Meet Our Coaches

Ron Zugelder

Head Coach

Ron’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Canisius College, a Masters of Science in Physical Education from SUNY Brockport and a Masters of Science degree in School Administration from Niagara University.

Zugelder brings over thirty years of coaching experience and leadership to the team. In addition to supporting BAAC’s growth and coaching the age group team since 2020, Zugelder has been a successful high school coach for the Lockport High School Girls Varsity Team since 1992 winning the Niagara Frontier League Championships 1996-1997, 2001-2007 and 2023 and Section VI Championships 2002-2007. Zugelder also coached the St Joseph Collegiate Institute swim team to win the Monseigneur Martin Championships from 1995-1998 and the New York State Catholic Championship in 1996. Zugelder has also been the Pool Director for Park Country Club since 2006.

Troy Lubanski

Interim Head Coach

Troy is a Western New York native, where he began swimming at the age of 14 for Mercury Aquatics and York High school. He holds school records in the 100 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke and 200 IM and continued his swimming career at SUNY Fredonia, graduating with a BS in Sport management in May 2017.

Troy spent the 2019/20 and 2020/21 NCAA seasons volunteering with the UB Women's Team. During those seasons the Bulls reached their highest point total in 2020 and won its first MAC Conference title in school history in 2021.

Troy is currently the Aquatics Coordinator for the State University of New York at Buffalo and a coach for the Starpoint High School girls varsity team.

Prior to joining BAAC, Troy was the Aquatics Director and Administrative Head Coach for the Greater Canandaigua YMCA and Canandaigua Area Aquatic Club (Now combined with GRAY, formerly CAQY). Troy has held coaching positions at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology where he helped lead the men's team to win the 2018 AAC Championship and he also coached at his alma mater, Fredonia.

Kyle Sobon

Kyle grew up in Kenmore, New York and graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2022 with both a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; concentrating in American Politics and Public Affairs. He is currently enrolled in SUNY Buffalo’s Law School.

Kyle was a competitive gymnast for 7 years and swam throughout middle and high school. He starting coaching in the gymnastics arena and later transitioned to the pool within the Town of Tonawanda. It was there that he worked primarily on stroke development and led several summer swim teams to victory in the season’s end inter-pool meet. Kyle is now a head coach for the Williamsville North Boys Varsity team

Joining BAAC in the spring of 2021, Kyle has enjoyed increasing his skill set within stroke mechanics and technique. He loves working with swimmers on stroke refinement and helping them to understand the biomechanics of the different strokes. It’s the little changes that can help them go farther…faster.

Kyle works with the Juniors and Seniors.

Steve Zimmer

Coach Steve is a Physical Education teacher in the Wilson School District. He was a swimmer & diverat Lew-port in High School and then continued his swimming and diving careerat SUNY Brockport.

In addition, he coaches Swimming for the Niagara Falls Country Club and was the Head coach for Falcon Aquatics.

At BAAC he works primarily with Juniors, focusing on those transferring from Tsunami group.

Alana Szewczyk

Alana is a current Doctor of Physical Therapy student at SUNY Buffalo. She will graduate in May 2023. She earned her undergraduate degree from SUNY Cortland in Exercise Science in 2020 where she was a 4-year member of the women’s swimming and diving team.

Alana swam the 100 & 200 breaststroke, was a part of the 200 medley relay and record-setting 400 medley relay at SUNY Cortland. She still holds the 100 breaststroke record at Holland High School.

With her physical therapy background, Alana specializes in the dryland exercises and works mainly with the Juniors and Seniors.

Michael Dugan

Annie Draves

 Annie grew up in Tonawanda, New York, and while not a swimmer,  she was a leading member of both the varsity cross-country and track teams. After graduating high school, Annie attended Canisius College and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education; with a minor in Strength and Conditioning.

After graduation, she accepted a Graduate Assistantship position at the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse; where she served as the Adapted Aquatics Coordinator. It was through this position, that Annie was able to work with a wide range of swimmers with varying disabilities and adapted aquatic skills to the each individual’s ability level.

She graduated with a Masters Degree in Physical Education in 2019 and currently holds a teaching position Lockport High School.

Annie primarily coaches the Juniors and Seniors.

Sarah Stoklosa

Sarah is a native of Hamburg, NY, and is a graduate of The Buffalo Seminary. She graduated from Lake Forest College with a bachelor's degree in art history with a focus in classical studies. While at Lake Forest, Sarah was a member of the Foresters Women's Swimming and Diving team. She served as Team Captain during her senior year and was actively involved with the College's Student Athletic  Advisory Committee and Athletic Council.

Sarah grew up swimming in Western New York. She was a swim coach and instructor at Brierwood Country Club during high school and college. She also coached for the Lake Forest Swim Coach in Lake Forest, IL, and currently serves as the Head Coach for The Buffalo Seminary Swim Team.

After living in Chicago for several years, Sarah moved back to Buffalo and is currently the Director of Annual Giving at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute.

Sarah works with Juniors and Seniors.

Breena DeLegge

Breena has been swimming competitively since she was 5 years old. She grew up in San Diego and was a member of Heartland Swim Association for 18 years as an athlete a swim coach for the club.

Breena swam for the University of Mary in North Dakota and majored in criminal justice.  She was a sprint free and fly swimmer and in her freshman year, took 2nd in NSIC Conference in the 100 free and won the 100 free as a sophomore. She qualified and for NCAA DII in the 50/100 free in 2020 where she broke the school record for the 50 going swimming a 23.86.  Breena held the 50/100 free records in 2020, and still holds the 100 free record to this day; with additional records on the 200 free, 400 free, and 800 free relays. She was an NSIC All-American and NSIC Excellence All-American Academic Team for 4 years.

