Coaches and Directors
Coaches and Directors:
Ashley Turak- Seniors 1&2:
Ashley is a Michigan native who spent her early swimming years at her club dROP Aquatics and
with the Farmington-Harrison High School swim team. She went on to compete at Indiana
University in Bloomington as a freestyle sprinter for their program. She wrapped up her 16-year
swimming career in the summer of 2024 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology.
In moving to Boone, she has come on to coach our senior groups since March of 2024. She is
currently getting a dual master's in Exercise Science and Data Analytics at App State. Ashley
hopes to inspire her swimmers to enjoy the sport with their teammates and find their passion for
racing. Happy swimmers are fast swimmers!
Evan Stauffer- Sea Turtles:
Evan has been swimming since he was 8. Swimming club throughout middle and high school,
plus swimming for his school, where he was a team captain in his senior year. His favorite events
were the 200-yard IM and 800-meter freestyle. Evan began coaching in 2021 at Raleigh
Swimming Association as an in-water hand, and during the summers served as a coach for the
Holly Glen Hammerheads in Holly Springs, NC, where he was the head coach for two years.
Coaching the Sea Turtle group, Evan focuses on building technique and enjoys the small details
that fix strokes. Outside of the pool, he is pursuing a double major in Electronic
Media/Broadcasting and Public Relations, with a minor in Documentary, while working for the
school’s Television and Radio stations. In his free time, he enjoys music, spending time outdoors
with friends, and cooking. His main goal is for the swimmers to be a better version of themselves
than they were the day before.
Katy Cheek- Guppies and Blue Gills:
Katy has been swimming since she was five years old, starting in summer league, competing
through high school (where she served as team captain her senior year), and recently completing
her third and final year with the App State Club Team. This is her sixth year as a coach and her
second year with the WST team. She currently coaches the Guppie and Sea Turtle groups but has
experience working with swimmers of all levels. Katy is currently studying Communication
Sciences and Disorders, with a minor in American Sign Language, and will graduate in May. She
will be completing her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at App State and aspires
to work with children in early education. In her free time, Katy enjoys hiking, traveling, reading,
listening to music, and spending time with friends. Her goal for her swimmers is to improve
technique, confidence, and teamwork while keeping practices fun and positive.
Logan White- Guppies and Blue Gills:
Logan has been swimming since she was five years old on competitive year-round teams,
summer league, and in her high school. She now continues her career with the Appalachian State
Club swim team. During her swimming career, she has been able to coach all different types of
groups. As a coach, she is passionate about helping young swimmers build their confidence, a
strong work ethic, and enjoy a positive team environment. Logan’s personal favorite thing is
being able to witness the development of athletes, not only in the sport itself but also in their
communication, determination, and overall character. Outside of coaching, she is currently
studying Kinesiology with a Minor in Nutrition. Logan has plans to attend a physical therapy
school in the future. To stay busy, she loves staying active through swimming, running, biking,
and exploring new places.
Board of Directors
