MEET YOUR COACHES
WHAT MAKES A WRASA COACH?
WRASA takes tremendous pride in our coaching staff. We believe we have cultivated one of the strongest and most dedicated coaching teams in BC Summer Swimming.
We can back up this bold claim because our coaches are also top competitors in swimming and other sports as well. They know how to coach because they know how to compete!
As you might have guessed, it's not easy to be selected as a WRASA coach.
In addition to being outstanding athletes, every WRASA coach brings their own impressive set of credentials. They are certified through NCCP National Coaching levels, water safety instruction, first aid and life-saving training. They've also distinguished themselves inside WRASA (such as the Senior Leadership program) or have been selected for their exceptional technical skill from many outside applicants.
Many WRASA coaches begin as WRASA swimmers and spend a few years in the WRASA Senior Leader Program learning to the basics of coaching, organizing and leading.
So, now, let's meet them!
MEET THE WRASA COACHES 2022!
Katherine Toy
Head Coach
Hey Killer Guppies!
I’m beyond excited to be back for another season as your Head Coach! I started swimming with WRASA when I was 6 and I fell in love with the sport ever since. I also swam with PSW for three years before competing on McMaster’s varsity swim team. This summer will be my 17th season racing with WRASA and 6th season as a coach. Outside of swimming, I enjoy playing other sports, sunset watching, and spending time with friends and family.
This summer, I hope to continue fostering a WRASA community that values friendship, hard work while having fun, commitment to excellence as an athlete and person, and a passion for giving back to the club. I am looking forward to sharing my love and knowledge of swimming with all of you!
See you at Sunnyside!
Raymond Liu
Assistant Head Coach | SLP Coordinator
Hey WRASA!
I am very excited to be back as the Assistant Head Coach for the upcoming summer season! This summer will be my tenth season at the club, and my fifth season coaching this club.
Swimming has given me an opportunity to meet so many people and create amazing friendships. I have learned so much from my coaches growing up and I am eager to share my knowledge of swimming to all the Guppies!
When I am not at the pool, I enjoy playing soccer, listening to music, and sunset watching! Some of you may or may not know this, but I can also speak Mandarin! I am very excited to see everyone in the summer!
Go Guppies!
Ellie Choong
SLP Coordinator
Hey WRASA!
I am so excited to be a part of the coaching staff for the 2022 summer season!
My experience includes being in the club for 9 years (since 2013), volunteering as a Senior Leader for 3 years, and coaching Winter Training coach this past fall/winter. This will be my second year as a summer coach and I had so much fun coaching last season! I am currently in Grade 11 at Southridge School.
For this season, I look forward to helping swimmers reach their personal fitness and swimming goals as well engage in the social aspect of summer swimming because this was always my favourite part.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends. learning new things, and listening to music. A few other sports that I enjoy are snowboarding and volleyball, but swimming is my absolute favourite and I hope to share my passion with everyone!
See you at Sunnyside!
Georgia Muir
Hey WRASA!
I am thrilled to be returning for the upcoming summer season! I've been a part of WRASA since 2009. My coaching experience includes three years with WRASA's Winter Training program, one year with the Pacific Sea Wolves, one summer with WRASA, and considerable volunteer work with WRASA's Senior Leadership Program and the Special Olympics swim team.
Swimming has allowed me to meet so many fantastic role models and form lifelong friendships. I have learned so much from my own coaches growing up and fellow coaches along the way. I'm beyond excited to share my knowledge and love of swimming with the Killer Guppies! When I am not coaching, you may still find me at the pool lifeguarding and teaching lessons!
See you at Sunnyside!
Marcus Liang
Hello WRASA,
I am extremely excited to be coaching another season! This season will be my second year as a group coach (but seventh year in WRASA) and I am very optimistic of this season - filled with fast racing and fun!
Swimming has given me the opportunity to push myself physically and mentally all while making new friends and memories with other fellow swimmers. I am looking forward to helping all swimmers along their swimming journey and trying my best to pass on my knowledge of competitive swimming!
Outside of swimming I enjoy exercising, listening to music, and spending time outside. I love science and I am currently a university student at UBC.
I hope to see all of you guys this summer! Let's have a great season! (YAY!)
Gladys Liang
Hi WRASA!
I am very excited for this upcoming season! This year will be my eighth season with the club and my second year as a coach. My love for swimming started when I was around 8 years old, as a swimmer with the Pacific Sea Wolves, and this sport has become such a big part of my life.
