Dave Horton
Head Coach - ASCA Level 3 Certified
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Coach Dave has been coaching
on the age group, senior, and national level for 20 years. He
is currently the SMRT head coach. He is the 3-time South
Carolina age group coach of the year and serves as the South
Carolina age group Chairman. He has coached several South
Carolina state record holders, Olympic festival qualifiers,
National select camp qualifiers, and national record holders.
His wealth of knowledge and experience make him an invaluable asset
to the SMRT coaching staff.
Tara Crapps
Head Age Group Coach (MLK Facility)
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Coach Tara’s
swimming history is rich with titles and records. She has held
several state records and Top 16 times. Among her accomplishments:
Junior National Champion for the 200 free in 1996, Female SC
Swimmer of the Year 1997, Olympic trials in the 500 free, and went
to Nationals as a 15 yr. old for the 200, 400, 800, 1500 free and
the 200 fly. She swam for CCST from the age of 8 through her senior
year and continued her swimming career as a member of the Notre
Dame Swimming team until completing her degree. She still holds
several state records. Additionally, Tara’s coaching history
includes a season of summer league at Hobcaw Creek and coaching
with SMRT from 2005-2007. Tara states, “I am very excited to
be re-joining the SMRT family. Swimming has afforded me many
opportunities and I am eager to help our swimmers realize their
potential both in and out of the pool. I think there are
great things ahead for the Marlins for the 2009-2010
season!”
Leslie McCartney
Age Group Coach (WLS) - ASCA Level 2
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Coach Leslie joined the SMRT
coaching staff in 2006. She was a SMRT swimmer since the
inception of the team and was team co-captain her junior and senior
year. To compliment her swimming career, Leslie rowed on the
Clemson Varsity rowing team. Her coaching experience includes
being the assistance coach for the Summerville Dolphins and the
Whitehall Summer league teams.
Ben Patrick Pulskamp
Age Group Coach (MLK Facility)
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Coach Ben joined the
SMRT coaching staff in August, 2009. He has 18 years of
competitive swimming experience. He spent 14 years on the
Y-Spartaquatics swim team in Spartanburg, SC. He led
Spartanburg High School to four State Championships. He
graduated from University of North Carolina Wilmington after
winning four CAA conference swimming championships and won
UNCW’s most Outstanding Swimmer Award in 2004. He was team
captain his senior year of high school, as well as his senior year
in college. While at the Universityof North Carolina
Wilmington, he worked as a swim instructor for the UNCW Swim
Camp.
Lauren Anne Liston
Age Group Coach (WLS Facility)
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Coach Lauren joined SMRT in
2009. She started swimming with the City of Charleston Swim Team,
continued to pursue her goals with the Summerville Marlins, and
returned with the team in 2005 when the Southern Marlins Racing
Team evolved. Lauren achieved Junior National qualifying times,
acted as team co-captain her junior and captain her senior year,
and was athletic representative for the LSC. She continued her
swimming career at the University of North Texas and CofC. Her
coaching experience includes a head coach position for Legend Oaks
and assistant coach for Crowfield summer leagues.
James Niergarth
Age Group Coach
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Coach Jim joined the SMRT
coaching staff in May/June 2010. He has 16 years of competitive
swimming experience. He spent 10 of those years swimming for M.E.
Lyons YMCA/Anderson Barracudas then switched over to the Cincinnati
Marlins. He swam at Saint Xavier High School and Claremont McKenna
College. He placed 3rd at conference championships in the 1650 all
4 years during his college career which helped his team to three
2nd place finishes and one 1st place finish his senior year. He is
very excited to join the SMRT family.
