Coaches and Directors:
Ashley Turak
Head Coach, 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
Juniors
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
