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Coach AJ Shephard -------------------------------------------
Coach AJ has been coaching the Stingrays for the last 3 years. He brings with him a long history of coaching. During high school and college AJ was an assistant coach at Southern Chester County YMCA and Shippensburg Aquatic Club. Following college graduation AJ was the head age group at Florida Atlantic Swim Team from 2004-2006 where he was responsible for the achievements of Junior Olympic place winners and several AAAA time performances. During his time with Florida Atlantic AJ coached Florida Atlantic University High School team where he had several student athletes place at the district meet. After a short hiatus from swimming AJ continued to the DeVos Blum Family YMCA from 2007 to 2008 where he helped transition the team from a recreational program to a fully-fledged USA Swimming program. In 2010 AJ landed at the Kennett Area Y where he assisted the athletes to compete at the district, state, and national level meets. Also, in 2010 AJ began coaching for Kennett High school. His achievements at KHS include the program receiving the Chesmont sportsmanship award and placing athletes in the state finals. Following graduate school in 2017 AJ left Kennett Y and high school to relocate to Lewistown, PA and began coaching with Juniata Valley Y where he oversaw the swim team stroke academy and worked primarily with the 12 and under age group instilling proper stroke technique and training regiments, AJ has also coached triathletes and master swimmers for the City of Boca Raton and Kennett Area Y.