I currently attend Semiahmoo Secondary School and will be going into the 12th grade in September as a second-year International Baccalaureate student. I have volunteered with the Special Olympics program in Surrey, and have worked hard to garner experience as a coach through the WRASA Senior Leadership Program, which I was a part of for three years. I just finished up my third year as a Winter Training coach, and I look forward to this upcoming summer season. I have made so many great memories as a WRASA swimmer, and I hope to continue to make more as a WRASA coach.
Not only has swimming given me so many amazing experiences, but it has also built a great platform for me to branch out into other sports, such as volleyball and basketball. When I’m not playing sports, I can be found reading a book or listening to music. I speak Mandarin too, so feel free to talk to me in English or Mandarin!
I look forward to seeing familiar faces, and some new ones as well. See you at the pool!
Alan Deng
Hello WRASA,
I am incredibly excited about the upcoming summer season! This will be my 2nd season as a WRASA coach and my 12th year in the club. I have volunteered extensively with WRASA’s Winter Training program as well as Special Olympics.
In addition to swimming at WRASA, I play water polo with FVWP! I have loved swimming throughout my life, and summer swimming has always been a huge part of my life since I have been six years old.
I am currently attending the IB program at Semiahmoo Secondary and will be in Grade 12 in the coming year. In addition to swimming, I also love playing many other sports, including water polo, hockey, and basketball. During this upcoming season, my goals will be to nurture a warm and hard-working environment to the club and my swimmers.
I am looking forward to meeting you all soon!
Jaya Burns
Hey WRASA!
I am beyond excited to be starting the 2022 summer season! I have been with the club since 2015 and was apart of the Senior Leadership Program for the past 3 years. This will be my second season coaching! I am currently finishing my first year of university in the program Kinesiology at University of Calgary, and I hope to pursue medicine in the future.
Some of my hobbies include baking, rowing on the UofC varsity team, and traveling everywhere. When I am outside the pool, I am spending time with friends and family or trying something new.
For this season, I really want to focus on the aspect of fun being incorporated in not just practices but the overall season. This season will bring many new experiences and I am excited to get this season started!
See you at Sunnyside!
Jorja Olver
Hi everyone!
I am so excited for my first season as a summer coach at WRASA! I started my swimming career with WRASA in 2013, and have been in love with the sport since. Along with competing for WRASA, I’ve also swam for PSW during the winter seasons. I have been a part of the Senior Leadership Program for 3 years and coached during this Winter Training season as well.
I can’t wait to see my athletes learn and grow throughout this season and meet all their goals. My goal for this season is for all my swimmers to develop a positive relationship with racing, and of course, have fun while doing it! I hope to see others form wonderful memories like the ones I made with my past teammates and coaches!
Right now I am finishing up Grade 11 in the International Baccalaureate program at Semiahmoo Secondary. I hope to graduate and pursue health sciences in the future. During my free time, you can find me listening to music or watching horror movies. I’m a huge adrenaline junkie and love trying thrilling experiences.
See you at the pool!
Sunny Yang
Hey WRASA!
I am super excited to join the coaching staff for the 2022 summer season! This year is my first as a WRASA coach and my eighth apart of the club! I started swimming competitively when I was 9; initially with PSW, before joining WRASA in 2014.
I am also heavily involved with the leadership aspect of the sport, as I have been a Senior Leader for the past four years and am currently the captain of my school’s swim team. As a large part of my life, swimming has helped me to grow as an individual and has created lifelong relationships that I greatly cherish.
As a coach, my goal is to help swimmers develop a love for the sport by creating a fun environment with an emphasis on hard work and dedication. I am currently finishing my Grade 11 year at Southridge School. Outside of swimming, I enjoy playing basketball and listening to music. I am also fluent in Mandarin and French.
See you in the water!
Elvis Wang
Hello WRASA!
I am more than excited to join all of you for the upcoming season. I’ve been a swimmer with WRASA since 2014, a Senior Leader since 2019, and a Winter Coach since 2021. In addition, I swam for PSW for two years between 2017 and 2019.
I love this sport and everything about it and can’t wait to share my experiences. I am currently in Grade 12 at Semiahmoo secondary and will be pursuing postsecondary education in physics in the fall. Outside of school, I enjoy writing, playing the guitar and drinking too much coffee.
This season I’m hoping to make the best summer possible for all new and returning swimmers, by fostering a sense of community. I hope to help swimmers in a personalized and individual way as every swimmer has their own unique strengths.
See you on deck!