Meet Your Leadership Team

Brayden founded the Jackson Barracudas Swim Team in 2023 with the goal of bringing a local summer swim program back to the Jackson community and creating more opportunities for youth to get involved in the sport.

Brayden is a 6th Grade Teacher at Jackson Middle School and also serves as the head swim coach of the Jackson High School boys and girls swim teams. His passion for working with young people and developing athletes both in and out of the pool drives his leadership and vision for the Barracudas.

As Manager, Brayden oversees all aspects of the program, including staff management, operations, communication, and long-term planning. In his role as Swim Meet Coordinator, he organizes and coordinates the team’s home and away meets to ensure a smooth, positive experience for athletes, families, and visiting teams.

Brayden is proud to lead the Jackson Barracudas and remains committed to building a high-quality program that develops confident swimmers and strengthens the future of swimming in Jackson.

Ava Walters serves as the Head Coach of the Jackson Barracudas Swim Team. She brings over 10 years of competitive swimming experience and is currently a Division I swimmer at the University of Arkansas Little Rock.

Ava has been part of the Barracudas coaching staff since the program began in 2023. She started as an in-water instructor and high school group coach before serving as Assistant Head Coach last season. Now stepping into the Head Coach role, Ava leads daily practices, primarily works with the high school training group, and oversees staff operations at the pool.

She travels to all swim meets, coaching athletes through races with energy, focus, and attention to detail. Ava is known for her enthusiasm, strong technical knowledge, and ability to challenge swimmers while creating a positive and motivating environment.

Ava is excited to return home to Jackson this summer to invest in young athletes and help continue building a strong future for swimming in the community.

Lauren Slack serves as the Assistant Head Coach of the Jackson Barracudas Swim Team and has been involved in the sport of swimming for over 10 years.

Lauren has been part of the Barracudas coaching staff since the program’s first season in 2023. She began as an in-water instructor and quickly stepped into larger responsibilities, serving last season as the primary coach for the Level 3 / High School Prep group.

This year, Lauren will primarily work with the High School and High School Prep training groups while assisting in overseeing daily operations at the pool. She will also travel to swim meets alongside Coach Ava, supporting athletes through race preparation and competition.

Lauren brings experience, dedication, and a steady leadership presence to the team. She is excited to take on this expanded role and continue helping swimmers grow in skill, confidence, and competitiveness.