The coaching staff is here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact one of the board members.
COACHES
Todd Saltus - Age Group Head Coach
Todd Saltus has been the head coach of the Upper Arlington Swim Club since 1998. He is a graduate of Upper Arlington High School and DePauw University. At UAHS, he was the captain of both the swimming and water polo teams, and earned the prestigious designation as All American. At DePauw, he was an NCAA qualifier and served as the assistant coach in 1994 and 1995. In addition he has coached swim teams at both the Swim and Racquet Club and Scioto Country Club in Upper Arlington.
Coach Saltus has had a distinguished coaching career, successfully coaching over 30 National Top 16 age group swimmer and 78 individual and relay age group state champions. He has coached athletes to numerous national level meets, including the 2012 Olympic Trials. He has also twice been awarded the designation of Ohio Swimming Coach of the Year.
Eric Limkemann - Senior Men's Coach
John Sands - Senior Women's Coach
John has been involved in competitive swimming since the age of seven when he started swimming at his local YMCA. John later began swimming year round and eventually swam for Brad Burget at NASC where under Brad’s tutelage he became a seven-time All-America selection and the fastest high school 50-yard freestyle swimmer in the country in 2003-04 with a time of 20.19!
John was the Ohio High School State Champion in the 50-yard freestyle his senior year, and became the first high school male to become an Ohio State University pool record holder, breaking the 50-yard freestyle record (at the old pool). As a club swimmer, John was a Junior National Champion in the 50 free, and a part of the 17-18 year old age group national record holding 200-meter freestyle relay. John was also a part of relays that won multiple Junior National titles, and qualified for Sr. Nationals both individually and as a member of relays. John graduated from Granville High School in Granville, Ohio in 2004, where he was high school team captain and four-time high school team MVP.
John continued his swimming and academic career at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a two-year letter winner and member of the ACC scoring team. John was forced to retire after his sophomore year at UNC due to an ankle injury. He graduated from UNC in 2008 with degrees in Political Science and History. John received his teaching license from Otterbein University in 2011, his Masters in American History & Government from Ashland University in 2019 and is currently a teacher at Westerville North High School.
John has been coaching competitive swimming since 2002; he has been the head coach at Watterson High School, Granville High School, and has coached a number of age groups at NAAC, most recently working with their national level sprinters.
John and his wife Jenna have been married since 2013 and together since 2004. They have a daughter, Eloise (Weezy), and a boy named Jack.
Erin Reetz - Team Administrator
Erin grew up in Worthington, Ohio where she started swimming at Mt. Air swimming pool. Erin went on to swim for Worthington Swim Club and Kilbourne High School.
She attended Bowling Green State University where she started her coaching career. Erin transferred to Ohio State a year later and moved back to Columbus. While at Ohio State University, she began to coach for Upper Arlington Swim Club in 1997.
Erin met her husband Seth at the Barbara Kay mini meet. She has two daughters Reagan and Kate. Reagan swims at Oakland University and Kate swims for Gahanna High School.
ASSISTANT COACHES
Barb Smith - Bear Cubs and Bears, Lead Coach Contact
Barb is the primary coach for the club’s Bearcub and Bear practice groups. She started coaching with UASC in the late 1970s, taking a break from the profession while her three children were young. All three swam with UASC, with two continuing to swim in college.
Barb also worked many years with young children and parents in the First Community Church Early Childhood Department as well as coaching swimmers at the Swim & Racquet Club. She was invited back to coach with UASC in the early 2000s.
Todd Grant - Black Bears
Todd Grant is a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School and The Miami University. Todd was a Team Captain at both Cleveland Heights and Miami. Todd was a top 3 finisher at the Ohio High School State Champs, Conference Champion at Miami and an NCAA qualifier. Todd earned his Master’s degree in Education at Miami and while he was in Grad School he was the Miami Freshman Coach, 1965-67. Toddy, like Salty, is a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity!
Todd has been coaching at Upper Arlington since 1968. Todd was the Head UASC coach, 1968-88, the UAHS Boy’s Head Coach, 1968-79, and the UAHS Girl’s Head Coach, 1980-88. He was the UAHS Girl’s Ass’t. Coach, 1991-2015. He is an ASCA Level 5 certified coach. Todd’s high school teams have won 12 Boy’s Central District Championship titles and 5 Girl’s Central District titles. Under his coaching the Boy’s team was Runner-up State Champions 8 times and his Girls’ team was Runner-up State Champions twice. Todd was named District Coach of the year 18 times and the State Coach of the Year 4 times. Todd was elected to the first class of the Ohio High School Swim Coaches Association in 1999, the Larry Lyons Award in 2005, and the Wirthwein Award in 1998. Todd has coached 5 National High School Champions and one National record holder. Todd’s Girls’ team has finished first as the NISCA Power Point National Champions twice. He has coached numerous high school State Champions, Olympic Trial qualifiers, and over 115 high school All-Americans. During his tenure with the UASC Todd had numerous State Age Group champions and he had 3 relays establish new National records.
Todd founded the UAHS Girl’s High School Team in 1996 and co-hosted the Girl’s 1 st State High School State Championship in 1972. He started the UAHS Boy’s Water Polo team in 1974. In addition to his high school coaching, Todd, was the Head Swim Coach at the Swim & Racquet Club, 1979 – 2003, and the S&R Club Manager, 1987-2003. Todd was the Aquatics Director and Head Coach at Scioto Country Club, 2004-2020. Todd was a Physical Education & Health teacher at UAHS for 35 years. He was the Aquatics Director and Natatorium Director while at UA. Currently, Todd is an assistant coach working mainly with the Black Bears.
Todd is married to Debbie and between the two of them they have 5 adult children and 9 grandchildren. Todd and Debbie enjoy their 4 legged “children”, Tanner (dog) and Stevie (cat).
