Team Member Tuesday: Eric’s Profile


It is our first Team Member Tuesday after our winter break, and today’s team member is Eric! You will also be able to find his profile under our Facebook album titled “Team Member Profiles.”

Eric began working with OSA in December and is one of the newest members of our team! He serves as Deck Attendant at our OKC location. As many of you know, Deck Attendant is a brand new role at OSA, so we want to give you a little more information on what our deck attendant will do to make us a better swim school this year. The role of Deck Attendant was created to give our customers the best experience possible from the time they arrive at their lessons until they walk out the door. As the first friendly face you will see upon arrival, Eric will assist in streamlining your check-in process and directing your lil’ swimmers to and from their instructors. He will be your main point of contact throughout your child’s lesson, holding the answers to most of your questions, and he will be able to give you information about their progress, as well as hand out level certificates when they pass those important life-saving skills they’ve been working so hard on!
Eric began his career in swimming at the age of twelve as a certified Red Cross Water Safety Assistant.  He became a Water Safety Instructor at age sixteen. Throughout his career, he has taught a wide range of students from infants to triathletes. He has trained lifeguards, directed three programs, and led his team to two USA Swimming State Championships as the head coach.
Eric will be training future Deck Attendants and will soon move into a swim instructor role at our Edmond location. With over a decade of aquatics experience under his belt, we are confident he is going to be another amazing instructor on the OSA team!
Now, let’s get to know our very first Deck Attendant, Eric, just a little better…

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AS A SWIM INSTRUCTOR.
Aquatics is my life. I love everything about it. The water, the sun, the challenge every new student brings. I love watching the progress of my students, and there is nothing more satisfying than the moment when it all clicks.

WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING FOR OSA?
I love the safety-based approach to teaching swimming.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBY OUTSIDE OF THE POOL?
Performing music and working on cars.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE/BOOK?
My favorite movie is Gangs of New York. My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird.

WHAT 3 THINGS WOULD YOU BRING WITH YOU TO A DESERTED ISLAND?
A video camera, Tom Hanks, and a volleyball named Wilson.

TELL US A FUNNY STORY ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE POOL.
After 10 years in the business, I have a ton of these. The funniest, by far, happened at the swim meet right before State Championships. I had a team member – let’s call him Shane – that needed to shave three seconds off his lap time in order to qualify for State. Since there are a lot of things you can be disqualified for in competitive swimming, I always told my swimmers, “No matter what happens, just keep swimming.” Shane took this so literally that he never lost pace…even though he lost his trunks on the entry. He swam the race naked, qualified for state, and became a legend in his league for his dedication and determination.

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