Chomping at the Bit
Inside the Heart and Hype of the Glen Oaks Gators
If you have walked past the neighborhood pool lately, you’ve likely felt the electric energy, heard the booming pre-meet cheers, and seen a coach or two doing the Cotton Eye Joe. The Glen Oaks Gators are back in the water this summer, and they are chomping at the bit for another fantastic season! While the talented young swimmers are working hard to become back-to-back champions, the true heart of the team lies in its leadership. Backed by team organizers Amber and Kent Billingsly, this year’s coaching staff is bringing unmatched enthusiasm, positivity, and fun to every practice. Get to know the dedicated faces behind the whistles as they share their favorite traditions, proudest moments, and what makes the Glen Oaks swim community unlike any other!
Swim Team Organizers: Amber & Kent Billingsly
What does it mean to you all to be in charge of the swim team, and what do you love about it?
This team has meant so much to our family over the last six years. The memories of late-night swim meets and watching our kids accomplish hard things are worth every ounce of energy.
Kent and I are so thankful to lead this team and carry on the many traditions. These six weeks burn hot and fast, but we can’t imagine spending our summer anywhere else. The Glen Oaks swim community cannot be beat!
Name: Coach Will Johnson
How long have you been a coach? This is only my second year coaching for Glen Oaks, but my 4th year coaching swim.
As the head coach, how would you describe the overall culture and identity of the Glen Oaks swim team, and what makes you most proud to lead this incredible group of athletes and coaches?
I’ll answer this question with a story. When I was 14, I swam for Glen Oaks, and I hated every second of it. I dreaded going to every practice; meets were a panic attack waiting to happen, the coaches were unsupportive, and I never once enjoyed myself. Fast forward to 2025, and I am swimming in college at Transylvania University. While at a swim lesson, my at the time teammate and good friend Riley Hayden mentioned I may make a good coach for Glen Oaks. I hadn’t thought about the club since I left all those years ago, but I thought for sure the environment must have changed somewhat. However, when I arrived at the pool once again, this time with a change in position, I was astounded by how positive the culture had become. Our head coach, Charlie, was filled with energy that I immediately meshed with, and the rest of the coaches showed every single second that they cared and wanted to be there to help our Gator family. There were now luaus and midnight practices and themes for meets, all of which built a community of swimmers who could take practices seriously when necessary, but also wanted to be in the water and have fun! It was insane to me how much a few years had altered the entire experience, and after we won champs for the first time, I texted Charlie the next day and asked to be a part of the Gators once again. This year is no different; however, the culture and atmosphere continues to evolve for the better in my eyes. Our new coaches, many of which this is their first taste at coaching, have taken the daunting task head-on and have excelled with the positions. They also come to practices and meets with a smile on their face, and whether it’s figuring out the next meet theme, dancing to Blame It On The Boogie or learning the Cotton Eye Joe line dance, making tik toks and going “viral”, or simply being there for each other when it matters most, I feel I am in debt to the constant kindness and love I am forever grateful to call my Gator family. This summer hasn’t been easy for me, as my best friend in high school, Cole Harris, suddenly passed away from brain cancer at the age of 19, and rather than be in silence on the day I learned he was no longer with us, I went to our swim meet. They helped me get through one of the hardest and strangest days of my life just by being their genuine, true, caring selves, and that’s the kind of culture and identity that makes Glen Oaks so special to me. It’s not a team of swimmers; it’s a family of human beings that want nothing more than to support each other. And I couldn’t be more proud to be along for the ride.
Name: Coach Jacob Monson
How long have you been a coach?
This is my fifth year coaching at Glen Oaks, and I currently serve as the Head Assistant Coach. I've been involved with the Glen Oaks Swim team for the past 10 years, starting as a swimmer and transitioning into a coach.
This is my fifth year coaching at Glen Oaks, and I currently serve as the Head Assistant Coach. I've been involved with the Glen Oaks Swim team for the past 10 years, starting as a swimmer and transitioning into a coach.
What group do you coach?
I primarily coach our 9–10 and 11 & Over age groups, but work and support our staff and swimmers across every age group.
I primarily coach our 9–10 and 11 & Over age groups, but work and support our staff and swimmers across every age group.
What do you love about being a coach?
