Swim club confirms new top coach
David Pursley, Stingray Swim Club Head Coach
(CNS): Stingray Swim Club has confirmed that David Pursley has been appointed as head coach at the club, “heralding the start of a new and exciting chapter in the history of Stingray Swim Club (SSC)”. Pursley brings a wealth of experience with competitive age group through college level swimmers and has been immersed in swimming since he was born. His father was a US Olympic Team coach and national team director, while his momther was a world class swimmer.
“We were delighted to attract a coach of David’s calibre to come to Stingray,” said Stingray Club President, Amanda Roberts. “His experience with competitive age group and collegiate level swimmers is translating into some exciting new programmes for all our swimmers and, like Coach David, we are all looking forward to seeing what the coming year will bring.”
Pursley said he was looking forward to working with the swimmers at the club. “It is almost three months since I arrived and I have received overwhelming support from both the club and the community. There is great tradition and potential here at Stingray and I am very proud to be a part of it,” he said.
Throughout his career Pursley had the opportunity to swim for six different Olympic team coaches, swimming with significant success in high school and at college with the University of Arizona. In the summers during college he trained with the world renowned Mission Viejo Nadadores and competed in 10k Open water events, placing 5th at the US Open Water national Championships in 2007.
“I love open water swimming,” he said. “My first swim here in Cayman, off the amazing Seven Mile Beach, may well have spoiled me for life when it comes to open water now and I am really looking forward to the Flowers Mile this summer. I hear it is pretty amazing.”
Pursley started his coaching career under former US national team coach Ray Benecki, in Mclean Virginia with FISH swim team. He coached Benecki’s son to best times at the US nationals in his first year with FISH. He then went on to coach in Chapel Hill, NC with North Carolina Aquatic Club (NCAC) and from there went to the University of Alabama. While with NCAC all twelve of Pursley’s 14 and under swimmers qualified to represent the state of NC at the ESSZ Age Group sectionals, and six of his swimmers achieved top 20 nationally ranked age group times.
In his second year at the University of Alabama Coach David achieved 100% best times at the SEC championships and qualified four freshmen for the NCAA championships. Three breaststroke swimmers finished with top eight times in the nation last season and his swimmers contributed to eight new team records at the University of Alabama.
For more information on Stingray Swim visit Stingray Swim Club’s website: www.caymanswimming.com
