Smoky Hill Sharks

My name is Kevin Baldermann, and I’m excited to be the Head Coach of the Smoky Hill Sharks this summer. I have been coaching swimming for over 30 years and have had the opportunity to work with swimmers at many different levels. Throughout my career I’ve served as the director of a swim lesson program, a CARA swim coach, an MHSL summer league coach, a high school swim coach, and the Head Coach and owner of a USA Swimming team. I’ve always enjoyed helping swimmers develop their skills and confidence in the water, whether they are just getting started or competing at a higher level.

I’m also the parent of two kids who grew up participating in swimming as well as other sports. Being a parent has given me a great perspective on the role youth sports play in helping kids build confidence, friendships, and a lifelong love of being active.

I strongly believe that summer league swimming should have a balance between fun and competition, with a strong emphasis on fun. My goal is to create an environment where swimmers can improve, feel proud of their accomplishments, and enjoy being part of the team.

I’m looking forward to getting to know all of the Smoky Hill Sharks families this season. Please always feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Hi guys I am coach Leo and I am super excited to be going into my 15th season with sharks! This will be my 3rd season as a coach after swimming all the way from 5 years old to my high school graduation.

Outside of sharks I am currently living life out in beautiful San Diego as I am going into my 3rd year as a kinesiology major at San Diego State university. This past year I have also had the fortune to coach a team called pacific swim that has taught me so much that I can’t wait to bring to sharks.

I am so excited for this summer and can’t wait to see the fun and improvement that kids will have in the pool this summer. 

“Hey sharks! My name is Maks and I’ve been a swimmer for almost my entire life. I joined the Sharks family when I was just 8 years old and have been on the team every summer since! I’m currently a Biochemistry Student at CU Boulder on my way to become a Pharmacist someday in the near future. This will be my second season coaching for the team. This summer I want to make sure that every swimmer on the team is connected and feels like they have a second family with the team. I hope to give all swimmers on the team the chance to make friends and memories that they can carry with them for their entire lives, just as I’ve been able to make so many special memories and friends on this team! This summer I really want to focus on helping each swimmer grow to their full potential and become the best swimmer they can be without forgetting to include any opportunity possible to have fun as a team! I greatly look forward to helping this team become a greater one than it has ever been before and making this summer special for everyone in the Sharks family. This is going to be a great season and I’m so excited for what this summer has to offer! GO SHARKS!”

I swam competitively for the Smoky Hill Sharks for 9 years, and I was a Team Captain for two. I swam on the Grandview High School varsity team for three years, and I have continued to compete on the UCCS swim club. The Sharks were the introduction to my swimming career, and I hope that I can give a nice introduction to new swimmers as well! One of my biggest passions is teaching, especially things I love, like swimming! My biggest philosophy for summer swimming is to progress and compete, but also to have fun. This is my first year as an assistant coach, but I have been a board member in several clubs in high school, so I am very confident in my ability to lead groups to success. I look forward to meeting everyone this season!

P.S. I am immunocompromised, so if your child is sick, please do not send them to practice!!

Hey! I'm Vince and I swam competitively for 12 years. I've been coaching this team since 2023 and I can't wait to help the kids again this year! My favorite stroke is freestyle and a fun fact about me is I'm also a water polo player.

Hi! My name is Sophia Smolenski, and I am so thrilled to be coaching for the Smoky Hill Sharks! I’ve been swimming since I was six years old and continued to swim competitively until I graduated high school in 2023. I’m looking forward to passing along my love for the sport and having fun in the pool this summer!

Hi I’m Hayden! I’m so excited for another summer with Sharks! I’ve been swimming on the team for 14 years and just graduated from Grandview High School! This fall I’ll be attending University of Colorado Boulder, and I’m so excited for this next chapter. I’m certified to teach swim lessons for all ages and abilities, and I can’t wait to spend the summer swimming, teaching, and making so many fun memories by the pool!

Hi!! My name is Jolene Pacheco! This will be my 8th year and the Sharks and my 2nd year as a Team Captain! I was Team Manager for the Sharks last year while recovering from a labral repair surgery but I am beyond excited to be back in the water with the Sharks this summer!! I am certified to teach new and experienced swimmers all 4 strokes and have a passion for doing so! My favorite part of coaching Sharks season is watching swimmers of all ages grow not only as swimmers, but as friends, swimmers, teammates, and people!! love getting to share my love of swimming with Sharks families every summer and hope to help swimmers develop their confidence and their own love for this sport!

Hello!

My name is Mikaela, I am a varsity and state swimmer from Grandview Highschool. I have been swimming with the sharks for 12 years. I love swimming it has become such an amazing part of my life and has played a huge role in shaping who I am today. I am so excited to spread my joy and passion for swimming with others. My favorite strokes are backstroke and butterfly, but I also enjoy branching out into freestyle and breaststroke. This will be my 4th year as a team captain and 6th year working with the kids in general! I am so excited to help your kiddos swim. I love doing private lessons and helping your kids make the most out of swimming while also having fun. Let’s make it a fantastic season, and as always Go Sharks!

Hi, My name is Dima Shiling! I have been swimming on this team for 13 years and love this team like a second family! I love swimming freestyle and backstroke and I can’t wait to be back and coaching again!

Hi! I'm Kylee Schenden, and this is my 7th year swimming on the Sharks! Along with that, this is also my 7th year of swimming in general. Smoky Hill Sharks was my introduction to this sport, and I've fallen in love with it since, leading me to now swim on a competitive club and in high school. I love this team's energy and the connection we make every year. From all of the fun on the team, I'm excited to coach this summer because I love watching all of our new swimmers and returning swimmers excelling in this sport and the person they are becoming! Go Sharks!

I have been swimming since I was around 5 years old and I have loved every part of it! I also grew up on a summer swim team, so I am super excited to coach this summer!

Hi! My name is Lila and I'm an a Team Captain for the Smoky Hill Sharks. I am 17 and have been swimming for the team for 12 years. This is my first year as a coach, and I have been a JTC for 3 years before that. I am so excited that I get to help the kids have fun swimming this year and that I have the privilege to watch them grow and mature both as a swimmer and as a person! I love Sharks because my time on the team has helped me with not only my swimming but to grow as a person! I'm so excited for the upcoming season!

My name is Collin Eichelberger, I've been swimming on this team since i was 13 years old and i have fallen in love with the sport because of the sharks. I'm a sophomore in high school, this is my first year as a team captain, and my favorite events are the 200 free, 500 free, and 100 breast. I hope to build and help build friendships while im on this team and help the swimmers have a great time with this team over the summer.

My name is Kire Olofson, and I'm a mechanical engineering student at Colorado School of Mines. I've swam since freshman year of high school, and, historically, my favorite events have been the 200 free, 500 free, and 100 fly. I have two little brothers who also love swimming. Beyond swimming, I'm a motorsports fan, and my dream is to work in NASCAR. I enjoy spending my time playing soccer, sim racing, playing games with my family, and hanging out with my friends. I'm excited for the season, and I can't wait to help swimmers and have fun!