Coaches
Kent Crockower
Head Coach
Email: headcoach@ptboswimclub.com
Kent Crockower brings a rich and diverse skill set to the position having been a coach and educator for more than 35 years. He has taught in elementary, secondary, special education and international settings and has coached many different sports across many levels. However, his first love has always been swimming.
Kent started as a competitive swimmer with the Peterborough Y Swim Club more than 50 years ago. After achieving podium finishes at provincial and national championships as an age group swimmer, he went on to swim in University qualifying as a finalist at the Canadian U-Sport Championships and competing in the 1984 Olympic Trials. His attention in the pool then turned to coaching. His swim coaching career started at St. Mary’s Secondary School where his teams won back to back COSSA championships. As of 2012, he led the coaching team responsible for our Club’s Swim School Program and later became an Age Group Coach with us where his swimmers enjoyed great success qualifying and competing at the Regional, Provincial, Eastern Canadian and Junior National levels. After teaching overseas for two years, he then returned to coaching in Ontario in 2024, working with the Belleville Beasts Swim Team. There, his swimmers achieved top ten finishes at OAGs and OSCs, and recorded podium finishes and one provincial record. He is now excited to be back home and ready to help us write another exciting chapter in our club’s history as we move towards celebrating 90 years of competitive swimming in Peterborough.
Owen Cecile
Head Age Group Coach
Email: agegroupcoach@ptboswimclub.com
Owen Cecile has been a swimmer with the Trent/Peterborough Swim Club from 2012 to 2021, and has been a coach with the club since 2017. Owen is a developing coach and the club is very excited to have him as the Age Group Coach.
Assistant Coaches
Sophie O’Neill
Sophie O’Neill is a coach with our Swim School program. She is in her first year with the PTBO Swim Club. Sophie comes to us from the Belleville BEAST Swim Club, where she was an outstanding young coach with their pre-competitive and development swim group. Sophie was also a long-time member of the BEAST swim team. Sophie has qualified for the OFSSA swimming championships. Sophie is in her first Year of Kinesiology at Trent University.
Matraca Kennedy-Munsterman
Matraca is a coach with our Pre-competitive group. She swam competitively for 10 years, reaching the Canadian Junior National level in 2020, and winning gold and silver at OFSAA in 2023 in 100m Backstroke and 100m Breaststroke events. Now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at Trent University, she’s excited to bring her love of swimming to coaching and help young swimmers build confidence, improve their skills, and have fun in the pool.
Alison Kalman
Alison Kalman is the lead coach for the Pre-competitive swim group and a mentor coach with the Swim School program. With experience coaching at the Oakville and Mississauga Aquatic Clubs and a background as a competitive swimmer herself, Alison brings both expertise and firsthand insight into athlete development. Currently in her second year of Business at Trent University, she is passionate about guiding young athletes, fostering teamwork, and creating a positive, high-performance environment in the pool.
Shannon Shillinglaw
Shannon Shillinglaw is one of our Masters coaches and is a mentor coach. Shannon Shillinglaw has been a long-time member of the PTBO Swim Club, serving as a swimmer, coach, and Masters swimmer. Her love of swimming and for the club she grew up in is always evident when she is around the pool. Shannon has competed in many triathlons and running events including the 2025 Boston Marathon as part of her ongoing commitment to staying active and maintaining her fitness. Shannon is a teacher with PVNCCDSB and currently serves as a Math Mentor. In her spare time, she loves to swim, bike, run, travel and spend time with her family/ friends.
Lucas Pavalachi-Sofrone
Lucas primarily assists with our Jr Performance, Senior Elite swim groups, as well as being a Masters coach. Lucas was a long-standing member of the PTBO Swim Club, setting a club record and also winning a provincial gold medal. Lucas is in his third year of Kinesiology at Trent University.
Samantha Garside
Samantha Garside is a coach with our AG Devo Dryland and Swim School programs. Samantha swam with the PTBO Swim Club for many years. She was an outstanding Butterflier, qualifying for the provincial championships. Samantha is in her Second Year of Psychology at Trent University.
Mackenzie Garside
Mackenzie is a coach with our Recreation, AG Train Dryland, and Swim School programs. Mackenzie swam with the PTBO Swim Club for many years. Mackenzie was a provincial gold medalist in the 200m breaststroke, a qualifier for the Eastern Canadian Championships, and the Canadian Junior Championships. Mackenzie is in her fourth year of Kinesiology at Trent University.
Makayla Tucker
Makayla is a coach with our Swim School program. Makayla was a long-time member of the PTBO Swim Club as an outstanding butterfly and 400 IM swimmer. She was an OFSAA gold medal winner in the 50m Butterfly. Makayla is in her 1st year of nursing at Trent University.