Brandon Voorhies joined the Cincinnati Marlins in 2021. He currently serves as Head Coach & CEO while also coaching the National Group. In his time with the Marlins, Brandon has guided swimmers to qualifying times for Sectionals, Futures, Junior Nationals, High School All- American, and Ohio and Kentucky State Championships. Brandon previously served as Head Age Group Coach at Countryside YMCA and Head Coach at Indian Hill High School, where he was named Cincinnati High School Coach of the Year. Brandon attended The Ohio State University, where he served as President of the OSU Club Swim Team when they won the CCS Combined and Men’s National Title.

Email: bvoorhies@cincy-marlins.com

Chris has built an impressive career as a swim coach with over 20 years of experience, guiding swimmers at every level, from beginners to national champions and Paralympic athletes. Known for his passion for both the sport and athlete development, Chris is dedicated to helping his swimmers not only reach their peak performance but also grow as individuals.

Throughout his career, Chris has held pivotal coaching positions at some of the top swim clubs in the country, including Dynamo Swim Club in Atlanta, GA, Carolina Aquatic Team in Durham, NC, STAR Aquatics in Greensboro, NC, and Greater Toledo Aquatic Club in Ohio. His leadership on the deck has resulted in numerous accomplishments, such as coaching swimmers to Olympic Trials, setting national records, and working with athletes to achieve Paralympic records.

One of Chris’s career highlights was his role as manager at the USA Swimming National Select Camp, hosted at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. There, he worked closely with the nation's top emerging talent, preparing them for the highest levels of competition.

In addition to his club coaching roles, Chris has served as a coach for seven zone teams across two different zones, further showcasing his versatility and leadership in guiding athletes at the regional level.

Chris’s coaching excellence has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the State of Ohio Age Group Coach of the Year and Indiana University Swim Instructor of the Year. Beyond his professional achievements, he remains dedicated to mentoring aspiring athletes and contributing to the swimming community.

Chris is known for instilling the values of hard work, resilience, and teamwork in his swimmers, with a coaching philosophy centered around helping them not only excel in the pool but also become well-rounded, successful individuals in life.

Email: cpierson@cincy-marlins.com

Andrew (Andy) Gantzer coaches the Senior and Bronze groups at our Keating location. He brings his previous experience as a coach for Oak Hills, Moeller, and Mount Notre Dame as well as his own history as a state-qualifying Oak Hills high school swimmer and member of the MAC championship Eastern Michigan University team to his work at the Marlins. 

Email: agantzer47@gmail.com

Grace is currently the assistant coach of the Blue and Gold groups at Keating. She moved back after finishing her degree in English Literature at The Ohio State University in 2023 and knew she wanted to rejoin the Marlins. Grace started swimming for the Cincinnati Marlins in 2011 at age 10 until she graduated in 2019. After, she went on to swim for Ohio State's club swim team. She previously coached as the head coach of Oak Hills Swim and Racquet Club and coordinated OSU's private swim lessons program. 

Email: gehrhardt@cincy-marlins.com

Helen has a deep passion for swimming, having competed for six years at Dixie Heights High School, where she is a record holder in the 200 medley and 200 free relay. She also spent 11 years swimming in the NKSL.

Helen brings seven years of experience coaching age group swimmers at Brookwood Swim Club and has coached high school swimmers for four years at Dixie Heights. In addition, she loves teaching swim lessons to swimmers of all ages during the summer.

When she's not on the pool deck, Helen is busy shaping young minds as a preschool teacher. We’re thrilled to have her join our team and can't wait for her to share her enthusiasm and expertise with our swimmers!

Email: coachhelen18@gmail.com

This coach is awesome!

Victoria brings an impressive swimming background, having competed at the collegiate level for four years at the University of Cincinnati. Her standout performances include multiple top finishes in breaststroke events and individual medley races at the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships. Her remarkable ability to deliver in both individual and relay events showcases her versatility and deep knowledge of competitive swimming.

Victoria’s swimming accomplishments extend beyond her college years. Prior to joining the University of Cincinnati, she was a Texas state champion in the 100 breaststroke and a state finalist in multiple events. Her experience competing at the highest level of high school swimming in Texas, coupled with her time at the Woodlands Swim Team, gave her the foundation to become a junior national qualifier in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke. In addition to her impressive athletic achievements, Victoria also excelled academically, earning AAC All-Academic Team honors and being named a Scholastic All-American.

With Victoria’s extensive experience as a swimmer at the national and collegiate levels, she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for the sport to the Marlins. Her background in competing and excelling in breaststroke and individual medley events will provide invaluable insights to our swimmers, particularly in stroke development and race strategy. We are confident that Victoria’s commitment to excellence and her strong work ethic will inspire our athletes to reach new heights in their swimming careers.

Email: vmhunt17@gmail.com

Coach Andy is on his second stint coaching with the Cincinnati Marlins. Coaching multiple groups in the early 2000s, he is back working with the Gold group. His focus is on swimming techniques and balance to support all athletes in this group as they continue to develop within our program. 

