Jason Heslep
Swim Coach
I am a Senior Production Manager at Warner Media for Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, and HBOMax. I’ve been with the company for 18 years.
- How long have you been with the team?
I started coaching the Trout in 2000
- Did you compete in high school and/or college?
I swam for Swim Atlanta until college. I have been coaching competitive swimming for 23 years. Summer league, High School and USMS.
- What are some of your goals for coaching?
I always try to make sure my practices consist of a wide variety of elements. Swim workouts can sometimes be monotonous, so I try to keep things fresh and interesting for the swimmers as much as I can. Positivity is another key goal of mine. I feel there is a deeper commitment from the team when they are recognized for their work ethic and attitude.
- Do you have any words of encouragement to share with the team?
"No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch" –Anonymous. I always tell my swimmers, the first step to becoming healthier, stronger, or faster is just showing up to practice. YOU GOT THIS.
Mary Reynolds
Swim Coach
I work for the Environmental Protection Agency as the radon and indoor air quality coordinator for the southeast region. I manage grants and provide information and outreach on these topics to the public. If you have any questions about your indoor air, ask me!
- How long have you been with the team?
Since October 2021.
- Did you complete in high school and/or college?
I competed in high school, and my favorite events were the 200 IM and any breaststroke event.
- What are some of your goals for coaching?
My goals are to provide fun workouts for everyone to enjoy and to improve the techniques and strokes of the team members.
- Do you have any words of encouragement to share with the team?
Just keep swimming 😉
Adam McKenzie
Swim Coach
I am a product development engineer for Newell Brands. I specifically work for the Graco brand on their car seat team.
- How long have you been with the team?
I have been with the trout for just over 1 year. I started summer of 2021.
- Did you complete in high school and/or college?
I learned to swim in middle school and immediately began year round club swimming. I swam through the end of high school, but did not swim in college. I was a collegiate rower at Georgia Tech. After college I began coaching age group swimming and competing in masters swimming again.
- What are some of your goals for coaching?
I want to help the team grow by providing more opportunities for members to achieve their goals. I have heard people say they joined masters to: run a triathlon, get in shape, get faster at swimming, cross train, learn to swim, learn more strokes, and even for social aspects. I understand all of those reasons and believe I can cater to all of those people.
- Do you have any words of encouragement to share with the team
building on my answer before. I am so impressed by the Trout and I hope to affect other members the way the team has affected me.
Kyle Balkcum
Swim Coach
Andrea Knight
Swim Coach
Kristin Waiting
Polo Coach
I have been a hairstylist here in Atlanta for the past 12 years and now have my own studio.
2. How long have you been with the team?
I have played with Trout since 2019.
3. Did you compete in high school and/or college?
I was a competitive swimmer and water polo player in high school in San Diego.
4. What are some of your goals for coaching?
My goals for the team are to work on team building, in and out of the pool as well as some skill development.
5. Do you have any words of encouragement to share with the team?
Our team has a long history of acceptance and support of all of our members and I think we are doing a great job of continuing that sentiment! I think it shows that we love the sport but we love our team even more!