My name is Ayden Hess. I am a senior at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD and I am on the D1 water polo team. I am a communications major and mathematics minor, with the hope of going into the sports analytics/sports management field.

I have been swimming since I was 3 years old (4 years old competitively) and I started playing water polo at the end of middle school. I have been coaching swimming since I was 11 with the Decatur Gators and joined the Avondale Tidal Waves in 2024 and had a blast! I'm super excited to see everyone this summer and hope everyone has a safe rest of their semester!

Hi! My name is Grace Holland and I am so excited to be returning to Tidal Waves! I am coming off of my first year at Bryn Mawr College just outside of Philadelphia, where I study English Literature and Sociology. I swam for the team for about 13 years before aging out this last year. In addition to swimming, I have been coaching with Tidal Waves for 7 years and I have been teaching private lessons at the Avondale pool for 4 years. I look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting all of our new swimmers. I can’t wait to grow and improve as a team over this upcoming season! Go Tidal Waves!

Hi everyone!! My name is Stella and I am so excited to be one of your assistant head coaches this summer!! This will be my second year with the Avondale Tidal Waves, as well as my second year assistant head coaching, and I am beyond ecstatic to be asked back. Outside of ATW, I am looking forward to starting college in the Fall, where I will hopefully continue to swim, as well as play ultimate frisbee, keep making art, and begin studying to go pre-med. This summer I look forward to working with each and every one of the swimmers, during practices and in private lessons, and to compete for my final year in the summer league! I look forward to seeing each and every one of you soon!!!

Hey y'all! My name is Jordan Ricks, and this is my fourth summer coaching for Avondale Tidal Waves! I have also been pool manager/head lifeguard, so if we haven’t met personally, you’ve probably seen me around. I can’t wait to meet you and your family! I am so excited to serve as the Junior Coach Director this year. I am eager to work with our awesome junior coaches and guide them into becoming the next leaders of our team. Swimming has always been a huge part of my life, and I love having the opportunity to share the sport that gave me so much with my community. I graduated from Druid Hills last May, and I am currently attending the University of Georgia, where I am majoring in Political Science and Spanish on a Pre-Law track. Can’t wait to see all of y'all in May, go Tidal Waves!