Head Coach

Email: nfolker@gulliverprep.org

Nick Folker is the Aquatic Director and Head Coach of the Gulliver Swim Club, bringing decades of elite experience as both an Olympic athlete and world-class performance coach.

A native of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Nick was a standout sprint freestyler who represented his country at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and earned multiple international medals, including podium finishes at the Universiade and All-Africa Games. He swam collegiately at the University of Hawaii, where he became a 12-time All-American.

After retiring from competition, Nick transitioned into coaching and performance development. At the University of California, Berkeley, he served as Director of Aquatic Performance, helping guide the Golden Bears to seven NCAA national championships and working with 35 Olympians, including 22 Olympic medalists.

Nick went on to co-found BridgeAthletic, a training technology company, where he designed elite dryland programs used by professional and collegiate teams worldwide. He later returned to his alma mater as an Assistant Coach for the University of Hawaii Swimming & Diving program before moving to Miami to lead the Gulliver Aquatics programs.

Today, as Aquatic Director and Head Coach of Gulliver Swim Club, Nick combines his Olympic background, coaching expertise, and commitment to excellence to inspire the next generation of swimmers. Under his leadership, Gulliver athletes are trained not only to compete at the highest levels of the sport but also to develop discipline, resilience, and a lifelong love for swimming.

Senior Coach

Email: cvanisschot@gulliverprep.org 

Raised in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, Carlos discovered a passion for swimming at the age of 3 and began competing locally by the age of 7. Growing up, he trained at Club Natación Metropole, where he laid the foundation for a successful swimming career. As a standout young athlete, Carlos became a member of the Spanish Junior National Team, representing Spain in several prestigious international competitions. These included the 6 Nations Cup in Hungary (2003), The International Islands Games Competition in Azores (2003) where all the archipelago around the world compete every 2 years, the Mare Nostrum in Barcelona (2005), and the Junior European Championship in Hungary (2005), where he helped secure a 4th place finish in the 400 free relay. Throughout his youth, Carlos dominated on both junior and senior levels as a multiple-time National Spanish Champion in several sprint events, earning recognition as one of the top most promising talents.

Pursuing both academic and athletic excellence, Carlos moved to the United States to compete for the University of Louisville Swimming and Diving Team. As a 4-year member, he established as a key contributor, earning the prestigious title of 9-time All-American in NCAA Division I, placing among the top 16 finishers in the country in both individual and relay events. As team captain, Carlos led the team to a historic first-ever Big East Conference title in 2010. He graduated in 2011 with a Business Degree in Management and Sports Management. In addition to this, Carlos twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials (2008 and 2012).

Transitioning from athlete to mentor, Carlos began a coaching career while still competing, serving as a coach at the Louisville Summer Camp (2008–2011), where the primary focus was on developing technique among the younger generation. Later, he continued coaching as a Graduate Assistant at Nova Southeastern University (2016–2017), specializing in backstrokers and sprinters while also earning an MBA in Finance. In the 2023–2024 season, Carlos took on a coaching role with the 11 & Under group at Ransom Everglades, where he significantly impacted the development of young athletes to a competitive level, fostering essential skills and techniques while instilling a passion for the sport. At the start of the new season, he was allowed to expand his coaching role with the next advanced group, allowing him to develop his athletes' skills further and guide them toward higher levels of competition.

In November 2024, he took on a new challenge as the Aquatic Director Assistant at Gulliver Prep School, continuing to combine leadership skills with a passion for swimming and mentorship.

Professionally, Carlos has built a successful career as a Business Development Manager, working with multiple international companies from 2017 to 2024. His primary focus was on the LATAM market, where he played a key role in driving growth and expanding business opportunities through strategic partnerships and market analysis.

With a unique blend of athletic, coaching, and professional experience, Carlos continues to inspire and support the next generation of swimmers by emphasizing the importance of striving for high-level performance while having fun. His leadership and enthusiasm within the aquatic community foster a positive and motivating environment, encouraging young athletes to reach their full potential.

Masters Coach

Email: coachmikegrsc@gmail.com

Mike LaMonica is the Masters Coach at Gulliver Swim Club, where he leads and inspires adult swimmers through his extensive experience as both a coach and a decorated Masters athlete.

