Coaching Staff


Meet our Coaches

Jim Peterfish

Owner and Lead Administrator

Jim is President of Youthletics Inc. a youth sports business that currently operates Westerville Ohio Aquatics and Central Ohio SwimAmerica, serving as many as 6000 children and adults annually in learn-to-swim programs at multiple sites around Central Ohio over the past 30 years


Coaching with WAC

  • Head Coach: 1985-2025
  • Owner: 1992-present
  • Age Group Assistant: 1977-1985

Awards and Recognition

  • 3x Ohio Senior Coach of the Year
  • 2008 OHSSCA Sportsmanship and Ethics Award
  • Coached 2 OHSAA State Record Setting Swimmers
  • Austin Staab (National High School Swimmer of the Year & American Record Holder)
  • Kate McNeilis
  • 2007 Head National Coach of USA Association of Blind Athletes
  • 2007 & 2009 Head World Youth Sports Game Coach

.Current Positions in Swimming

  • General Chair of Ohio Swimming
  • Led Ohio Swimming through its merge with Lake Erie Swimming

 .Previous Positions

  • Physical Education Teacher at Ohio State School for the Blind (31 years)
  • Co-Athletic Director at OSSB

Calvin Higdon

Head Coach (Senior/S2)

Coach Calvin is in his second season as head coach of Westerville Aquatic Club. Prior to taking over as the 7th head coach of the program, Coach Calvin served as the Head Age Group Coach for four years.


Coach Calvin has had the privilege to coach age group and senior level swimmers that have represented WAC at some of the highest levels within the Ohio LSC and Nationally.


Coach Calvin has been a part of Westerville Aquatic Club since 2008. Prior to joining WAC, Coach Calvin started swimming for the Annehurst Pirahnas summer league team. Coach Calvin was a multiple time OHSAA State Finalist, swimming for Westerville South High School. 


Above all, Coach Calvin believes that families who balance swimming in their lives in a healthy manner will have the most success long term. A strong swimmer is a fast swimmer, a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer, and families who are supportive and growth-oriented help their children maximize both these qualities.


Coaching with WAC

  • Head Coach: 2025-present
  • Head Age Group Coach: 2021-2025
  • Assistant Coach: 2018-2021


Previous Positions

  • Olentangy High School Head Coach: 2018-2025

Senior Coaches

Matt Phillips

Lead HS Coach

Brent Axline

Senior Assistant Coach

Rob Mills

HS Assistant Coach


Age Group Coaches

Abigail Kotik

Bronze Lead Coach

Megan Wion

Silver 1 Lead Coach

Nick Borghi

Gold 1 Lead Coach

Libby Ruff

Gold 2 Lead Coach

Wendy Butcher

Assistant Coach

Emily Ellsworth

Assistant Coach

Jody Edwards

Assistant Coach

Morgan Govekar

Assistant Coach