aquatic therapy for both able bodied and disabled children for over 15 years.

Bridgette Fordyce

 

Bridgette has been around the water as an athlete, lifeguard, coach, and instructor for over 20 years. She joins our staff after working with various local organizations including the Newburgh Sea Creatures and the YMCA as a coach, lifeguard, and instructor.
Natalie Cardin Natalie has an extensive history as an educator in both school and swim settings for children of all ages and needs. Her passion for helping children learn and grow has motivated her to earn multiple degrees in both education and early childhood development. Natalie joins our team after previously serving members of the YMCA as a swim lessons instructor for 10+ years and is currently a Resource teacher for Evansville Lutheran School.

Bryce Eckert

 Bryce began swimming in high school and quickly fell in love with the sport so he began teaching swimming immediately following the conclusion of his swim career in 2018. He's a nuclear welder by trade but makes sure to find time to teach lessons because he loves helping the kids he works with grow both in and out of the water.