Abby Chin
Abby grew up a UASC swimmer. As a swimmer, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials in 2008 (100/200 fly, 400 IM), 2012 (200/400 IM), and 2016 (400 IM). She was a member of the 2008-2011 UAHS state champion teams, during which years she was part of four state champion relays and won two individual titles. In college, she competed at two NCAA D1 National Championships and was twice-elected captain, helping lead the team to three conference championships and a 6th-place finish at the NCAAs.
Abby started coaching in 2011, returning to her home club in 2015. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
David Swearingen
David began his swimming career at the Michiana YMCA in South Bend Indiana. He was a part of eight Indiana State Championships and a five time Zone qualifier. At St Joseph High School David was part of two state qualifying teams and continued swimming club through college. He attended Indiana University where he graduated with an Astronomy and Astrophysics degree. After graduation David attended the University of Mississippi where he started a club swim team and graduated with a MA in Higher Education Administration. In 2021 David began USA and high school coaching in Columbia Missouri and later moved to Columbus where he began coaching at Upper Arlington. He is currently an Academic Advisor at Ohio State University and continues to swim on a local USMS team!
Carly Deal
Carly Baird Deal started swimming competitively at six, after years of being dragged around with her twin brother Will to their older sister, Robin’s swim meets and practices. Growing up she swam on a handful of local teams before settling in at UASC in 1998. Coach Todd Saltus was her first coach with UASC. She is a graduate of Upper Arlington High School and Kenyon College. At UAHS, She was a captain of the 2003 Upper Arlington Women’s State Champion Team, coached by the greats Tim Brigham and Todd Grant. Carly earned 7 All-Americans while swimming at UA. Perhaps one of her most memorable swimming moments outside of the state championship was winning the 50 free at districts her freshman year, with a senior national qualifying time.
Carly loves coaching swimming and is thrilled to be a member of the coaching staff at UASC. She has fond memories of coaching Shady Side Academy’s (Pittsburgh, PA) middle school swim team for a number of years. During her summers off while attending Kenyon, you could find her circling the pool deck as a coach at Scioto Country Club.
Carly credits her UA swim coaches and teammates with helping her develop into the patient, empathetic, and driven person she is today. Carly works as the experience integration director for Cryobio and Reproductive Diagnostics. She lives in UA with her husband, Dave, their three boys, Everett, Carver, and Brooks, and their giant, goofy Newfoundland, Arlo.
Michelle Fleming - Dryland Coach
I love my job! I am lucky to help people find health and wellbeing, reach their fitness goals and feel like their best, energetic selves.
Working with youth athletes is a sweet spot: an opportunity to teach growing kids to enjoy movement, kinesthetic awareness, proper technique for strength training, and a growth mindset. It can change their view on exercise and sports performance. Our goals for dryland include teaching each swimmer that working hard can be fun & rewarding AND to gain strength that will translate to improved performance in the water. “The stronger I am, the faster I swim.” Go Bears!
Mary Whittington
Mary swam for UASC for 7 years and then continued to swim throughout attending high school at Bishop Watterson. She graduated from the University of Dayton with an accounting degree and currently resides in Upper Arlington with her two dogs and fiance.
Thomas Trace
Thomas began his swimming career with UASC. He was state champion in the 50 freestyle his senior year of high school and is the current pool record holder for the 100 backstroke. In college, Thomas competed in the Big Ten championships where he was a Big Ten Champion in 200 freestyle relay and competed at the D1 NCAA championships. He also qualified for the Olympic trials in 2016 in the 100-yard backstroke. He started coaching for Scioto Country Club in 2015-2018 and coached for UASC from 2018-2020. Thomas is a graduate of Upper Arlington High School, The Ohio State University, and the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.
Dan Peterkoski
Coach Dan Peterkoski brings over 30 years of coaching experience to the Upper Arlington Swim Club, where he has played a vital role since 2003. His extensive coaching background includes:
- Assistant Swimming Coach, Berea High School (1994-1997)
- Head Swimming Coach, Berea High School (1997-2003)
- Head Swimming Coach, Berea Midpark Swim Club (1997-2003)
- Head Girls Swimming Coach, Upper Arlington High School (2003-2020)
- Head Girls Water Polo Coach, Upper Arlington High School (2003-2020)
- Senior Girls Coach, Upper Arlington Swim Club (2003-2020)
- Assistant Age Group Coach, Upper Arlington Swim Club (2020-present)
Dan is a 9-time Ohio High School Girls Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Ohio High School Swim Coaches Hall of Fame in 2024. Under his leadership, athletes have achieved remarkable success, including High School District Championships, High School State Championships, USA Sectional Championships, USA Futures Championships, Junior National Qualifiers, Senior National Qualifiers, and Olympic Trial qualifiers. He has also led teams to 11 Ohio High School Team Swimming and Diving Championships and 12 Ohio High School Team Water Polo Championships.
Dan's coaching philosophy emphasizes success through hard work and commitment. He fosters a positive, motivating environment where teamwork and personal growth are prioritized. Building strong relationships with athletes and their families is central to his approach, creating a supportive atmosphere that encourages achievement both in and out of the pool.
Residing in Upper Arlington with his wife, Christy, and their daughters, Addison and Brynlee, Dan enjoys spending time with his family and their dog, Newfie. He looks forward to continuing his journey with the Upper Arlington Swim Club and inspiring the next generation of swimmers.
Julie Snider
Julie started swimming at 8 years old at the Euclid YMCA in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. She swam competitively for Lake Erie Silver Dolphins (LESD), and ultimately qualified for Junior Nationals in the backstroke events. Julie was a peer nominated captain of her high school, Hawken School, and college, BGSU, swim teams. She taught swimming lessons and coached intermittently throughout adulthood.
