MEET OUR COACHES
HEAD COACH AUDRA SAUNDERS
I am pretty sure that I could swim before I could walk. Swimming has always been a part of my life. I started swimming competitively as a preteen for the Boys and Girls Club Team in Nashua. As soon as I turned 16, I took the lifeguarding class and became a certified lifeguard. I worked for the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Girl Scout Camp, Town Beach and a fitness club as a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor. Through my lifeguarding connections I started coaching a summer recreational swim team and fell in love with mentoring and guiding swimmers to personal best swims and successes. That was the beginning of my search to find a coaching home.
In 2008, I became the Head Coach for the Merrimack High School Boys and Girls Varsity Swim Team. I look forward to each winter season with my team. My team is an extension of my family and I continue to stay in touch with my swimmers after high school graduation. It is exciting to think that I am going into my 13th season coaching that team!
My full time job is as an art, photography and graphic design teacher at the Hollis Brookline High School. I have been teaching art for 16 years now. I have a Bachelors of Fine Art degree as well as a Masters of Education. I live in Amherst, NH with my husband, two sons, dog-Bear, cat- Macy, and bearded dragon- Sesame. I am also the artist and owner of a small art business on Etsy and I am currently working on a new art studio space to help grow that business. If I’m not on a pool deck or swimming, I can be found making art! I am excited to join the coaching team in Bedford for the Barracudas! I can’t wait for you to get swimming!
ASSISTANT COACH IVY BUXTON
Swimming has been a part of my life since I was 6 years old. I began swimming during the summer at our local swim and tennis club. Those summers quickly became my favorite part of the year, and I began to swim competitively year-round by the age of 9 years old. I grew up on the pool deck and loved every minute of it. Enough so, I decided to work as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the age of 15 years old. I spent more time near the pool than away. In addition to lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons, I also was an assistant coach for the recreational swim team, coached the pre-swim program, and became the head of the swim lesson program. This powered my passion for swimming but also for teaching others.
During the school year, I am a full-time elementary school teacher for the Bedford School District. I have a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development and Education from the University of Connecticut. When not on the pool deck, I enjoy gardening of all kinds and the outdoors. I have an outdoor vegetable and herb garden. As well as a plethora of indoor house plants. No matter what, I cannot get away from water. I love to fish during all seasons. I am excited to be part of the coaching team for the Barracudas and can’t wait for a great summer!