Breena and her husband recently moved to Hamburg from North Dakots to be closer to family; and she is currently an assistant coach for UB Swiming & Diving, as well as a UB Masters Coach.

Jillian Strine

Jason Madden

Born in Williamsville NY, Jason swam competitively for 6 years for Sweet Home Central School District and swam club for Amherst Aquatics. Jason went on to graduate from SUNY Buffalo. He then earned a master’s degree and advanced certificate from Canisius College and Buffalo State College.  After graduation, Jason coached high school swimming for boys and girls in a large school district in southern Maryland.  

Moving back to New York, Jason coached the Falcon Aquatic Club for nearly 3 years. He joined BAAC in October 2020.  

Jason primarily coaches the Waves and Tsunamis and Learn to Swim Program.

Alexis Deluca

Alexis grew up in Kenmore, New York where she swam competitively for Velocity Aquatics and on the Kenmore East Varsity Swim team for 6 years. Alexis went on to swim competitively for Alfred University before transferring to Canisius University to pursue her career as a Physical/Health Educator and Coach. She will graduate in May 2025.

Alexis started coaching for the Town of Tonawanda summer recreational league where she worked with swimmers of various ages and abilities. Currently Alexis is the assistant coach for the Starpoint High School girl’s varsity team and Williamsville North Boys varsity team

Joining BAAC in the spring of 2023, Alexis has used her previous Learn To Swim experience to work primarily with Waves and Tsunami focusing on stroke development. Alexis enjoys working with swimmers of all ages and seeing their development in and out of the pool.

Amelia Plonis

Amelia is from Shelby Township, Michigan and went to Wayne State University located in Detroit and received a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science. She is now studying at UB to obtain her Doctor of Physical Therapy.  Amelia has been swimming since she was six years old and continued until her junior year of college at Wayne State; specializing in the long-distance events.

She holds her high school's 500 free record, along with a few more long-distance records from her club team in both short course and long course. Amelia has also spent time coaching and teaching lessons at a country club near Wayne State.

Emma Hawkins

Emma grew up in Bloomfield, NY, and swam competitively for Victor Swim Club for 13 years. While attending high school, Emma swam for Victor High School, was part of various relay records, and finished her high school swimming career with the Section 5 100 fly title. 

She went on to attend Stony Brook University for two years and was a member of the swim team. Emma primarily swam IM and distance events. Now, Emma attends the University at Buffalo and is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering.Emma joined the BAAC coaching staff in the fall of 2023 and primarily coaches the Waves and Tsunami groups.

Jen Drexinger

Jen is a long time WNY resident with an extensive background in swimming.  She lives in Williamsville with her 3 kids.  Jen works as the Senior Director, Operations for Centene Corporation (locally known as Fidelis.) She swam for the Eden Dolphins Swim Club and Eden Varsity Swim Team, and attended University at Buffalo; graduating with a dual degree in Psychology and Biology.  Jen was a member of the Women’s Crew team during her time at UB. 

Jen's extensive coaching experience includes:

Hamburg Swim Club 2004-2012 (club grew from 50 members to nearly 200 members with regular Eastern Zone qualifiers during her tenure)

Eden Varsity Swimming 2003-2007

Depew Modified Swimming 2005-2008

Frontier Varsity Swimming 2008-2012

Kaley Ream

Kaley has been swimming competitively since she was 9. She swam at Kirtland High School in Kirtland, Ohio where she was a 4-time state finalist in the 500 freestyle and a 3-time state finalist in the 100 butterfly. Kaley also qualified for Summer Junior Nationals in the 200 butterfly in 2021.

She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in accounting while continuing her swimming career.

Kaley has experience teaching private and group swim lessons to kids of various ages and abilities.

Tristen Madden

Tristen is from Lockport NY where he is currently attending Starpoint High School as a Junior going into his Senior year.

Tristen has been competitively swimming since he was 9 years old and has been a member of BAAC since he was 13. He is an all around swimmer primarily competing in the 200 IM and freestyle events, but specializes in the backstroke where he is regularly a top 10 swimmer for  High School sports.

He works for the University at Buffalo during the summer months in the pool as a certified lifeguard. His future goals include swimming for a college or university and participating in their vocational program to gain knowledge and experience to eventually become employed in the building trades.

Cara Marchese

Cara is from Williamsville, New York and attends Nardin Academy as a junior in high school. She has also swum for BAAC since 2017 until this year when she began coaching for BAAC.

She has previous experience with coaching as she worked for Park Country Club this past summer and was one of the country club’s swim team coaches. She also coached private/individual lessons to kids at the country club.

Rachel Stoelting

Rachel is from Lockport , NY. She graduated from Starpoint HS where she swam on the varsity team. She currently attends University of Buffalo.

Rachel swam for BAAC during her high school years.

Lydia Fraas

Lydia is from Amherst, New York and is a Junior at Williamsville East High School.  She currently swims with Buffalo Aquatics in the Senior Group.  She is also part of the Girls Varsity Swim Team and Track and Field Team Williamsville East. In 2023 she started volunteering with Buffalo Aquatics and and in 2024 she achieved her qualifications to be a USA Swimming Junior Coach.

Lydia started swimming competitively at 8 years old with the Independent Health YMCA Sharks.  In September of 2020 she joined Buffalo Aquatics and has been a Gold Championship Meet qualifier each season in multiple events.  Her favorite event is the 200IM and also enjoys distance freestyle events