Otters Coaches

Head Coach Dave Cameron

Throughout his career at the YWCA, Dave has worked to transform the Otters Swim Team from a one-season team with a few strong swimmers into a team with depth of talent and diversity in skill. Each year, the team continues to improve with nearly every Otters Team Record broken as swimmers develop their swimming with a strong technique and aerobic focus but balance improvement and fitness with fun and learning.

Dave began his focus on distance freestyle events in high school. As a competitor for Carleton College until his graduation in 1999, he learned to appreciate the importance of form over force in swimming. Under experienced and technical coaching, Dave set three team records, won two individual conference titles, and was a 15-time All-Conference swimmer. Currently, Dave coaches both the YWCA Masters Swim Team and MN Tri-Masters Team and offers private technique instruction in Total Immersion Swimming. As a leader by example, Dave successfully crossed the English Channel twice, first in 2004 and again in 2007 as a part of the YWCA Swim for Change Campaign.

With all of his accomplishments, Dave continues to study swimming as a science. There is always new research to test, new workouts to try, and new techniques to analyze. He attends several coaching clinics each year, and often meets with other coaches to pick their brains or debate new methods and strategies. A fan of constructive criticism, Dave is aware of many ideas and possibilities in the swimming world, and is truly passionate when discussing swimming. After studying under Terry Laughlin, Dave was certified as Minnesota's first Total Immersion Teaching Professional and now brings his swimming knowledge to the YWCA of Minneapolis. Total Immersion has become an integral part in the Otters Team training and is emphasized through drilling and technique development.

Simply put, Dave has his dream job, and is excited about the current Otters program and the direction it is headed in.

Rachel VanScoy - Assistant Head Coach

Rachel began coaching the Otters Swim Team in 2008, and eagerly anticipates each new season. Rachel was a competitive swimmer from age group on up, finishing her competitive swimming career while a student at St Olaf College. As a graduate of one of the best collegiate swim programs in Minnesota, Rachel has a keen eye for the subtle improvements needed for speed, but it is her experience and skill in working with younger swimmers that makes her such a huge asset to our program.

Rachel joined the YWCA in 2007, and has held both Assistant and Coordinator positions for the Uptown YWCA. While she enjoyed both positions immensely, she craved a chance to be more involved with the sport of competitive swimming. Now a certified Total Immersion Instructor and Masters Coach, she works with a wide range of swimmers and triathletes. Rachel is an excellent teacher and eager competitor, and manages the youth team year-round with the desire to cultivate good sportsmanship, discipline, well-being and confidence on and off the pool deck.

Assistant Coaches

Jordan Jelmeland - Otters Coach
Jordan has been involved with the Otters Swim team for over six years both as a competitive swimmer and as a coach. With a strong background as a youth swim lesson instructor and certified Total Immersion Instructor, Jordan has shown dedication as a coach for both the Junior Otters and Otters programs. Her work with the junior and midlevel swimmers in stroke development has fed the Senior Otters program with new talent.

Although Jordan is no longer an "Otter", she has continued to pursue competitive swimming in the MN Masters Swimming league. Jordan was also a member of the YWCA Swim for Change Campaign Masters relay team, who successfully crossed the English Channel in July, 2007.

Peter Voves - Junior Otters Coach
Peter began working with the YWCA as both a lifeguard and coach for the YWCA in 2007, and is now certified as a Total Immersion Instructor as well. He enjoys many different sports and physical activities, and is both a distance runner and swimmer. Peter is a patient and dedicated coach, and he works mainly with swimmers who are new to the sport. He also works as a High School Educational Assistant for the Minneapolis Public Schools. His philosophy in coaching is to cultivate a love and enthusiasm for physical activity in his students and swimmers. Peter also swam for South High School - one of the high school teams the Otters continue to train swimmers for - and is familiar with the competitive climate of high school programs in Minneapolis.