Johanna Slaysman

Age Group Coach - Johanna Slaysman

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Johanna Slaysman started swimming when she was 15 on the home school team for Grand Prairie Aquatic Club. (now S.W.A.T.) She continued on swimming even after the home school team was dissolved. For a while, she had the distinction of being the ONLY 15 and over swimmer on GPAC. She then swam, on scholarship, for John Brown University in Arkansas. She swam backstroke and the 100 freestyle. She was a 3 time All Conference Scholar Athlete. She wants everyone to know that swimming in college is the best and totally worth the early mornings and limited social life.

After graduating college with a degree in History, Johanna moved to Oklahoma City and started coaching for Kerr McGee Swim Club, the largest swim club in Oklahoma. Kerr McGee has been the State Champion the last 11 years and running. She was in charge of the age group program at one of their 3 sites. She coached the whole range from state record holders on down to the newest swimmer. She was also involved in the creation and coaching of a home school swim team. Under her instruction, the team grew from 15 to 30 strong at the time she left. Johanna joined ATAC at the end of March in 2002. She works primarily with the Future Champs, White and Blue Groups.

She has been teaching swimming since she was 17. She started at the South Grand Prairie YMCA. Johanna has learned a lot from the many different coaching styles she has been around. She likes to coach with three things in mind: good technique, persistence, and a positive attitude. She tries to pass these on to her kids. The only way to get good swimming is to learn to do it right, stick with it even when it's hard, and to have fun swimming no matter how old you are. She has found much success following that strategy even in her own swimming. The more she enjoyed swimming the harder she worked.

When she isn't coaching, she enjoys writing, reading (especially about history), and playing piano.