Kathy Spodick-Head Coach

Kathy has over 25 years of competitive swim coach experience and aquatic program development. She is a long time member of the American Swimming Coaches Association and USA Swimming, which provides the highest level of coaching training available. She brings creative coaching methods and enthusiasm in developing this unique Worcester Fitness Flyers competitive program. She has the innate ability to motivate others toward reaching their fullest potential. Kathy is a certified lifeguard. She holds several advanced coaching and coaching safety certifications including YMCA Fundamentals of Coaching, USA Foundations of Coaching, USA Level II Swimming, and ASCA Level 2 Coaching certifications for both Age Group and High School level swimmers. She has also taken ASCA coaching courses in Advanced Stroke Technique, Physiology of Swimming, Dry Land Training for Age Group Swimmers, and Coaching the 10 and Under Swimmer. Kathy loves the sport of swimming and strives to help others find that passion and develop into strong individuals both in and out of the pool. Kathy will continue to motivate and inspire young athletes.

Sophie Hayes-Lead Assistant Coach

Sophie joins the the Worcester Fitness coaching team in fall of 2023 as the Lead Assistant Coach. She is native of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and graduate from Ridgefield High School. Swimming has been a part of Sophie’s life from a young age. She started on a club swim team at the age of eight and continued competing through high school. Swimming for the local club team, The Wilton Wahoos, she developed into a competent, all around swimmer but she succeeded mostly at swimming butterfly events. She continued her swimming career at Keene State College where she swam all four years and was elected swim team captain. She was awarded Swimmer of the Year and the Women’s High Point Award at several of her championship swim meets. She graduated from college in 2020 with a degree in exercise science.After graduation, Sophie took a job as a paraprofessional working with children who had autism and other disabilities. She found this role extremely rewarding.The experience added a great deal to her skill set. Sophie has always had a passion for working with people of all ages and making a difference in their lives whether that be big or small. Sophie just recently moved to Worcester Mass. to start her graduate program at MCPHS in occupational therapy. In addition, to her coaching position she will be part of the team at Worcester Fitness also working as a personal trainer. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new positions. She strongly believes that swimming has guided her all these years to make her the person she is today. She has confidence, excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and knows what it takes to work within a team setting. As an accomplished competitive swimmer, Sophie is excited to be a part of The Worcester Fitness Flyers and share her experience to make an impact on young swimmers like herself.

Sam Kowaleski
Land Trainer

Sam is a W.I.T.S. Certified Personal Trainer. He started as an intern at Worcester Fitness in 2017 and soon earned a position at our welcome desk and as a personal trainer. He also leads small group training sessions with a focus on teen athletes. He has helped teens and adults and seniors to build healthy strength and endurance.

Sam believes that nutrition and personal health are not just a job to him, but instead is his true passion! Sam grew up in Rutland and now reside in Paxton He attended Wachusett Regional High School.

Sam loves to play Disc Golf and hike in his free time away from Worcester Fitness. Quote “A moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory”- Louis Zamperini

Helen Waldschmidt
Assistant Coach

Helen joined the Flyers program as an assistant coach in 2021. She is a native of South Bend, Indiana and relocated to Worcester, Massachusetts to pursue a career as a chemist. She comes from a family of swimmers and has enjoyed distance swimming from the age of eight. Helen brings to the team twelve years of competitive swimming experience at the local, state, and regional level. She holds certifications in CPR, AED, and Water Safety Instruction. Helen has previously worked as an Assistant Coach and Swim Instructor for Morris Park Country Club, the South Bend Parks and Recreation Department, and the Michiana YMCA.

Helen stepped away from swimming to pursue her Bachelor’s degree at Purdue University in Chemistry and then a Doctorate degree in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Michigan. Upon completing her studies and relocating for her career Helen’s love for the sport of swimming led her to join The Worcester Fitness Swim Academy and the Flyers swim program to pass on her knowledge to young swimmers. Helen firmly believes that competitive swimming from a young age gave her the social skills, time management, confidence, and healthy habits that have allowed her to accomplish her life goals and wishes to help others build these skills through swimming.

Helen enjoys thinking of new drills and teaching new skills to swimmers. Her favorite events are the 200 IM and 100 Fly. When not in the lab or the pool Helen enjoys baking, gardening, and jigsaw puzzles.