Vergennes Swim Team

Mitch grew up in Central Pennsylvania and started swimming in 1980 for the Bellefonte YMCA . Since then, he swam for the State College Area High School Swim Team and the Shippensburg University Swim Team.

Mitch began coaching the Vergennes Swim Team (VST) in 2018 but has volunteered for many years prior. Mitch also coached Youth Wrestling from 2014-2022. Mitch has 2 children swimming for VST this year. Mitch’s favorite strokes to swim are the 200 IM, 500 freestyle, and Medley and Free Relays.

Outside of swim team, Mitch enjoys spending time with his 8 children. He also enjoys mountain biking, ultimate frisbee, biathlon, triathlons, marathons, hiking, bow hunting, and fishing.

Bill Clark has been a swimmer since he began swimming for the Sheehan Titans in Connecticut. He also swam for the Wallingford YMCA Dolphins and the Addison Otters Swim Team. Bill competed at a national level in the 50 meter freestyle. He began coaching when he was 15 for the Wallingford Dolphins and then moved to a few other USA swimming teams as he gained experience. He also worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor in his teen years. He has been coaching with VST since 2017. Bill has also served as the Champlain Valley Swim League Board President for the past 4 years.

Bill has 4 children who swim for VST and his family has been a part of VST for almost 10 years. His favorite stroke to swim is freestyle sprints. He enjoys tearing through the water at full speed, but only for a few laps. He also enjoys swimming the 100 yard backstroke and the 200 I.M.

Bill love’s VST because we work hard, but we also have a lot of fun. He has been a part of many swim programs over the years, but VST tops them all when it comes to fun traditions and team-building activities. He is looking forward to another great season of best times and lots of laughs. In his free time, Bill enjoys spending time with his family and taking on many (many!) outdoor building projects.

Coach Addie Brooks has been a member of the Vergennes Swim Team (VST) since 2007, swimming all the way through elementary school, middle school, and high school. Addie also swam for the Addison Otters. Addie is a founding member of the Swamuri Council, the VST teen group that plans and organizes trips and fundraisers for VST teens.

In 2020, she became a member of the coaching staff for VST after volunteering for a few years and working at the Vergennes City Pool as a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor. Addie’s sister also swims for VST and her family has been a part of VST for 15+ years. When Addie began swimming, her favorite stroke was backstroke, but now her favorite stroke to race and practice is breaststroke and she also enjoys swimming fun relays .

Outside of swim team, Addie goes to school at the University of Vermont and is going into her senior year as an early education major and special education minor. Addie enjoys working at the Thundercare and Fusion programs at VUES, baking for her family, embroidery, reading, hanging out with her two sisters (pictured above), and swimming.

Still new to the Vergennes Swim Team Cherise Woods brings plenty of smiles and cheer. Cherise moved to Vergennes in 2021 with her family of five. As a mom, educator, and much more Coach Woods brings her swimming and life experience to the little city. Having swam all through high school and competed in many triathlons she knows how to get the most out of her body. After having a stroke at the age of 9 Cherise's message is "consistency and perseverance drives success". She looks forward to another great year of coaching young athletes! 

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family outside. Hiking, biking, swimming, and chasing after her 3 kids is what she loves to do.