Meet The Team
Annie Scott (Babicz)
Owner & Instructor
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Annie grew up swimming for the Sarasota Sharks, where she became one of the best age group swimmers in the country. To this day, she remains the 2nd fastest American swimmer of all time in the 11-12 girls 100 breaststroke and is one of the youngest Olympic Trial Qualifiers ever. She won the Rookie of the Meet award at 1998 National Championships alongside Ryan Lochte, and went on to compete at UC Berkeley where she competed internationally and was Pac 10 Champion and a four time NCAA scorer. ​
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After graduating, Annie went on to coach at the club and college level, while also teaching private lessons to kids and adults of all ages and abilities. Her philosophies stem from her time at Cal, where unconventional training practices led to a more holistic understanding of the water. She is excited to bring a fresh new perspective to the Sarasota swimming scene!
Josh Scott
Owner & Instructor
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Josh joined his first swim team when he was 6 years old, shortly after his family had moved to Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia. While he wasn't a "natural" swimmer at first, he did have a love for the water and a strong desire to improve.
After moving back to the United States, Josh went on to become a top age group and high school swimmer in California, competing in both Junior and Senior Nationals, and earning a swimming scholarship to Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, he was a school record holder and honored by his teammates by being voted both Team Captain and MVP. His athletic pursuits continued after college, where he became a U.S. Masters Swimming National Champion in multiple events.
Josh found his true passion in life as a coach, helping others "understand" the sport he loves so much. He is an American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) Level 4 Coach. He has coached multiple National Record setting relays, a U.S.A. Swimming National Team member, and a Junior National Champion.
Josh is known for making a complex sport "simple" to those he is teaching, and focusing on the RIGHT things that create massive improvement. He believes the only thing a swimmer is limited by is their technique and their heart.
Nicole Mancini
Aquatics Director & Instructor
Swimming has always been an important part of Nicole’s life. At age seven, she joined the YMCA team where she swam competitively for eleven years. But it did not end there! While attending college at Seton Hall University for elementary and special education, Nicole’s mother became the proud owner of a swim school. Together, Nicole and her family ran the swim school and taught lessons for everyone, from infants to adults.
Recently, Nicole and her family moved down to Sarasota from New Jersey. It was not even a question of what she wanted to do when she began looking for jobs. Luckily, she has found SwimSRQ to continue her love of teaching swimming. Her ultimate goal is for every child to learn how to swim.
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Moriah Tuttle
Instructor & certified Swim Whisperer (special needs certification)
Self described teaching style:
Adaptive, creative, balanced
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Hello my name is Moriah and I have been an instructor for two years and counting! Growing up swimming in Florida’s Gulf coast currents made me want to pursue a career that allowed me to swim everyday while making a difference in drowning statistics. I feel so lucky to do what I love!
I am passionate about baby swim, special needs (I am certified in two levels of The Swim Angelfish adaptive aquatics curriculum), individuals with trauma from the water, adults who want to learn to swim, and children who are learning how to swim. I would describe my teaching style as balanced- I am big on establishing safety before learning technique and prefer to maintain the swimmers trust while pushing them to be safe around water. I think instructor/ parent communication is the key to progression and I have found success by providing students with positive affirmations to push past their fears. to teaching kids with special needs .
Kim Hazelton
Instructor
With over 30 years of experience, Kim is an overly qualified premier swim instructor. Back in New Jersey, she is the owner of KimSwims, a family owned and operated swim school where she teaches lessons to people of all ages. Now a snowbird living in Florida, she is ready to get back in the pool and teach more lessons on her time off.
Terri Leap
Instructor
Terri is excited to join the SwimSRQ family after nearly 30 years of coaching with the Sarasota Sharks swim team. During that time, she coached all ages/levels of swimmers from beginner to high school. Alongside her coaching, Terri also worked as a substitute teacher for Sarasota County Schools at the elementary level for 20 years.
Terri loves working with kids of all ages: her strengths are teaching proper technique in all of the strokes. She does so in a positive and encouraging, yet structured class environment.
Kim Calhoon
Instructor
Kim was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She learned to swim as a baby and grew up in the pool when she wasn’t in the dance studio. Kim is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern and street dance and studied with Dance Masters of America and Dance Educators of America. She danced professionally for 15 years and received numerous awards as she toured the US. She later created her own dance company and began to teach children and adults throughout Atlanta. She formed several dance programs throughout the inner city to serve at- risk youth and give them an outlet during after school hours. Seeing the enormous needs, she volunteered in several youth shelters as a certified counselor.
Kim moved to Sarasota in 1997 with her two adopted boys and got immediately in the water and continued counseling in local youth shelters. She fell in love with open water swimming in the Gulf and it also helped with the several injuries she sustained from dance.
