Coaching Staff

TASHA CONGDON

HEAD COACH 

EMAIL: natasha.congdon@gmail.com

Coach Tasha grew up in Crozet, swimming with Western Albemarle High School, CYAC, and the Crozet Gators. She has been coaching since 2017. She started off coaching the Crozet Gators and helped lead them to three 2nd place JSL Champs finishes, and undefeated regular season victories. She coached with CYAC as their Futures, Bronze, Silver, and Cudas coach. In 2020 she joined SMAC as their lead Crozet Age Group 1, Age Group 2, and Juniors. In 2022 she was Waynesboro High School's Assistant Swim Coach, leading the boys to an undefeated regular season. In 2022, she was the Head Coach for the Crozet Gators Swim Team, and led them to a 1st place JSL Champs finish, as well as getting the Sportsmanship Award. 

MEGAN LIFE

ASSISTANT COACH 

Megan just completed her first year at the University of Virginia where she is majoring in Youth and Social Innovation in the School of Education and Human Development. She swam for Crozet Gators for twelve years and swam year-round for CYAC until joining the Western Swim and Dive team. She junior coached for CGST for four years prior to becoming an assistant coach last summer. Last year, she also served as an assistant coach for SMAC. Coach Megan is thrilled to be back coaching for CGST this summer and hopes to share her passion for the sport with the younger swimmers by encouraging them to work hard and have fun!

ADAM REINHARD

ASSISTANT COACH 

Adam grew up in Salem, VA where he coached the Stonegate gators for several summers as an assistant coach.  He swam all four years at Salem High School, focusing on IM, Fly and long free. In 2017 Adam founded the DC International School Swim Team and was head coach of grades 6-8.  In 2023 he joined the Western Albemarle High School Warriors Swim and Dive Team as an Assistant coach.  In his free time Adam continues to swim as part of triathlon, including three Ironman finishes. 

JOHN NOFFSINGER

ASSISTANT COACH 

Coach John returns for his second year as an assistant coach with the Crozet Gators. He is also an assistant coach with Shenandoah Marlin Aquatic Club (SMAC) working with the Mighty Marlins developmental group.  Coach John began competitive swimming at the age of 10 with the University of Hawaii Age Group Team and then with the Silver Spring, Md YMCA. He swam for West Virginia University on an athletic scholarship, and was co-captain for the Mountaineers his senior year. Over the past 30 years he has volunteered his coaching in Ft Mead, Maryland; Lufkin, Texas; and Dothan, Alabama. In 2015 he became the Head Coach for the Mountain Aquatic Club in Sewanee Tn. He coached Age Group swimmers at all levels from beginning 8 and under’s to Sectional Qualifiers. His focus is on the fundamentals, proper technique, aerobic conditioning and dryland strength training. He also served at the Head Coach for Sewanee Tiger Sharks (Summer League Team) Coach John is a certified coach with USA Swimming.  He is also Certified Level 5:2 coach and Summer League coach with the American Swim Coaches Association. He is a certified dryland coach with Surge Strength Academy Coach  John is a student of swimming. He learns as much from his swimmers as they do from him. He wants his swimmers to enjoy the sport and have fun. So, while working on technique and conditioning, he challenges his swimmers with drills and games. He would like for his swimmers to develop an attitude of  Show Up - Ready to Learn, Do It Right, and Honor your Teammates with your Effort.  He also wants his swimmers to "do every start, every turn, every finish in practice like it was a race"  and to understand their "hard work pays off” and “Never, Never, Give Up."

ANTHONY GARONO

ASSISTANT COACH 

Hello Gator families! My name is Anthony Garono and I am excited to be back for my second season of coaching. I have been a swimmer on Crozet Gators for 11 years and also swim year round. Last year coaching was very new to me but I had a blast and could not be more excited for year two! I am looking forward to another JSL Championship run! Go Gators

LUCY NICHOLSON

ASSISTANT COACH 

Lucy grew up in Charlottesville and has been swimming since she was 5 years old. She started out in summer league, which was where she developed her love for the sport, and swims for Cavalier Aquatics and the Western Albemarle High School team. She junior coached for Crozet Gators last summer and joined the SMAC coaching staff shortly after. She coaches the Mini Marlins 1, 2, and 3 groups for SMAC and additionally coaches private lessons. She helped lead Crozet to a 1st place finish last summer at JSL Champs and is excited to help even more this summer!

HENRY ADDISON

ASSISTANT COACH 

Hello Gators, my name is Henry Addison and I am thrilled to be a coach for CGST this summer! I just graduated from Western Albemarle High School and will be attending UVA in the fall! I’ve been swimming year-round since I was 7 and for CGST since I was 5 years old and am super happy to spend my last season coaching. At a young age I was a flyer but for most of my life my major has been backstroke, and more recently, sprint free. I am very excited to coach kids of all ages and help them discover the joy of the sport as well as preparing them for JSL Champs!

Jonathan Alexander

ASSISTANT COACH