Natalie Rios
Natalie Rios began her swimming career at the age of 8 when she was enrolled in classes at the Vineland YMCA in New Jersey. It was soon discovered that swimming was a natural talent for her, and she quickly excelled. At the age of 10 her parents signed me up to become a part of the Millville Marlins, which is an age group/USS swim team that was coached by John “Bo” Hanna. She swam for the Marlins for 8 Years.
After she graduated 8th grade, Natalie was accepted to Our Lady of Mercy Academy, a 4 year all girls college prep high school in New Field, New Jersey. During these 4 years, she swam for the high school, under the same coach. Bo realized that she had a strong understanding and comprehension about swimming techniques and asked her, during her sophomore year, to be an assistant coach. She coached the 10 and under group and also worked with all new starting swimmers.
After Natalie graduated High School, she was accepted to Florida Atlantic University. With a quick move, she started a new life in south Florida. After the death of Bo in October of her freshman year of college, she knew she wanted to spread his passions and his message, “Everyone has the Right to Swim.” She quickly found a job in the spring of 2003 at the FAU aquatics center as a lifeguard. The summer of that year, she was an instructor at the Karen Slattery Early Childhood Development Center’s summer swim program. In August 2003, a former A.D. Henderson University school swim teacher, asked Natalie if she would be interested in coaching the after school swimming enrichment program at A.D Henderson.
The after school swim program that Natalie instructed, lead to a full time job, as life guard and swim instructor at A.D. Henderson University School, in August of 2005. From 2006 to 2009, Natalie coached the FAU High School Swim Team and the A.D. Henderson Middle School Swim Team.
Although Natalie has coached and instructed in many swim programs in the past, she believes her greatest accomplishment was when she started the Swimming School of Excellence in December of 2006. The Swimming School of Excellence teaches its students to be confident in and out of the water, to set reasonable goals and accomplish them.
The programs are designed to teach basic water safety, how to swim, proper stroke technique, competitive training, fitness training, and triathlon training for all age groups.
Natalie holds certifications with the American Red Cross as a certified water safety instructor (WSI), a certified lifeguard, and certifications in first-aid and CPR.
Natalie has taken many of her own coach’s philosophies and beliefs and has made them her own. She believes that every infant, child, teen, and adult has the right to swim, to dream, and excel. Natalie’s goal at the Swimming School of Excellence is to help you reach for your dreams, in and out of the water.
Swimming School of Excellence, Inc 