Kim has always been a believer in doing whatever you are passionate about in your life. This entrepreneurial spirit, which she accredits to her mom, has created a space for her to live her life to the fullest. So, after arriving in Sarasota, she began studying art at Ringling and currently paints and has a gallery and studio in Nokomis. Having applied stage makeup for years for her and her dance teams’ performances, she re-discovered the art and became a professional makeup artist 17 years ago. She specializes in television, theater, and bridal and has worked for the Sarasota Opera’s wigs and makeup department and youth camp for 6 seasons.
Kim was diagnosed with Lupus several years ago and decided to focus more on swimming which has been very healing to her joints. In 2017 she decided, with her love of the water and natural ability to teach, to get certified as a swim instructor. She became certified with Swim America and has been teaching ever since. Many of her students have advanced to swim team with Tsunami, including her 7-year-old granddaughter. “Swimming has given so much to me my whole life and I want to share my love for the sport with as many as I can.” She believes that teaching swimming not only saves lives but teaches a valuable lifelong recreational sport and aids in physical healing as she has experienced so greatly.
Jenn Hart
Instructor
Jenn began swimming competitively at 8 years old in North Carolina. During her age group years and throughout high school, she had the opportunity to represent North Carolina at the National Junior Olympics, compete at the Senior National Level, and swim in the Olympic Trials. Following high school, she was a Gator student-athlete at the University of Florida.
Since graduating from the University of Florida, she has continuously taught swimming lessons and coached. While living in Jamaica for several years, Jenn established and coached the Negril Waverunners Swim Team. Jenn returned to the United States and settled in Sarasota with her son and daughter. For many years, she taught swimming lessons for the Sarasota Family YMCA and coached age group swimmers for the Sarasota Sharks. During this time, her two children swam for the Sarasota Sharks, competed internationally for Jamaica, and swam for their respective universities.
Her passion is teaching swimming technique and showing young children the joy in mastering new skills in the water.
Nicole Buckley
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
Empathetic, engaged, adaptive and disciplined.
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My first swimming memory was at age 4, jumping off a 10 meter platform while my father stood on the pool deck.
My second was of failing my first formal swim lesson at age 8. The solution, according to my instructor, to this lack of endurance and ability was to join a competitive swim team.
I have never looked back.
Swimming has saved me more than once in life; not only can it create a life long sport, it forms character, provides skills of teaching and understanding of others.
My high school years were of swimming endless laps in a pool, traveling to swim meets each weekend, lifeguarding, and teaching swimming lessons to children.
I became a RN and chose pediatrics as my specialty. While working over 20 years in acute care, I raised 2 beautiful girls, who of course swam before they could walk and each competed in swimming. During these years, I volunteered pool side with lessons and endless swim parent responsibilities.
Fast forward to 10 years ago, where I had a multitude of health issues and needed to make personal changes to become well. Where better than in swimming, aquajogging, and aqua aerobics?
8 years ago I was challenged to try open water swimming. The sea became a healing place. I began a routine of swimming sunrise at Siesta 4-5 times a week and have continued to do that since. Our sunrise group and social media has grown tremendously since that time. Beginning from a group of 10 to over 800 members from around the world. Because I know how powerful swimming is I try to include and encourage all to join us, watching the sun rise and the dolphin call, all while swimming the beautiful sea.
Anna Zegaldo
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
Empathetic, engaged, adaptive and disciplined.
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Anna joined SwimSRQ in summer 2023 after moving from Chicago, Illinois, and is enjoying the sunny weather here in Florida. She started swimming when she was three years old and fell in love with the water then. She swam her whole life until college where she pursued her degree in law enforcement and justice management.
Her reason for teaching swimming is because she enjoys seeing the progress that her students make. She also loves working with adults, especially those who are learning to swim for the first time later in their life. She believes that swimming is the most beneficial form of a workout, not just for the body but also the mind. She is quoted saying, "I believe that anyone, at any age. is capable of learning how to swim and learning to love the sport of swimming..
Marko Dzigurski
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
Hard working, Insightful, and Passionate
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Marko comes to us from Serbia. He started playing water polo at the pool where the camp is being held.
After playing in his home water polo club "Becej", he transferred to "Rabotnicki Skoplje" with whom he played in the Champions League. Marko is a graduate of St.Francis College in New York City where he continued his water polo career as an adult. While there, he was a member of the most successful team in college history winning three CWPA East Titles and playing in the NCAA Final Four three times, capturing 3rd place.
He began coaching water polo for the St. Francis Youth Club Team and the Woman's College team as an Assistant Coach while in college.
Marko also runs our Water Polo program.