What I love most about coaching is coming back year after year and watching our swimmers grow up, improve their skills, gain confidence, and develop both in and out of the pool.
What I love most about coaching is coming back year after year and watching our swimmers grow up, improve their skills, gain confidence, and develop both in and out of the pool.
What has been your absolute favorite or most memorable moment of the swim season so far?
My favorite moment this season has been seeing the team come back hungry, motivated, and ready to compete as we chase another championship and work toward becoming back-to-back champions.
My favorite moment this season has been seeing the team come back hungry, motivated, and ready to compete as we chase another championship and work toward becoming back-to-back champions.
Name: Coach Madeline Cahill
How long have you been a coach?
This is my first year coaching, but I have swum for Glen Oaks for nine years.
What group do you coach?
I mainly coach the 7-8 and 6 and under groups, but I also try my hardest to stay for the older kids as well.
What do you love about being a coach?
What I love about being a coach is the connection I get to make with kids of all ages. As a coach, you can learn from each child's story and try and postively affect their growth.
If you had to pick one word that perfectly captures the spirit of the Glen Oaks swim team this summer, what would it be and why?
One word that captures the spirit of the team is fun. Fun perfectly describes our team, as we want the kids to enjoy swimming and not dread coming to the pool. By making the environment fun through things including half-time dancing at meets, Drakes after meets, our late-night swims, and team parties and activities, swimmers fully get to experience a fun culture and community.
Name: Coach Alexis Johnson
How long have you been a coach? I’ve been coaching for 3 years
What group do you coach? I coach the 6-and-unders, 7/8’s, and 9/10’s.
What do you love about being a coach?
love being a coach because knowing I’m making a difference in a kid’s swim experience, whether it’s just fixing their form or contributing to the reason they want to continue coming back to practice each day, is a truly unmatched feeling. The entire coaching experience is so incredibly rewarding, from receiving rainbow loom bracelets from the younger girls at meets, to seeing each swimmer grow and develop, not only in the pool, but also as individuals. The little moments mean just as much as the big ones, and knowing I have the ability to make a positive impact on these young swimmers is something so special that I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Coaching at Glen Oaks is comparable to nothing else.
How would you describe the community and support system here at Glen Oaks from the parents and neighborhood?
The community at Glen Oaks is something you can’t find anywhere else. As soon as you walk into a meet or practice, you can feel the energy and warmth throughout the entire environment. It is so obvious that each parent has a passion for watching their kids do what they love. I’ve never encountered a more supportive group of people who wholeheartedly want the best for every swimmer on the pool deck. Not only that, but the Glen Oaks parents are constantly going out of their way to make sure the coaches feel seen and appreciated in so many ways. None of it goes unnoticed, and we could not be more grateful for this wonderful group of people.
Name: Coach Everly Easterling
How long have you been a coach? I'm a junior coach, as I’ve only started coaching this summer.
What group do you coach? I typically coach the 6 and unders and the 7-8 year olds.
What do you love about being a coach?
I love being a coach because it is such a fulfilling experience. Every time a kid comes up to me, calling me coach or asking for help, it’s the best feeling in the world.
Glen Oaks has such a great team energy. How do you and the other coaches keep practices fun and motivating for the kids?
The other coaches and I keep practices fun by practicing relays, which the kids love. Coach will also keep practices fun by making up games for the kids.
Name: Coach Emery Larsen
How long have you been a coach? This is my first year coaching!
What group do you coach? I mainly coach 7 & 8, and 6 & under. I also help with all age groups!
What do you love about being a coach?
I love getting to experience working with all different ages. As someone who has experience working with kids in the past, coaching has unlocked a new love for helping kids. I have loved getting to have amazing relationships with people of all different ages. Getting to know the kids on different levels and impacting their lives.
What has been your proudest moment as a coach during this swim season?
My proudest moment as a coach is every time a kid gets into the pool and faces a fear that they have. Every time a kid tells me how well they did, I am so happy and proud of them!
Name: Coach Abbey Dehner
How long have you been a coach? I've been a coach for 4 years, but on the team for 13!
What group do you coach? I coach all groups, but I lead the 6 and unders and the 7-8 group.
What do you love about being a coach?
