Karen Bisnett

karen@swimbayside.com

Head Coach

Marist College, BS Psychology/ Special Education

Loyola University, MEd Special Education

Coach Karen started swimming in Salisbury, Maryland when she was 5 years old. During her high school years, she swam for the Three Village Swim Club on Long Island, New York. She continued her swimming career as a member of the NCAA Division I Marist College swim team from 2002-2006. During her time at Marist, the women’s team was MAAC Conference Champions from 2004-2006 and ECAC Champions in 2006. She was an individual MAAC Champion in the 200 backstroke and a member of multiple winning MAAC and ECAC relay teams. She was also a school record holder in the 200 Backstroke, 800 Freestyle Relay, and 400 Medley Relay. Coach Karen began her coaching career in college as an assistant coach for Marist Swim Club. After college, she moved to Hawaii to start her teaching career. While in Hawaii, she was a coach for Pearl Harbor Aquatics as well as Radford High School. Coach Karen moved back to Maryland in 2008 and took some time off of coaching to focus on getting her masters degree in Special Education and starting a family. She started coaching again for Meade High School in 2013 and has been the head coach since 2015. She also coached for Annapolis Swim Club before starting Bayside Aquatics.

Coach Karen is married and has two kids who are members of Bayside Aquatics. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with her family and two dogs. She also enjoys open water swimming and has completed the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim three times.

Coach Mary Fleckenstein

Mary began her swimming career in Poughkeepsie, NY while growing up as an age group swimmer. She has not looked back.

Mary coached for various clubs in Maryland and New York for over 30 years before retiring from full time coaching in 2020. She has been a swimming administrator for over 20 years, serving in various positions on the Maryland and Metro LSC boards. Most recently, Mary was the Administrative Manager for Metro running the day-to-day operations for the LSC. She is also the Secretary/Treasurer for the Eastern Zone.

Mary also owned her own Masters Swimming Club. Due to her dedication, Mary has been awarded the Eastern Zone Volunteer Service

Award and named a USA Swimming Life Member for her work in the swimming community.

She recently moved back to Maryland to be closer to her grandkids and help Coach Karen with Bayside Aquatics. She still keeps ties in NY doing administrative work for Condors Swimming.

Coach Karla

Discovery Coach

Coach Karla grew up in Michigan and started swimming competitively when she was seven. She swam for Anne Arbor Swim Club and also Wolverine Aquatics and competed at several state and national-level meets. Her favorite event is the 400 IM, and she currently coaches the 5–11-year-olds at Bayside Aquatics. Coach Karla has a passion for helping young swimmers develop their stroke technique while building sportsmanship. 

This year will be Emily’s third season coaching for Bayside Aquatics Club.  Emily grew up swimming with her six brothers at Belair Bath and Tennis (BBT) and Bowie Aquatic Club.  She spends her summers running the swim lesson program at BBT and just finished her eighth season as the head coach of the BBT Dolphins.  Swimming is a challenging sport which develops self confidence, self discipline, sportsmanship, and character in its athletes.  Watching young people grow in such ways through the sport of swimming is a joy to Emily!

Kyle Chaney is a swim coach and former collegiate swimmer from Compton, California. With over three years of coaching experience and more than 11 years as a competitive swimmer, Kyle competed at both the NCAA Division II and Division III levels and has experience in both pool and open-water swimming.

His journey in the sport has shaped his passion for developing swimmers both in and out of the pool. Kyle believes in teaching strong fundamentals, building confidence through hard work, and creating an environment where athletes are challenged to grow while enjoying the process. His coaching philosophy emphasizes discipline, accountability, and teamwork, with the goal of helping every swimmer reach their full potential, regardless of experience or ability. 

Hi! I'm Coach Willa! Swimming has become a big part of my life within the last 12 yrs. What started out as a challenge between sisters has ended up being a love for the sport. Although I learned to swim as a toddler I learned proper technique as an adult. I have since completed numerous triathlons and swim races. 

My swim coaching career started in 2021 with Crossing Current. This year will be my second year coaching with Bayside. One of my absolute favorite things about coaching is seeing the children progress. Fun Fact - I played flag football in college.  

Gabi Trainor brings a wealth of experience to the pool deck, having coached swimmers at every level—from summer league beginners to NCAA Division I champions, and has had the privilege of working with multiple international Olympians throughout her career. Her background includes leading high school and club programs, where she coached athletes to individual Maryland State, NCSA, and METROS victories, as well as multiple collegiate programs. She helped lead the George Washington University men’s and women’s teams to sweep the 2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship titles.

Gabi is deeply committed to developing swimmers of all ages and abilities. She achieved a milestone at Rockville Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC) when she became only the second female ever to lead an Advanced Senior invitation-only program. Her coaching philosophy, “coach the person, then the swimmer,” shapes her approach to athlete development, fostering not only technical excellence but also confidence, leadership, and resilience in and out of the water.

Known for building strong team culture, Gabi is passionate about creating an environment where athletes support one another and strive for their best. She values relationships as much as results, believing that every swimmer’s journey is unique and worth celebrating.

John Mason

john.mason@swimbayside.com

Coach, Age Group

John Mason's journey through the world of swimming began over six decades ago when he first dipped his toes into competitive waters. From his early days as a varsity swimmer at Michigan State University, where he earned his varsity letter, to conquering the challenging Great Chesapeake Bay Swim an impressive 15 times without the aid of a wetsuit, John's dedication to the sport has never wavered.