A celebrated competitor, Mike is a 2× National Age Group Record Holder in the 100m Butterfly and 200y Butterfly and has earned recognition as a 23-time Masters All-American. He currently holds three U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) individual pool records (seven lifetime) and has achieved numerous Top Ten finishes both individually and in relays.

In 2016, he was certified as a USMS Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor, further expanding his impact in the swimming community.

Before joining Gulliver, Mike spent five years coaching at the Badger Swim Club in New York, where he taught more than 500 children annually, and later provided private lessons and personal training for swimmers ages 2–62. His reputation as both a coach and athlete is built on discipline, consistency, and passion—traits reflected in his own training, often completed before sunrise.

At Gulliver, Mike combines his coaching expertise and competitive background to create a positive, challenging, and rewarding environment for Masters swimmers of all levels.

This coach is awesome!

Head Age Group Coach

Email: ypaskas@gulliverprep.org

Yekaterina (Katya) Paskas was born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the oldest of five children in the Gakhokidze family. She began swimming at the age of four and went on to represent the Kazakh National Swimming Team, competing internationally as a sprint specialist in the 50/100 Freestyle, 50/100 Backstroke, and 50/100 Butterfly, as well as Open Water events. Throughout her career, she earned numerous medals at the Asian Swimming Championships, Indoor Asian Games, and European Grand Prix.

Katya graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Physiology/Coaching from Kazakh National University. Before moving to the U.S., she worked at World Class Almaty as an aqua instructor and private coach, teaching swimmers of all ages and abilities—including special needs athletes—and creating innovative aqua aerobics programs such as prenatal aqua.

In 2015, Katya came to the United States as a Division II student-athlete at the University of Bridgeport, where she captained the women’s swim team and excelled both in and out of the pool. She earned an Academic Merit Scholarship, made the Dean’s and President’s Lists, and was recognized as an NCAA Division II Scholar All-American and two-time East Coast Conference Champion. She graduated in 2017 with a degree in Mass Communication (Advertising).

Katya began her coaching career in the U.S. with the Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club, where she spent four years coaching age group, masters, and senior swimmers. During that time, she helped athletes qualify for Junior Nationals, Nationals, and Olympic Trials, while also developing the age group program.

Today, as Head Age Group Coach for Gulliver Swim Club, Katya draws on her international experience and passion for teaching to develop the next generation of swimmers.

Coaching Philosophy:

“My approach to coaching is simple yet impactful—I believe the journey should be joyful and rewarding for both swimmers and coaches. Let’s dive in, swim smart, and give it our all!”

Age Group Coach

Email: tdarias@gulliverprep.org

Teolio “Teo” Darias is an Age Group and Middle School Coach at Gulliver Swim Club and Gulliver Preparatory School, where he works with developing athletes to refine their skills and grow their love for the sport.

Teo began his swimming career in 10th grade, joining the Gulliver Senior Group under Coach Chris, and has loved the sport ever since.

His journey has now come full circle as he begins his coaching career at Gulliver. As an athlete, Teo earned two Winter Junior National qualifications, one Summer Junior National qualification, and was a three-time state championship finalist in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. He also placed first in the 100m and 200m breaststroke (15–16 age group) at the 2016 Florida Gold Coast Senior Long Course Championships and still holds the Gulliver Swim Club SCY record in the 100-yard breaststroke (58.93).

Coach Teo believes that success in swimming comes from a powerful mindset and the ability to consistently push past limits. With that philosophy, he is dedicated to helping Gulliver swimmers reach new heights.

Age Group Coach

Email: aschwartz@gulliverprep.org

- Four-year NCAA Division 1 varsity swimmer at Princeton, High School Team Captain, Illinois State Champion at Master’s Level, USA Swimming All American, 5 top 10 USMS swims including 1st place 400 free relay in 2016

- Two-time team captain of undefeated Princeton Intramural Water Polo team

- Four year coach of Hinsdale Stingray Club Team (Illinois), including two years as head coach overseeing 3 other coaches and over 100 age group swimmers. League runner up and league champion in my two years as head coach.

- Senior Lifeguard and Head of swim instruction for Hinsdale Community Pool (overseeing over a dozen private lesson instructors, coordinating schedules and lesson plans, and teaching small group classes and private lessons)

- Coached multiple future prep and college swimmers, including a 6 time Illinois HS State Champion and top 5 NCAA Championship finisher at Northwestern.

This coach is awesome!