Marcelo Possato
Co-Head Coach
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A native of Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, Coach Marcelo’s swimming accomplishments
include being a 5-time Brazlian junior champion, NCAA Division I
qualifier, World Cup and U.S. Open finalist, and a top 50
world-ranked swimmer. Utilizing his own achievements and abilities,
Coach Marcelo’s goal is to pass on his experiences and
enthusiasm for swimming to the next generation of athletes,
including the discipline and appreciation for hard work to be
successful and reach new goals. He began coaching BEST in
2007 and has developed many Regional and State qualifiers and
champions. Under his leadership, BEST now has a National
qualifier.
Jim Nickolov
Co-Head Coach
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Coach Jim started swimming at the age of nine and was a member
of the Bulgarian National Team for seven years. He received the
Indiana Coach of the Year award in 1985 while head coach at
Merrillville High School and Merrillville Aquatic Club (1983-1989).
Coach Jim also held head coaching positions for the Munster Swim
Club (1989-1992), Hanover Park Sailfish (1994-2000) and
BEST (1998-present).
Steve Macholl
Assistant Coach
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Coach Steve swam for the Hanover Park Sailfish through 1993. The
same year, he made the transition into coaching at the Park
District level. Steve began coaching BEST in 1998 and
believes in proper stroke training in order to reduce the chances
for injury.
Karl Volkman
Assistant Coach
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Coach Karl swam for a variety of clubs beginning
at the age of seven through high school. He has been giving
instruction to kids for the last 14 years as a swim coach, as well
as multiple years as a sixth grade science teacher in Bloomingdale.
He began coaching BEST in 2005.
Lynn Kelly
Assistant Coach
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Coach Lynn Kelly swam for the summer swim team in Effingham,
Illinois beginning at the age of seven through high school. She
began teaching swim lessons at the age of 16 and began coaching
various summer clubs at the age of 18. Lynn holds a degree in
Elementary Education and has taught 5th and 6th grade for 8 years.
She has also coached track and cheerleading. Coach Lynn enjoys
watching her 3 daughters swim for the BEST club.
Margie Ellwood
Assistant Coach
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Coach Margie
Ellwood began competing in swimming at age 8 and continues to
compete in swimming and triathlons. In addition to coaching
for BEST, she coaches the Bartlett Master’s Swim Team
and the Master Swim Clinic and recently has begun teaching Yogafit
classes. She enjoys coaching proper strokes, turns and
starting techniques in a productive, fun environment and hopes to
encourage each swimmer to behave with good sportsmanship, to be
confident in his/her abilities and have pride in what he/she
achieves.
