🐬 Meet the Coaches

🏊Coach Amelia – Head Coach

Amelia has been passionate about swimming since the age of four, when she first dove into summer league swimming. Her love for the sport quickly grew, leading her to pursue year-round competitive swimming all the way through high school.

A proud alumna of Gardner-Webb University, Amelia earned her bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. She is now a board-certified and North Carolina-licensed athletic trainer, as well as a teacher in Johnston County Public Schools.

🏅 Coaching Journey with ZST

• Joined ZST in 2014 as an assistant coach
• Serving as Head Coach for 11 seasons and counting

Amelia is deeply committed to the development of both swimming skills and swimming knowledge. She emphasizes:

• Technical precision
• Understanding the “why” behind each drill
• Building a strong swimming IQ

💬 Coach Amelia’s Philosophy

“Summer league swimming is a fun, energetic environment—not just for learning strokes and improving times, but for building lifelong friendships, confidence, and a love for the sport.”

She blends serious skill-building with team spirit and joy, making every swimmer’s experience valuable and memorable.

🏫 Assistant Coach Emma Bailey

💙 What She Brings to the Team

🏫 Assistant Coach: Avery Thomas

Avery began swimming with the Zebulon Swim Team at age 3 and continued year-round swimming for eight years after moving. Now in her third year coaching with ZST, she’s excited to be back with the ZST family!

Avery is a rising senior at East Carolina University, where she studies Interior Merchandising. She has a deep passion for swimming and enjoys helping young swimmers develop their skills while fostering teamwork and independence in the pool.