This coach is awesome!

This coach is awesome!

Chad Rehkamp serves as the site lead and coach of the senior and gold groups at NKU He and his wife Amanda have two children, Clyde and Anna. Chad brings 22 years of experience from the Northern Kentucky Clippers, where he held key positions including Lead Group Coach, Head Age Group Coach, Associate Head Coach, and eventually Head Coach.

His coaching achievements include:

• Leading his team to Gold Medal Status three times in the USA Swimming Club of Excellence program
• Developing multiple Olympic Trials qualifiers
• Coaching swimmers who represented Team USA
• Producing USA Swimming Senior and Junior National qualifiers
• Guiding several 18 & under top 100 World Ranked swimmers
• Leading teams to multiple Ohio LSC Age Group State Championships
• Coaching numerous Ohio LSC Age Group individual and relay state champions
• Developing swimmers who achieved Top 25 national rankings in individual and relay events
• Coaching numerous collegiate swimmers at all levels
• Being selected to attend the National Select Camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center
• Participating in National Age Group Summit Clinics at the U.S. Olympic Training Center
• Contributing to USA Swimming's Age Group Committee discussions and meetings
• Presenting at national clinics and sharing insights at the U.S. Olympic Training Center
• Coaching multiple Kentucky High School champions and qualifiers

Chad is excited to help elevate the Marlins to new heights and continue building on the program's legacy.

Wiktor (Victor) Serafin is a part-time coach working with our Silver training group at the Keating location after relocating to the area from Delaware for his engineering job at GE Aviation. Wiktor brings his own extensive experience swimming and coaching experience in Poland, Canada, and the US to the development of multiple state, zone, and ISCA qualifiers in our age group program. 

Email: wserafin@cincy-marlins.com

Mariann (Mimi) Strenk is an assistant to our National training group after previously serving as a site head coach for our Gold group. Prior to the Marlins, she coached at Oak Hills Swim and Racquet Club and McAuley High School, where she was named GGCL Coach of the Year twice. Mimi swam at St. Louis University after swimming at Gamble Nippert YMCA and Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati. 

Email: mstrenk@cincy-marlins.com

Paige Hedger joined the Cincinnati Marlins as a swimmer in 2011 at the age of 8 and graduated from the team in 2021. She joined the coaching staff during the 2023-2024 season. Currently, Paige is the lead NKY Bronze Coach, Lead NKY Copper Coach, and an assistant for NKY Blue and Gold. Paige has previous experience coaching for Summit Hills Country Club as a head coach for 5 years and as an assistant at Campbell County High School for 2 years. Paige also volunteered as a Marlins coach during the development of the West Clermont site. In addition to her coaching positions, Paige has been a Kentucky High School State qualifier 5 years consecutively and a top finisher in her Conference during her time on Franklin College’s swim team. 

Email: phedger55@gmail.com

Will Carlson who joined our team in the fall of 2024 as the lead Blue coach and Silver assistant at our South Site. Will’s swimming journey began at the age of 10, and his passion for the sport has shaped his life ever since. After graduating from high school, he continued his swimming career at Franklin College, where he competed for two years before an injury brought his time as a swimmer to an end.

Will brings valuable coaching experience to our team, having previously worked as both a junior high and high school assistant coach. His time spent in these roles gave him a deep understanding of athlete development and the importance of fostering a positive and competitive environment for young swimmers. In addition, he has experience coaching with RAC in New Albany, Indiana, further broadening his knowledge and skill set in guiding athletes to reach their potential.

As the lead coach for the Blue group and assistant coach for Silver, Will is eager to help our swimmers grow and develop, both in and out of the pool. His energy and commitment to the sport make him a fantastic addition to our coaching staff, and we’re thrilled to have him join our team!

Email: wcarlson@cincy-marlins.com

Yulduz is a highly accomplished swimmer, having competed for the Uzbekistan National Swimming Team since 2005. She is the first Asian Youth Games Bronze medalist in the 100m Backstroke and a finalist at the Youth Olympic Games. Her career highlights include participating in the 2012 London Olympic Games, multiple Asian Games, and numerous World Championships, where she consistently set national records in backstroke events. Yulduz’s extensive international experience gives her a unique perspective on high-level competition.

In addition to her impressive swimming career, Yulduz has valuable coaching experience, having worked with various swim teams across the country. She has served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Piranha Swim Team in California and as a swim instructor for the Redlands Swim Team, where she developed her skills working with both novice and senior swimmers. Yulduz also played a key role at The University of Kansas as a scholarship student-athlete, balancing rigorous academic and athletic commitments while being recognized for her leadership and dedication.

Yulduz’s diverse background as both an elite athlete and a coach makes her an incredible addition to the Marlins. Her ability to connect with swimmers of all ages, her passion for teaching proper technique, and her deep understanding of the sport will be invaluable to our team. We are excited to see the positive impact Yulduz will have on our athletes as they continue to grow and excel in the water.

Email: yulduz.kuchkarova8@gmail.com

This coach is awesome!

This coach is awesome!