Head Coach

Email: justin.maacswim@gmail.com

Coach Justin has been coaching with MAAC since October 2019.

Originally from Dubuque, Iowa, Yuan began swimming competitively at age 10 with the local YMCA before finishing his swimming career at Luther College in 2017. Yuan’s main discipline while swimming was IM and Breastroke with a mix Butterfly and sprint Freestyle.

Swimming Achievements:

• All-American, All-conference, and State record holder in high school
• IIAC All-Conference in 200 IM, 100 BR, and 200 BR

Yuan graduated from Luther College with a BA in Biology/Chemistry and a MS in Biomedical Sciences from ISU. He is looking to pursue a nursing degree in the near future. During his free time, Coach Justin likes to train for triathlons, photography, and travel.

Assistant Coach

Abel is a Georgia native specializing in coaching and safety training. He has coached for the past seven years for the Georgia Tech health course, the country club swim league, and the Galloway school swim team. He has also maintained lifeguard and lifeguard instructor certifications- part of which was spent at the CRC aquatic center. He loves endurance sports, having participated competitively in soccer, swimming and long distance running. He is excited to coach at MAAC and to help foster a healthy relationship with competitiveness and enjoyment in swimming!

Chris Thames is a fifth-year coach with the team and a former athlete who proudly came up through the program. A standout swimmer at the University of North Carolina, Chris competed at the highest collegiate level while developing a deep understanding of technique, training, and race strategy. In 2024, he reached the U.S. Olympic Trials semifinals in the 200-meter backstroke, highlighting his experience competing on the national stage. As a coach, Chris brings firsthand knowledge, a strong connection to the team culture, and a passion for helping athletes reach their full potential both in and out of the pool.

Team Manager

Email: kathrynrgroce@gmail.com

Kathryn comes to the MAAC team with over 17 years of swim coaching and lesson experience. Kathryn grew up in Miami, Florida, where she spent her summers on a league team, then transitioned to a year-round competitive club team (Flying Fish Swim Club) in 6th grade. In college, Kathryn swam NCAA Division II for Hillsdale College in Michigan, where she competed in the 1650 and 1000 free.

After college, Kathryn moved to Denver, Colorado where she received her graduate degree while coaching and teaching swimming for private teams, focusing on younger athletes new to the sport of swimming. 

When she isn’t working with MAAC, Kathryn works full time as the Director of Enrollment Management at Denver Seminary.

Assistant Coach

Email: iago.moussalem@gmail.com

Coach Iago has been coaching with MAAC since June 2022.

Originally from Brazil, coach Iago began swimming competitively at age 7 with the local club team in his hometown before finishing his swimming career, representing MAAC in 2024 and training under MAAC Founder coach Mike Norment. Moussalem's main discipline while swimming was Butterfly and Freestyle.

Swimming Achievements:

• Brazilian National Team Member (2018-2020)
• Bronze Medal at the 2019 World University Games 
• Finalist in the 2018 Pan Pacific 
• Male Athlete of the Year 2019 Miami University
• Indiana University Varsity Alumni

Coach Iago graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Sports Marketing and Management. During his free time, he likes to play beach volleyball, go to the gym, and travel.

Assistant Coach

Coach Gabriel originally from Brazil, and began swimming competitively at age of 8 with the local club team in his hometown, which he still represents until today. Fantoni's main disciplines are Backstroke and Butterfly.

Swimming Achievements:

• Brazilian National Team Member (2018-2023)
• 2023 Pan-American Silver medalist
• Bronze Medal at the 2019 World University Games 
• 4th place at 2018 Pan Pacific 
• 2x NCAA champion
• Indiana University Varsity Alumni

Coach Gabriel graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. 

During his free time, Coach Gabriel likes to play volleyball, enjoy time outdoors, and travel.

Coach Natalie has been coaching with MAAC since 2024.

Originally from Augusta, Georgia, Coach Natalie has been swimming competitively for 17 years. She began her swimming career in a local summer league before joining the Aiken-Augusta Swim League (ASL) at age 7. She continued swimming competitively through high school and coached for ASL for two years and her local summer league for six years. In high school, her primary discipline was breaststroke, while in college she focuses mainly on IM and backstroke.

Coach Natalie is currently a Senior at Georgia Tech, where she is studying Business Administration. She has been a member of the Georgia Tech Swim Club for the past four years and has qualified for Nationals each year. Outside of swimming and coaching, Coach Natalie enjoys running, traveling, hiking, and spending time at the gym.

Coach Jhenni is originally from Brazil and began swimming competitively at age 12 with her local club team. Her main disciplines were breaststroke and freestyle, and she concluded her competitive career in December 2024.

Swimming Achievements:

• Olympian (Rio 2016)

• Pan-American Games medalist (1 gold, 3 bronze)

• World University Games Champion (2019) and bronze medalist (2023)

• World Championship finalist in 2022 (50 breaststroke)

• South American record holder in the 50 and 100 breaststroke

• World Cup Champion (2019)

• Member of the Brazilian National Team (2015–2024)

Coach Jhenni holds a BS in Biomedical Health Science from Brazil. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.