Summer League 2012: Coaches

Steve Franklin, Summer League Co-Head Coach

coach@gatorswimteam.org

Coach Steve started coaching in 1974 and has worked with swimmers of all ages and ability levels during his long career. As a swimmer, Steve was ranked Top-6 in the state as a high-school athlete, continued to swim thorough college, and was a World Class Masters champion. He has been the National Coaches Advisor for the U.S. Paralympic team, Assistant Coach for two national distance camps, Head Coach for the National Disabilities Camp, Zone Coach for the Indiana and Ozark LSCs, and state coach for the Ozark AAU Junior Olympics team.

Read more about Coach Steve's accomplishments on the year-round coaching page.

Annie Wolpers, Summer League Co-Head Coach

Annie Wolpers started her swim career at age 6 with the Poplar Bluff Piranhas and joined the Gator Swim Team at age 11. Her career highlights include winning the 50-Meter Freestyle at the 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Detroit, qualifying for Sectionals, qualifying for the Missouri State High School Championships in individual and relay events throughout high school, and being named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Teammate and Captain of the Cape Central Lady Tigers. She was named MVP/Southeast Missouri Conference Champion in 2008 during her junior year when she set conference records and swam state-qualifying times in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle. She overcame two shoulder surgeries in 8th and 10th grades and competed (and scored!) while swimming in Summer League with only one arm during her recovery. She received a scholarship to swim at Stephens College, and qualified for NAIA Nationals in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle and three relays before the college unfortunately cut the team from their athletics program after their pool malfunctioned. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion/Exercise Science at Southeast Missouri State University, where she also teaches fitness classes. She is certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Annie is looking forward to coaching the Gators this summer!

Joanie Edmundson, Certified Swim Coach

Coach Joanie has over 10 years of swim coaching experience. She is a full-time kindergarten teacher at Jefferson Elementary and specializes in stroke instruction for entry level swimmers.

Ann Welker, Certified Swim Coach

Coach Ann was a certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor for over 30 years and an USA Swimming official with Level 5 Administrative Referee Certification (national level) for over 20 years. She has over 30 years of experience teaching kids to swim and currently teaches at Notre Dame High School.

Angela Welker, Certified Swim Coach

Lizzie Schmidt, Certified Swim Coach

Lizzie (Elizabeth) Schmidt joined the Gator Swim team in 2005 and swam continuously with the Gators until last year Fall. Lizzie qualified for the state high school championships in her Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years and is a captain of the Lady Tigers of Cape Central this year. She has helped coach kids during Summer League over the past few years and she is also a Red Cross certified lifeguard who has worked at the waterpark and the Municipal pool for the last two years. The breaststroke is her favorite stroke.

Coaching Assistants:

These accomplished Senior swimmers will help provide our younger swimmers with more individualized attention: