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Coaches

The South Bay Swim Team professional coaching staff is certified by USA Swimming, and trained in various levels of coaching and instruction. Our skilled coaches are the best – outstanding leaders who are well-qualified coaches and swimmers.

Each coach holds certifications in First Aid and CPR, as well as a variety of other certifications, such as Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguard, Safety Training for Swim Coaches, and more. Our coaches have many years of experience as coaches, instructors and swimmers – our coaches are athletes, too, who currently swim, and compete in local races.

Coaching Staff

Kathy Gore

Age Group Head Coach / Team Manager

Kathy Gore, head coach and founder of South Bay Swim Team, also serves as the team manager. Kathy primarily coaches the A and B1 Groups. She is also our lead coach at swim meets.

What you might not know…

Kathy founded South Bay Swim Team in 2000
She was a summer team swimmer as a child
Kathy was on the Junior Varsity and Varsity Swim Team for Mira Costa High School, and Girls Team Captain for 2 years
She is active in the community:
Represents South Bay Swim Team at Southern California Aquatic Association (SCAA); League Treasurer 2002-Present
Board of Trustee on Hawthorne Parks and Recreation Foundation; 2004-Present
In addition to running the South Bay Swim Team Age Group and Masters Teams, Kathy owns and operates ‘Three Star Promotions’, an advertising specialties business, providing custom imprinted promotional products to businesses, organizations, and municipalities. Kathy is married to Bill, and they have two young daughters, Emily & Erica and a dog named Johnny.

A competitive athlete herself:

Kathy has been a Masters swimmer for 15+ years; participates in regional Masters swim meets
She is an avid ocean swimmer, participating in 5-8 1-mile or 2-mile ocean races per summer; has participated in 15+ Pier-to-Pier swims
Kathy practices yoga (on a break now due to mom duties!)
Participated in several 5K and 10K races
Adheres to the ‘why not try it’ philosophy of fitness: swam leg of a Camp Pendleton Triathlon relay team; participant in the inaugural Redondo Beach Triathlon; walker; hiker; tried abseiling (repelling) on her honeymoon in Africa

“ I enjoy coaching because I love having an impact on these kids’ lives – especially when one of those life lessons ‘clicks’; when they reach a goal then challenge themselves and set another one; when something they learn at swim team practice gets applied to another part of their life; when they learn that they CAN do something they never thought they could. I enjoy seeing that our affect on the swimmer, has an impact on the whole person.” ~ Kathy Gore

Dean Bartlett

Age Group Coach

Dean began coaching for SOBA in 2010. Dean has been a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Hawthorne Pool since he was 15 years old. Dean coaches the C-1 Group.

What you might not know…

Dean was the ‘Head Lifeguard’ at the pool last summer, and has been teaching swimming lessons there for 5 years; he is WSI certified (Water Safety Instructor/American Red Cross Certification)
Dean was an age group swimmer as a child, and was on a couple competitive USA Swimming teams
He was involved in the Los Angeles County Beach Junior Lifeguard program all the years he was eligible – from the age of 9, continuing through to the age of 18. In JGs earned several awards, including MVP
He is a college student, attending California State University at Long Beach

A competitive athlete himself:

Dean swam on the Mira Costa High School Varsity Team and was Team Captain
Swam in CIF level competition during high school
Figured out how to swim at the young age of three, and has been swimming ever since

Ruby del Rio

Age Group Coach

Ruby has been a coach for South Bay Swim Team nearly since the beginning, in 2000. In fact, Coach Ruby founded the C and C-1 Groups. Prior to our team, Ruby also coached the former ‘Hawthorne Hammerheads’ team in the late 90s. She has focused on the beginner group swimmers for her entire coaching career, and most of our swimmers started at some point with Coach Ruby. She is our ‘lead’ C1-Group Coach.

What you might not know…

She learned to swim at the Hawthorne Pool
Started as swim instructor and lifeguard at Hawthorne Pool when she was 15 years old
Ruby has worked as a Lifeguard, swim instructor, and been an Aquatics program director
She is a second-grade teacher at Anza Elementary School; there, she is also a Tech Mentor, and Student Council Advisor. Ruby is married to Erik, and they often open their home to the team for parties and social gatherings

A competitive athlete herself:

Ruby is a regular swimmer, and has participated in 15+ Pier-to-Pier swims
She loves running, and participated in lots of 10K races; and she has completed in several ‘Mud Runs’
Latest fitness challenge is participating in triathlons, including the Catalina Tri and the Long Beach Tri

“My favorite thing about coaching beginning swimmers is watching kids who have limited swimming skills blossom into super swimmers who can challenge themselves into even better swimmers. Coaching C’s is the best!” ~ Ruby del Rio Ekblad

Romi Gorordo

Age Group Coach

Coach Romina Caristo Gorordo
Romina, “Romi”, leads the C Group’s workout. Many of you already know Romi, as her two children, Ina and Ruka are on the team, and she is an active team parent.

Romina, “Romi”, was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of 11 she began competing on a national level in her native country. In 1991 she began working as a swim instructor and has had a passion for it ever since. She moved to Redondo Beach in 2002 where she has been working as a swim instructor since 2005.

What you might not know…
-Romina began to swim competitively at the age of 11
-When she was 16 she competed in the Argentine National Championships
-She began coaching youth at the age of 15
-In 2005 she worked as a Los Angeles City Lifeguard and swim instructor
-Since 2009 she has worked as a swim instructor at Spectrum South Bay
-Both of her children are swimmers at SOBA
-When she has free time, she enjoys going to the beach with family and friends. She is a big fan of goodie bags. Wait until you get one!