I love getting to help create such a fun environment for the kids that we coach. Growing up, some of my favorite memories came from being a swimmer, and I hope that this coaching staff brings the same kind of happiness and excitement!
When a swimmer is feeling nervous or having a tough meet, what is your go-to advice to help them bounce back?
Whenever a kid's nervous, I like to remind them that we do this in practice all the time, and they're more than capable of doing it just as well in the meet.
Name: Coach Emily Monson
How long have you been a coach?
What group do you coach?
What do you love about being a coach?
What is the most rewarding part of watching these swimmers improve their skills from the beginning to the end of the season?
Name: Coach Charlotte Dehner
How long have you been a coach? This is my first year coaching!
What group do you coach? I coach the 6 and under group and the 7-8 group
What do you love about being a coach? I love watching kids get better at swimming over the season and going from being scared to jump in the pool to swimming full 25s and 50s.
Beyond swimming techniques, what is the number one life lesson or value you hope the kids take away from being on this team?
I hope that the kids' hard work can lead to lots of success.
Name: Coach Amelia (Muench)
How long have you been a coach? This is my first year coaching
What group do you coach? I coach the 6 & under and 7/8 groups, but do Gator Walk with the 9/10 girls.
What do you love about being a coach?
My favorite thing about being a coach and what I love about this team is the amount of energy these kids bring, even in the cold pools and early mornings.
Does the team have a favorite tradition, cheer, or routine before a big meet that always gets everyone hyped up?
My personal favorite team tradition that hypes everyone up before a meet is our home meet Gator Walk and cheer because it really gets the energy up and gets the kids (and coaches!) ready to swim.
Name: Coach Charlie Edmiston
How long have you been a coach?
I have been coaching swimming for nearly 25 years. Over that time, I’ve worked with several summer swim programs, beginning with my childhood team, the Pinewalk Penguins. For the past 10 years, I’ve coached with the Glen Oaks Gators, and I’ve also coached at the high school level for the last 12 years.
I have been coaching swimming for nearly 25 years. Over that time, I’ve worked with several summer swim programs, beginning with my childhood team, the Pinewalk Penguins. For the past 10 years, I’ve coached with the Glen Oaks Gators, and I’ve also coached at the high school level for the last 12 years.
What group do you coach?
I coach every one of our 290 athletes. Whether it’s a 6-and-under swimmer building confidence and developing stroke technique or a 15–19-year-old athlete preparing for a postseason race, I’m committed to supporting each swimmer’s growth. I also enjoy mentoring fellow coaches, sharing my experience and knowledge to help them make a positive impact on our younger athletes.
I coach every one of our 290 athletes. Whether it’s a 6-and-under swimmer building confidence and developing stroke technique or a 15–19-year-old athlete preparing for a postseason race, I’m committed to supporting each swimmer’s growth. I also enjoy mentoring fellow coaches, sharing my experience and knowledge to help them make a positive impact on our younger athletes.
What do you love about being a coach?
I love passing along my passion for swimming to the next generation. I take pride in helping develop young coaches who contribute to the positive, fun-loving culture we’ve built around the sport. Most importantly, I cherish the opportunity to coach my son and inspire him in the same way my dad inspired me.
I love passing along my passion for swimming to the next generation. I take pride in helping develop young coaches who contribute to the positive, fun-loving culture we’ve built around the sport. Most importantly, I cherish the opportunity to coach my son and inspire him in the same way my dad inspired me.
In your eyes, what does a “perfect” swim meet look like for a Glen Oaks athlete?
Having fun! More than anything, I want our athletes to enjoy their experience and learn something along the way. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to build an incredible culture made up of athletes, parents, families, and coaches who share a commitment to having fun while striving for success. A perfect swim meet includes a Gator entrance, a team cheer, a dance party (usually at halftime), and finishing the night at Drake’s with family and friends. That’s the perfect swim meet for my Gators and me!
Having fun! More than anything, I want our athletes to enjoy their experience and learn something along the way. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to build an incredible culture made up of athletes, parents, families, and coaches who share a commitment to having fun while striving for success. A perfect swim meet includes a Gator entrance, a team cheer, a dance party (usually at halftime), and finishing the night at Drake’s with family and friends. That’s the perfect swim meet for my Gators and me!