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.

Don Howard

With over 14 years of competitive swimming and coaching experience, Don brings both skill and passion to every lesson. He spent 7 years teaching and coaching swimmers of all ages through Pacesetters (his former competitive swim club), the YMCA, Bob’s Gym, and private instruction. A former WWE trainee, he’s no stranger to hard work and discipline—and he brings that same energy to helping others grow. Whether you’re learning to swim for safety, fitness, or sport, Coach Howard is passionate about helping each child build confidence and enjoy the lifelong benefits of swimming.

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).

Avery Lasher

Avery is a senior at North High School and will be attending Indiana University in the fall. She’s been swimming since the age of 7 and has developed a deep love for the sport over the years. With more than a year of swim instruction experience, Avery has found a true passion in helping kids gain confidence and grow in the water. Her warm, encouraging approach makes her a favorite among young swimmers and their families.

Kerigan Pund

Kerigan was a member of the Heritage Hills swim team for six years, where her love for swimming truly took off. Growing up surrounded by younger siblings and cousins, she’s developed a strong passion for working with children. Kerigan enjoys sharing what she loves most—swimming—with others and finds joy in helping young swimmers build confidence and grow, both in and out of the water.

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.

Bryan Davis

Bryan brings with him over 30 years of coaching experience and has mentored children of all ages and ability levels in the pool. As a head coach in both California and Southern Indiana, he developed multiple state champions at the age group level and had a lasting impact on the children he served. Coach Bryan loves teaching in these small group settings because he gets to connect with the kids and sees their progress on a daily basis.

Bella Ransom

Bella is currently a senior at Signature School in Evansville. She began swimming with the Boonville Dolphins at age 7 and has maintained her love of the sport throughout her career. She recently recognized her passion for helping kids through her experience as a Camp Carson counselor over the summer and now has a deep interest in teaching.

Brady Reiter

Brady Reiter has a natural ability to connect with kids and build trust, which makes him a great fit on our team. While he’s newer to teaching swim, he brings valuable experience coaching children in a variety of settings. Brady loves helping kids grow their swimming skills and finds true joy in watching them reach their goals and gain confidence in the water.