Meet the SafeSplash Knoxville (Cedar Bluff) Team

For almost my entire life, I have been passionate about both water safety and the immensely rewarding gift that a lifelong enjoyment of swimming can provide. I grew up in this community and had the opportunity to represent Team USA as a member of the National Team for almost ten years. My career culminated at the 2012 London Olympics, where I won a Gold Medal as a member of the 4x200 freestyle relay. With my wife Brittany, an All-American swimmer at the University of Tennessee and current WVLT Channel 8 News anchor, we welcomed our first child in December 2019 and are excited to instill in him the same love and respect for the water. Outside the pool we love to travel, test our culinary skills at home and perfect tummy time with our new addition.

I was so lucky to grow up swimming and fall in love with the water at a young age. I swam competitively at Pilot Aquatic Club (now Tennessee Aquatics) here in Knoxville and then continued to compete at Kenyon College in Ohio. While in college, I was a member of the 2007 national championship team and an NCAA All-American. After finishing my undergraduate degree in History, I received my master's degree in Sport Management from the University of Tennessee while also serving as the Director of Operations for the women's soccer team for almost five years. I have been in my position here since June 2019. My husband Jon and I have a daughter, and when we’re not chasing her all over, we love to try new restaurants and recipes!

I was born and raised on the northern central coast of California, where my firefighting journey began at age 13 as a Firefighter Explorer with the Salinas Rural Fire Department. Volunteering from 13 to 18 years old provided me with invaluable experience in training and responding to emergencies, honing essential firefighting skills over the years. I also completed the Firefighter 1 (Fire Science) course through the California Department of Forestry.

Later, my wife Barbara and I decided to relocate to San Luis Obispo, California, drawn by its stunning coastline. There, I completed my EMT-B training at Cuesta College and started pursuing opportunities with local fire departments. Leveraging previous experience in lifeguarding, swim instruction, and First Responding, I was appointed General Manager and lead instructor at the #1 swim school on the central coast. This role deepened my commitment to community education in water safety, and I proudly served the community for a decade.

In 2023, my wife and I embarked on a new adventure, moving to East Tennessee to establish my own CPR business, Born Again CPR. Starting in March 2024, I began working at Safe Splash Swim School, eager to continue sharing my passion for water safety with the wonderful people of Tennessee.

For almost my entire life, I have been passionate about both water safety and the immensely rewarding gift that a lifelong enjoyment of swimming can provide. I grew up in this community and had the opportunity to represent Team USA as a member of the National Team for almost ten years. My career culminated at the 2012 London Olympics, where I won a Gold Medal as a member of the 4x200 freestyle relay. With my wife Brittany, an All-American swimmer at the University of Tennessee and current WVLT Channel 8 News anchor, we welcomed our first child in December 2019 and are excited to instill in him the same love and respect for the water. Outside the pool we love to travel, test our culinary skills at home and perfect tummy time with our new addition.

I was so lucky to grow up swimming and fall in love with the water at a young age. I swam competitively at Pilot Aquatic Club (now Tennessee Aquatics) here in Knoxville and then continued to compete at Kenyon College in Ohio. While in college, I was a member of the 2007 national championship team and an NCAA All-American. After finishing my undergraduate degree in History, I received my master's degree in Sport Management from the University of Tennessee while also serving as the Director of Operations for the women's soccer team for almost five years. I have been in my position here since June 2019. My husband Jon and I have a daughter, and when we’re not chasing her all over, we love to try new restaurants and recipes!

I was born and raised on the northern central coast of California, where my firefighting journey began at age 13 as a Firefighter Explorer with the Salinas Rural Fire Department. Volunteering from 13 to 18 years old provided me with invaluable experience in training and responding to emergencies, honing essential firefighting skills over the years. I also completed the Firefighter 1 (Fire Science) course through the California Department of Forestry.

Later, my wife Barbara and I decided to relocate to San Luis Obispo, California, drawn by its stunning coastline. There, I completed my EMT-B training at Cuesta College and started pursuing opportunities with local fire departments. Leveraging previous experience in lifeguarding, swim instruction, and First Responding, I was appointed General Manager and lead instructor at the #1 swim school on the central coast. This role deepened my commitment to community education in water safety, and I proudly served the community for a decade.

In 2023, my wife and I embarked on a new adventure, moving to East Tennessee to establish my own CPR business, Born Again CPR. Starting in March 2024, I began working at Safe Splash Swim School, eager to continue sharing my passion for water safety with the wonderful people of Tennessee.