Transitioning from athlete to coach, John has left an indelible mark on the swimming community through his extensive coaching experience spanning over four decades. As Head Coach of various esteemed swim clubs, including the Pointer Ridge Swim & Racquet Club and the Central Chesapeake Swim Club, John has honed his craft, nurturing countless young talents to reach their full potential in the water.

John's coaching journey has taken him across the United States. Coach John was the head coach St. Petersburg Aquatics (78-84) and the Assistant Senior Coach for Mission Viejo Nadadores (76-78). His expertise and leadership have not only shaped individual swimmers but have also contributed significantly to the broader swimming community. Serving on the Board of Directors of the American Swim Coaches Association and various United States Swimming Committees, John has been at the forefront of shaping the future of competitive swimming.

His passion for the sport has transcended national borders, as evidenced by his role as Head Manager for the 1992 National Junior Team in Paris, France, and his involvement in the 1990 Goodwill Games. Whether mentoring young swimmers at the grassroots level or managing national teams on the international stage, John's commitment to excellence and sportsmanship remains unwavering.

Coach John is currently working with the Age Group programs with Bayside Aquatics, continuing to inspire the next generation of swimmers on our team.

Coach Ryan started swimming in Niagara Falls, NY, when he was 8 years old. During his youth, he swam for the Niagara Falls YMCA and LaSalle High School in Niagara Falls. From 1990–1994, he continued his swimming career as a member of the NCAA Division I Niagara University swim team. During his time at Niagara, the men’s team won the first MAAC Conference Championship in school history. He was also the conference champion in the 100 freestyle and multiple relays. Ryan was the school record holder in the 100 free, 400 IM, 200 fly, 200/400 medley relays, and the 200/400/800 freestyle relays.

Coach Ryan began his coaching career in college as an assistant coach for Niagara University. After college, he accepted the Niagara Falls head coach position. In three years at Niagara Falls High School, he coached the only three state qualifiers in school history. Coach Ryan started coaching again for Bayside as a coach starting in October 2022. He is a stroke and turn judge in the summer for the Crofton Village Swim Team. Coach Ryan also swims for the Maryland Masters in Severna Park, where he owns two records for the 50+ age group.

Coach Ryan is married and has four kids. All but one of them are members of Bayside Aquatics. In his free time, he enjoys going to the pool himself to just relax and going on vacations around the world with his wife. His favorite destination has been Ireland.

Coach Jeremy has been coaching swim for 5 years and has been with Bayside for the last 4 seasons. Growing up, he swam competitively for 13 years on a summer swim team, including competing at the county and state championship level in high school. He desires to lead by example and by serving others. He got back into training 5 years ago and started competing again last season under the us masters swimming. He is grateful for movement and progression seeing it as a gift.

In the last 5 years his fascination for understanding how to become more efficient with technique and movement through the water has continually grown. A part of his swimming philosophy is: [ efficiency > effort = efficient effort ]. Once you find balance in the water, then adding tempo is the easy part. He finds joy in teaching others and witnessing their progression. He believes creating an environment where athletes want to come serves as a significant role in their development.

For the past 3 seasons He has been the Lead Coach of Age Group 1 & 2. He instills a tough, “embrace discomfort” work ethic mixed with plenty of laughter and organic moments shared with the swimmers. Coach Jeremy brings unmatched enthusiasm and genuine care for the athletes. His heart as a coach is to encourage, equip, and empower the athletes to pursue their potential - in and out of the water. One of his favorite things about coaching is when a swimmer has “it clicked” moment or seeing them accomplish something they didn’t think they could achieve.

Coach Jeremy will be the Lead Coach of Senior 2 and Age Group 1 this season. He is excited to get the season underway to be a light and a support in the development of the swimmers! 

Greetings! My name is John Alexander but I go by Coach A. This will be my third season coaching for Bayside and I couldn’t be more excited! In addition to my upcoming third year of coaching I swam competitively for 10 years, taught private swim lessons for 6 years, and recently returned to competing. Therefore, I am training for and racing some of the same events our Bayside swimmers are!

Off the pool deck, I am a first year graduate student majoring in Wildlife Biology and conservation. I enjoy spending time with my friends and I love traveling and being outdoors. 

Looking forward to meeting and working with everyone this season!

Craig Meledick serves as the Head Coach of the Elizabeth Seton High School Swim Team and as President of the Prince-Mont Swim League (PMSL). With decades of experience as a swimmer, coach, official, and league administrator, he has dedicated his career to developing student-athletes, mentoring coaches, and strengthening competitive swimming throughout the region.

As Head Coach at Elizabeth Seton, Craig has guided the program to continued success by fostering a culture of hard work, teamwork, accountability, and personal growth. His coaching philosophy emphasizes developing well-rounded athletes who strive for excellence both in and out of the pool. As President of the Prince-Mont Swim League, he works closely with league volunteers, coaches, officials, and team representatives to promote fair competition, athlete safety, and opportunities for swimmers of all ages to enjoy the sport.

Craig remains actively involved in the swimming community beyond his leadership roles, continuing to compete in an adult summer swim league. His lifelong passion for swimming, combined with his commitment to service and leadership, reflects his belief that the sport builds confidence, character, and lasting relationships that extend far beyond competition.

This coach is awesome!

Coach Luke has been coaching for 4 years and this is his first year coaching for Bayside!

His favorite part of coaching is seeing an athlete’s happiness when they improve and have fun. Their joy inspires him to become the best version of himself while helping them grow.

Coach Luke swam for Annapolis Swim Club for 7 years, and for Walden summer swim team for 13 years.

A fun fact about him is he runs a sub 4:50 mile. He is excited to bring his knowledge, experience, and ability to connect with others to the Bayside family!