A competitive athlete herself:
-Between the ages of 12 and 13 she swam 3 open water river races and 1 ocean race
-At the age of 16 Romina competed at the Argentine National Championships in the 200 meter breaststroke, 100 meter breaststroke and the 4x100 meter freestyle relay
-When she was 19 she swam at the collegiate level
-She has competed in every Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier 2-mile ocean swim since 2002; she even swam it in 2003 while 6 months pregnant with her daughter, Ina
-Romina has also swam in three La Jolla Rough Water competitions
-In 2007 she competed in the Hermosa Beach Triathlon (Day at the Beach) and took 1st place in the mountain bike division
-She runs the Manhattan Beach 10k every year, and she has run the Redondo Beach 10k on a few occasions.
-She swam the first leg of the 2010 Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon relay where her team took first place
-She ran the 10k leg of the 2011 Los Angeles Triathlon relay
-She ran the Palos Verdes Marathon 2 times (1st year 1st place and 3rd place 2nd year)

Romi has to walk the ‘fine line’ between coach and parent. With our swim team kids, she is coach; and with her own children, she is their mom. We want to respect that balance!

Dede Moore

Age Group Coach

Dede has been coaching age-group swimmers since 2005. Coach Dede spearheads our ‘JO, Blue, Red Club’ program, recognizing swimmers’ time achievements with star lapel pins. Coach Dede typically offers to take a group of swimmers to some USA Swimming sanctioned meets each year, including the Spring Junior Olympics. Dede is our ‘lead’ B-Group coach; and also coaching the combined A, B1 and B groups on Fridays.

What you might not know…

She was an age group swimmer as a child – over 10 years in her hometown in Maryland
Dede was on the Varsity Swim Team for Towson State University, and Team Captain for 2 years
Dede has worked as a Lifeguard, and been an Aquatics program director; summer camp swim instructor, a competitive stroke clinic instructor, and open water swim instructor
She is a private coach, and teaches 1-1 swimming lessons, through her own business, Dolphin Sports. Dede is married to Pat, and has a dog named Duncan.

A competitive athlete herself:

Dede has been a Masters swimmer since the age of 19, even a medallist in the 1991 Nationals in 50 Butterfly
Since 1983, Dede has been a competitive triathlete (sponsored by Snickers 2006 & 2007)
In 2006 National Age-Group qualifier for Worlds in Lausanne, Switzerland
Founder Redondo Beach Triathlon, 2005
California Beach Volleyball rated “AA” 4 years

“I teach and coach now because I think swimming is a healthy sport and I get a lot of satisfaction watching the kids progress.” ~ Dede Moore

Mark Rehbein

Age Group Coach

Mark has been coaching for SOBA since summer 2008; he has been a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Hawthorne Pool since he was 15 years old. Mark is a Los Angeles County Lifeguard (beach), arguably one of the most challenging lifeguarding jobs in the world. Mark primarily coaches the B-Group.

What you might not know…

Mark was an age group swimmer as a child – starting at the age of 7
He was involved in the Los Angeles County Beach Junior Lifeguard program in Hermosa Beach all the years he was eligible – from the age of 9, continuing through the cadet program at the age of 18
Mark coached the Mira Costa High School Junior Varsity Team for two years
He is a college student, attending Cal State LA, and is studying to take the LA County Seriff's entrance exam

A competitive athlete himself:

Mark swam on the Mira Costa High School Varsity Team for 4 years, and participated on the MCHS Water Polo Team for 3 years
Swam two years for the El Camino College swim team
Pier-to-Pier swimmer – 8 Pier-to-Pier swims

Steve Hyde

Masters Coach

If you are a swimmer in the South Bay area, you probably know Coach Steve Hyde. In fact, you’ve probably swum in one of his workouts. Steve has likely brought a smile to your face, with his ‘trademark’ greetings of “are you feeling ferocious today?” or “are you feeling frisky?”.

Competitive pool and ocean swimmers, triathletes, and people who just want to stay in shape, benefit from Steve’s coaching and leadership. Steve has an amazing ability to work with swimmers of all ages, levels, and keep an eye on all lanes of the pool. His enthusiasm for the sport is contagious!

Steve Hyde has been coaching our masters team since 2001. Prior to coaching our team, Steve coached various masters teams throughout the South Bay area, including his own team, the “South Bay Waves”. Steve also spent some time as an age group and high school swim coach.

Steve is not only a coach, but also an athlete. He is a swimmer, runner, and triathlete. Our team members benefit from his coaching perspective – from the athlete point of view. He knows if it isn’t fun, why do it? And, why not have a goal, while you are at it?

Sue Stohrer

Masters Coach

Sue Stohrer has been coaching our masters team since 2000. Sue also teaches swimming outside of our team to swimmers of various ages. Sue grew up in the pool, and began her swimming career as an age group swimmer in New York and Florida.

Competitive pool and ocean swimmers, triathletes, and people who just want to stay in shape, benefit from Sue’s creative and varied workouts. Sue works well with swimmers of skill levels and all ages. Sue is the fitness center manager at Marina City Club in Marina Del Rey.

Sue is not only a coach, but also an athlete. She is a swimmer, runner, and triathlete. Our team members benefit from her coaching perspective – from the athlete point of view.