Northridge Area Swimming Association - NASA Coaching Staff/Board of Directors

NASA Coaching Staff

*Coach Sponseller Not present for photo

	Rhonda Blanchard Email Coach FANCY - [email protected] Club Director/ Head Senior Group Coach Coach Fancy has been swimming since the age of 7. She swam for Concord Swim Club and Concord High School. She also swam for Western Illinois University while obtaining her Law Enforcement degree. She has coached previously at Concord Swim Club, NASA, and most recently for WIN Tidal Wave in Newburgh, IN. She's coached multiple Age Group State Finalists, multiple Senior State Finalists, and a Junior National Qualifier. Her love for the sport is what drives her to be a better coach. She loves to make up a little saying or something that the kids will remember to make the sport more fun while teaching them something about their technique. There's no doubt you'll hear her on the pool deck. She's excited to be back home and continue the long standing NASA program with enthusiasm and commitment. She has one son Alex who is currently serving as a US Navy Sailor in Japan.
	Coach Gabby Strombeck Email Coach G - [email protected] Middle School Group Lead Coach Gabby started swimming with the Elky Seahorses at the Elkhart YMCA at the age of eight. She then joined the Concord Swim Club starting in 6^th grade until graduation in 2008. During her freshman year of high school, she was selected as NLC All-Conference honorable mention and awarded most improved swimmer. Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years included awards of NLC All-Conference, and MVP each year. All 4 years, she was awarded as a Scholar Athlete as well as Kiwanis Athlete of the Month 3 times. In 2007, she was the 100 Butterfly Sectional Champion, as well as part of the winning 200 Freestyle Relay and competed in at the IHSAA State Meet. In 2008, she was the 100 Freestyle NLC Champion. During her high school years, Gabby also worked as a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons. Gabby lettered 4 years in Swimming, 2 letters in Tennis and 2 years as Boys Tennis Manager. Finishing high school with 8 varsity letters. After high school, she studied Nursing at Ball State University and completed her BSN, RN degree in 2012. She currently works full-time as a nurse for Goshen Home Care and Hospice and is married to Brandon. Both of their children, Grace and Rowen, are swimmers for NASA. Coach G has been coaching with NASA since fall of 2022. She has primarily been involved with the Gold and Middle School groups and enjoys seeing her swimmer’s excitement when their hard work pays off!
	Coach Brandi Hougland Email Coach Brandi - Coachbrandi@nasaswimming.org Middle School Group Assistant Coach
	Coach Gabby Sponseller Email Coach Gabby - Coachsponseller@nasaswimming.org Elementary Silver Lead Coach Coach Gabby Sponseller started her swimming career at Concord Swim Club at the age of 7 and swam for Concord High School. During her time in high school she played both golf and swimming where she was a varsity athlete all 4 years. During her time on the High School swim team she was a Sectional champion in 2017, a state qualifier and a record holder. She then went on to pursue her college degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Elementary Education where she swam collegiately for 3 years. During that time she was a top 3 placer in the 200 breaststroke for 2 years at WIACS, top 5 placer in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke for 2 years at WIACS and has top 10 program times currently in the 200 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. I am excited to be apart of this program and take on the roll of being a coach! It has been a blast getting to still be apart of this great sport and find joy in helping others achieve their goals.
	Coach Shelley LaLime Email Coach Gabby - Coachshelley@nasaswimming.org Elementary Bronze Lead Coach/Senior Asststant Coach
	Marissa Gardner Email Coach Gardner - Coachgardner@nasaswimming.org Swim Lessons Coordinator/Assistant High School Coach Marissa grew up in Las Vegas where she swam since she was 5 years old. Having parents who were not strong swimmers they were adamant that their children would know how. She fell in love with the sport and continued with it while also playing volleyball. She studied Elementary and Special Education at the University of Nevada Reno. Marissa came to Fort Wayne in 2015 and fell in love with the Midwest, she lived in Iowa while her husband finished Master school, and life brought them to Middlebury in 2018. She began coaching the high school team in 2019, she loves the high school level, the competitivness, the tradition that the Raiders have. She has been the assistant high school coach for 7 years. Her family has grown in the last few years to include 2 children and she has found a new passion for water safety and competency. So she has taken on the role of Swim Lesson Coordinator in an effort to teach children water safety skills and create a safer community.