Estella Hornback
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
Adaptive, patient, engaging
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Hi, I’m Estella, a dedicated swim instructor based right here in Sarasota, Florida—where I was born and raised! I’ve had a lifelong love of the water, learning to swim before I was even a year old.
Growing up, I swam competitively with the Lakewood Ranch Lightning, and ever since, being in or around the water has always felt like home.
From boating and swimming to spending long days at the beach, water activities have always been a huge part of my life. I’ve also spent the last 12 years babysitting and teaching kids the basics of swim safety, which naturally led me to pursue a job doing what I truly love—helping children become confident, capable swimmers.
Hannah Pugh
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
supportive, patient, and engaging
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Hi, my name is Hannah Pugh and I am originally from Kansas City, Kansas. I’ve lived down here in Florida for 5 years now. In Kansas I was a competitive swimmer for 10 years and qualified for state swimming all four years of high school. Then after that, I went to college at the University of Arkansas and taught swim lessons there and also coached swim team in the summer.
I moved down to Florida post college and work full time at the hospital and teach swim lessons on the side. The pool and ocean are my happy place. I love being able to share my passion for swimming and love making the kids feel comfortable in the water.
Lauren Pugh
Instructor
Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm currently a 2nd grade teacher teaching swim lessons during our school breaks! I began swimming at the age of 6 and went on to compete as a state varsity swimmer throughout all four years of high school. My passion for the sport continued after high school where I spent my summers teaching private lessons in my neighborhood, lifeguarded at the nearby pool, and coached the local swim team.
With a strong foundation in competitive swimming, I strive to create a supportive and effective learning environment in the water. My teaching styles is patient, encouraging and technique-focused on water safety!
Edie Sullivan
Instructor
​Hi, I’m Edyta (go by Edie if easier).
I have 28 yrs of experience in Physical Therapy and strong understanding of child development and motor skills. Personally I love and practice swimming and Yoga on regular basis. I have worked closely with individuals of all ages and I’ve special passion for working with small children. I am very familiar with methods used in teaching toddlers how to swim and be safe in the water. My professional background in therapy ensures I approach each child with attentiveness to their abilities and safety, while still making the learning process fun.
Katelynn Coons
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
supportive, adaptable, and positive
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Hi, I’m Katelynn! I’ve been in the water for as long as I can remember—starting to swim competitively at age five and going on to compete for 12 years. Swimming has played a major role in my life, and for the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of passing that experience on through teaching. I’ve worked with swimmers of all ages and skill levels, helping each person grow more confident and capable in the water. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your technique, I focus on building trust, improving form, and making each lesson both enjoyable and effective. My goal is to create a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment where swimmers can learn at their own pace and feel proud of their progress.
Ava Corrigan
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
Encouraging, Patient, Energetic
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​Hi I’m Ava! I’ve been swimming since I was 3 years old and swam competitively for 7 years. While living on Long Island, I also trained for 3 years with a competitive ocean lifeguarding team. Swimming has always been my passion and I love anything to do with the water. With over 4 years of experience teaching swim lessons, I’ve worked with a wide range of ages and skill levels—from first-time swimmers to advancing stroke development and technique. My goal is to help each swimmer build confidence, technique, and a lifelong love for the water!
Galal Shokeir
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
Energetic • Creative • Uplifting
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I have over 10 years of swimming experience and 2 years of teaching, and I bring a big voice and even bigger energy to every lesson. I’ll admit it—I’m pretty loud, but that’s because I love to keep things fun, exciting, and full of laughter. I’m known for singing while I teach, cracking jokes mid-backstroke, and making sure every swimmer feels confident and supported (and maybe a little entertained too).Whether it’s a nervous beginner or a splash-happy pro, I turn swim lessons into a hilarious, memorable experience. Learning should be fun, fearless, and maybe a little bit silly—and I’m here to make sure of that. If you hear someone belting out songs while teaching butterfly, that’s probably me. Get ready to laugh, learn, and swim like a champ!
Kim Rohm
Instructor
Self described teaching style:
Engaged, Adaptive, Passionate
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Growing up in Michigan, I spent much of my time in and around water. Swimming, sailing,
boating and waterskiing were common family activities. I also swam competitively for the local
YMCA, high school at the state level and at Oakland University. During high school and
college, I was a certified life guard and swimming instructor at the YMCA. Retirement brought
me to Sarasota in 2018. About a year ago, a friend invited me to swim in the Gulf with a group
that meets on Siesta Key Beach. I was hooked and do open water swimming 3 times a week
with these amazing swimmers. I am also a Masters swimmer with the Sarasota Sharks. It was
through the open water group that I was introduced to SwimSRQ and became an instructor.
My teaching style is water safety first and then building strong stroke techniques with the
ultimate goal of making swimming fun and a life long passion.