Sharon Thompson, Head Coach

Head coach for 16 years, Thompson swam mid-distance free and backstroke in high school and college.  She’s a member of Begg Masters in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach’s Chupacabra Ocean Swim Team, and swims distance rough water competitions. She is certified USMS, ASCA, USA Swimming, and has LGT, LGI, and WSI swim certifications. Sharon is an accredited coach through the National Federation of State High Schools and is a standing member of National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.  She teaches History and Ethnic Studies at South, has a BA English and MS Instructional Design and Tech.  

Melody May, Coach

Melody has been swimming since she was a small child.  She was a junior lifeguard, is a sailor and a surfer/paddler.  Melody swam club with Surfside Swim Team and was a varsity swimmer and varsity water polo player all four years while at Redondo Union High School. She has LGT, AED, CPR, WSI, sailing and National Federation of State High Schools certification. She is an avid open rough water swimmer and Chupacabra Ocean Swim Team member.  She is a property manager.   

Nick McGurk, Coach

A Varsity swimmer for Brown University, Nick’s expertise is free and backstroke.  He is an avid snow skier. A member of the Chupacabra Ocean Swim Team, Nick is a consistent medal winner in ocean races such as Pier to Pier Swim, La Jolla, Alcatraz and other SharkFest races.  Nick has a BS in Engineering.   

Kenny Garcia, Coach

A Varsity Torrance High Swim Alumni and CIF finalist, Kenny has been swimming since he was 2 years old. He medaled in sprints, distance, and was THS’s team captain, voted Most Improved, and Most Motivational Swimmer. A Member of Begg Pool Masters and the Chupacabra Ocean Swim Team, he is a second place finisher at La Jolla Cove Swim and consistently places in the top of his age group.  Kenny has a BS in Chemistry.      

Pierce Kosobayashi and Wyatt Stafford:  Alumni Coaches

SHS Varsity Alumnus,  Pierce and Wyatt both specialized in long distance, were members of the top relay teams, leading the team to several CIF showings. Pierce attended El Camino College and swam distance for 2 years before transferring to Berkeley this year.  Wyatt is in the US Army and pops in when he is free.