Meet the Coaches

Meet the Westwood Coaching Staff!

John Yearwood – Head Swim Coach

John is entering his 4th season as the head coach at Westwood. In his three previous seasons, he has lead the Westwood Dolphins in a record of 11-4. John is also the head coach of the Middies Swim Team, one of the top club programs in Westchester, located in White Plains. John was awarded Westchester County Coach of the Year during the Summer 2017 season. John also earned the 2018-2019 Coach of the Year: Must Watch Age Group Award by Metropolitan Swimming for his most recent season at Middies. In his spare time, John enjoys taking long walks on the beach, reading and writing poetry, and smiling for pictures for his beloved swim team.

Anna Gagion – Head Dive Coach, Group Dive Lesson Instructor

Anna is returning to Westwood to act as Head Dive Coach for the 2019 season. She worked at westwood as a lifeguard for 6 years and this will be her 4th summer as dive coach. Anna is a recent college graduate of Union College. She double majored in French and Environmental Policy with departmental honors in both. She participated on the NCAA Union College Dive Team for 4 years coming in 5th place at her Liberty League State Championships to finish off her season. She was also on the Liberty League All-Academic team for 4 years. Anna will go on to teach science at Greenwich Country Day School to grades 1-4.

Michael Gagion – Assistant Swim Coach, Group Swim Lesson Instructor

This is Michael’s 6th summer working at Westwood. Michael currently goes to Binghamton University and is a member of the Division 1 Men’s swim team. This will be his first year teaching group lessons and swim team at Westwood. He swam for the Westwood Dolphins from ages 6-17. Michael’s best strokes are butterfly and backstroke. He is excited to bring a winning mentality to the Westwood swim team that he fondly grew up with.

Raquel Ruiz – Assistant Swim Coach, Group Swim Lesson Instructor

Raqui is very excited for her 4th summer at Westwood! You may recognize Raqui from the swim team where she’s been a Westwood Dolphin since she was 9 years old, and continued until she aged out last year. This year will be her 1st year teaching group swim lessons! She has a Water Safety Instructor License as well as previous experience working as a swim coach, and teaching private lessons. Raqui graduated High School in the Class of 2019, and will be continuing her education in the fall at SUNY New Paltz. She is very excited to work with her swimmers, and pass on her love of swimming to them!

Morgan Hricay – Assistant Swim Coach

This is Morgan’s second summer working at Westwood and 11th year being a part of the swim team. Morgan has been swimming since she was 8 years old and still swims in college. She has her Water Safety Instructor Certification and is excited to begin working hard with the swimmers to have a fun season and help improve their strokes and gain confidence in the water. She has experience working at the Empire Swim School with children to teach water safety skills and stroke technique. She attends the College of William and Mary where she studies neuroscience and biochemistry.

Stephen Nadler – Group Swim Lesson Instructor

This will be Stephen’s 6th year lifeguarding and his 3rd year teaching group lessons. He grew up swimming for the Westwood Dolphins and his best stroke was breaststroke. Stephen goes to Indiana University and pursuing a degree in law and public policy along with entrepreneurship.

Tommy Courtney – Group Swim Lesson Instructor

This will be Tommy’s 5th year working at Westwood. This is his second year teaching group lessons at Westwood with his Water Safety Instructor Certification. Tommy both swam and dove for the Westwood Dolphins before becoming a group instructor. His favorite stroke is freestyle. Tommy currently attends Manhattan College majoring in communication.

Daniella Mulvey – Group Swim Lesson Instructor

This is Daniella’s 6th year working at Westwood. This is her first year teaching group swim lessons with her Water Safety Instructor Certification. She swam at the varsity level for 5 years at Westlake High School and also swam for Westwood. She currently attends Ithaca College and will be going into her sophomore year next semester. She plays softball at the college level and is in the Architectural Studies Program

Justin Angeles – Head Group Tennis Lesson Instructor

This will be Justin’s third year of working at Westwood. This is his first year as the Main Group Tennis Lesson instructor. He has been the group tennis lessons assistant instructor for 2 years and played Tennis as the men’s first singles spot for Westlake High school before becoming a group instructor. He is currently attending Pace University and will be going into his Junior Year next semester. Justin is studying to become a registered nurse at Pace’s renowned Nursing program.

Ian Salon – Group Basketball Lesson Instructor

Ian is a Yonkers teacher, has coached AAU- ages 9-16, coached Yonkers middle school basketball from 2003-2018, started AAU programs in Yonkers, and has run and organized several basketball tournaments in the Westchester area.