Coach Heath Brinke will serve as the Head Coach for the Eagle Ridge swim club for all age divisions 7-18. Originally from Alaska, he moved to North Carolina in 2000 and relocated to Eagle Ridge just over 4 years ago. He has 35 years of experience directing and coaching various athletic programs. Heath has been seen poolside over the past few years supporting his children, grandchildren, and club swimmers. In the past, Heath was a National and Collegiate level swimmer, held various certifications and endorsements including swim & water safety instructor, Lifeguard, CPR, and Emergency Medical Technician. Most recently held the position of Director of Soccer at the Greater Cleveland Athletic Association.

He is excited to be back in the water and returning to his first passion - Swimming!!! We are proud to have Heath coach our swimmers again this year. His experience and knowledge of the sport continues to bring a new fun and competitive atmosphere to the program, including our first trip to TSA Swimming Championships at the end of last season! 

Coach Aly is excited to be leading the 6 & Under swimmers again this season! Originally from Pittsburgh and raised in Raleigh, she has been in and around the water since she was five years old. She has loved swimming ever since! 

Coach Aly spent years teaching private swim lessons and lifeguarding through high school and college, giving her a strong background in water safety and early swim development. Aly especially enjoys working with young swimmers--helping them feel comfortable, confident, and excited to be in the water.

Before becoming a hairstylist, Aly was a preschool teacher--so she knows exactly how to keep little ones engaged while building important skills in a fun and encouraging way. 

Her goal for the 6 & Under group is simple: build confidence, teach strong basics, and make sure every swimmer is having fun an leaving practice proud of themselves. 

CJ is a senior at Vernon Malone College and Careers Academy, where he is studying Bio-Pharmaceutical Technology. He has been swimming for the Eagle Ridge Swim Team since 2018, helped with younger age group practices, and was the recipient of the Coach's Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship. In 2022, he was an asset as one of our Junior Coaches. 

This will be Coach CJ's third year as an Assistant Coach for the Soaring Eagles. He completed his Lifeguard Certification with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid through Triangle Aquatics. He is also a former year-round swimmer for Raleigh Swimming Association. 

CJ has been an influential role model for his two younger siblings and loves to share his passion for swimming and music with them. CJ is so excited to be back in the water this year and is ready to teach your little ones all he knows! 

Kaydence is a rising Sophomore at Penn State University's main campus in University Park, Pennsylvania, where is she is majoring in Health Policy Administration. This past year, she started off strong by making the Dean's List for academics, auditioning and being selected for a touring concert choir (Essence of Joy), joining the Blue/White Society, and accepting a bid to join the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. She is SO excited to be back in Raleigh this summer, and on the pool deck with our swimmers! 

Up until last summer, when she graduated from Enloe High School,  Kaydence had been a swimmer for the soaring Eagles since 2017. She was also a year-round swimmer since 2019 for the Marlins of Raleigh and most recently, the TAC Titans. While at MOR, Kaydence coached Swim League, preparing younger swimmers for their summer swim teams! Along with Coach CJ, Kaydence is CPR/First Aid/AED certified. She has worked at Triangle Aquatic Center as a lifeguard, as well. 

This will be Kaydence's fourth season as an Assistant Coach for the Soaring Eagles! She absolutely loves teaching swimmers to master new strokes. She especially enjoys the challenge of guiding new swimmers who may be trying this sport for the first time, and helping them find their way out of their comfort zones. She says "You cannot win a meet by yourself. It takes hard work, effort, and the encouragement of everyone on the team to be successful and improve."

Fun Fact- Coach Kaydence's favorite events to swim competitively were distance events, including the 1650 free, and 5K Open Water races!