Murray Drudge
NYAC Head Coach

Murray began coaching with the Scarborough Swim Club in 1978 with their 12-under program. For four years he developed a passion for the sport and decided to make coaching his profession of choice. In 1982 Murray was hired by NYAC for an Age Group position by Head Coach Mark Temple. In 1985 Murray was offered the opportunity to coach under the world renowned Head Coach Paul Bergen with Etobicoke Swim Club. During the 1980's, Eswim Club was considered to be the best club program in the world at the time. After ten years of apprenticeship, Murray moved to the Regina Optimist Dolphins in 1988 as their new Head Coach. The Rods were a fledgling program and provided the perfect opportunity for someone intent on making a name for themselves to excel. After three years under Murray's leadership, the club won the National Age Group title and held this honour for three years as the strongest 17-under Canadian program. With Murray's guidance, Regina broke 36 National Age group records and also produced two outstanding coaches for Canada in Kevin Thorburn (Etobicoke) and Sean Baker (OAK). Murray is in his 16th season with NYAC and continues to produce National and International swimmers. He is considered to be one of the best club coaches in the country. In 2006 he was awarded the High Performance Coach of the Year for Julia Wilkinson's amazing performance that year.

John McLeod - National Development 1

John prides himself on a lifetime commitment to fitness. He swam competitively for 10 seasons in eastern Ontario and competed in several triathlons and a marathon. Continuing his lifelong passion for swimming John started his coaching career in 2000 with his local club. John brought his expertise and enthusiasm for coaching to the North York Aquatic Club in 2008 and since that time has worked with a wide range of athletes up to an AGN qualified level. Having worked alongside Murray Drudge in the past has helped him align his philosophy and training principles with those of NYAC. John believes that training for an IM/Aerobic based event schedule is best suited to developing the best age group talent in the country. A well rounded athlete consists of an eagerness to train, great attitude in practice/competitions and the ability to perform to their best at all times. John is currently qualified as a CSCA "Skills Coach" and ASCA "Level 2: Age Group International" and looks forward to furthering his professional development in the future.

Danica Milosevic- National Development 2 & Age Group North

Danica began coaching with NYAC in 2010. Before NYAC, she coached with the Markham Aquatic Club for four years, gaining experience with swimmers from the precompetitive level to the international level. She also helped other coaches with stroke corrections, skill and technique camps, and creating and implementing dry-land and year round swim programs. Danica is particularly interested in techniques, training methods and the human body. She is interested in coaching for the process, the path to success vs. the end result and loves it when a swimmer realizes that they are doing well because they are working hard. Her reward comes in seeing an athlete challenge themselves: mentally, physically, emotionally, and witnessing them grow as an athlete and as a person. Danica has a degree in Kinesiology (BSc) from York University, and is planning to become a certified personal trainer and apply to Masters programs in physiotherapy in 2012.


Rebecca Suen - Provincial 1

Rebecca started coaching with NYAC in 2006 immediately after she stopped swimming competitively with NYAC. She joined her first swim team in Scarborough when she was 11, but soon transferred to NYAC and improved rapidly under the eye of NYAC coaches. After a few months in the Youth group, Rebecca qualified for multiple provincials and then moved to the Junior National Group and continued to progress, qualifying for Eastern Championships (Nationals). Throughout her years as a swimmer, Rebecca racked up the medals and ribbons, receiving multiple high point awards while travelling to meets from Toronto to Sudbury to the US. Rebecca is currently finishing her B.Sc degree at York University for Kinesiology and will be taking an acupuncture diploma this year.

Brent Aquino - Provincial 2 & Tri-Swim

Born and raised in Toronto, Brent started his swimming career in North York. He eventually moved to the Etobicoke Swim Club, where he finished his club career and received a scholarship to the University of Arkansas. Brent is also the former Canadian Record Holder in the 3km and 5km swim. After his swimming career finished in Arkansas, Brent became the head medley and distance coach at the University of Arkansas for one year. After returning to Canada, he spent 9 years with the Mississauga Aquatic Club before moving over to the Etobicoke Swim Club. Brent coached 13 years at Etobicoke, where he has produced 28 National Age Group and 47 Provincial records, and has helped graduate 71 athletes to Universities in North America. Brent was honoured in 1992-1993, 1994-1995 and 1996-1997 as the Age Group Coach of the Year. Brent is currently certified NCCP (National Coach Certificate Program) level 3, and has been coaching for over 23 years. Brent is currently the Head Coach of North York Aquatic Club's Triathlon Program.

Suzy Simonetti - Youth & Senior

Suzy has been coaching at NYAC since 2004. Before NYAC she volunteered with the high school team and coached with the Parks and Recreation programs. However, it was Suzy's desire to teach children to swim well that brought Suzy to NYAC. Suzy's first exposure to competitive swimming was in grade 7 & 8. She went on to swim in high school at Oakwood Collegiate where she competed at OFSAA. Suzy joined a masters club while in University and continues to train with the North Toronto Masters Swim Club.
In addition to coaching, Suzy works as a supply teacher with the Toronto District School Board. Her favourite pet is a ferret (up until last winter she had two of them). She loves camping, canoeing and swimming long distances deep in the wilderness. Her goal is to save the planet!

Julia Drozdowsky - Age South & Intro 1

Julia is thrilled to be part of the amazing coaching staff at the North York Aquatic Club. As a competitive swimmer Julia began her career with the Etobicoke Swim Club. In her last years of high school, she moved to the Cobra Swim Club and discovered her love and talent for sprinting. In 2004 Julia began her studies at the University of Toronto and became drop-dead sprinter with the Varsity Blues Swim Team. Before earning her Honours degree in Political Science, she won 11 Provincial medals, helped set 5 Ontario relay records, was named a 5-Time Ontario University All-Star and earned a Provincial Award of Distinction. Currently, Julia is studying and performing under the Comedy Writing and Performing program at Humber College. Although she loves any kind of race, drop dead sprinting is Julia's passion.


Dani Samah - Intro 2

Dani began coaching with NYAC in 2010. Prior to that, he was assistant coach for the Penguins at Scadding Court Community Centre. Born in Canada, Dani moved to Malaysia when he was 4 and started swimming competitively for a team there when he was 10. During high school at Oakwood Collegiate, Dani helped lead his swim team to 3 city championships and an OFSAA championship. He was twice named "athlete of the year" for Oakwood and during his senior year was named MVP for the swim team. While at Oakwood, Dani swam in the same lane as fellow NYAC coach Suzy Simonetti. Dani loves to be with enthusiastic kids who want to swim and learn. He believes it's important not only to coach kids in swimming but also in self-esteem, self image, team work and confidence.


Kwesi Kwarko-Fosu - Intro 3

Kwesi has been a swimmer with NYAC since 2007, and has brought a positive attitude and high spirits to NYAC during the time he has been involved. After Kwesi stopped competing with NYAC in 2010, he stayed involved with the club by volunteering as an assistant with Youth Coach, Suzy Simonetti.
Kwesi coached a Waves group during the Spring of 2011 and also worked as one of the coaches for the NYAC Swimtec camp for the summer of 2011. He found this to be a beneficial experience, learning many things from coaches Guillermo (Billy Toro) and Suzy Simonetti. This season, Kwesi's focus will be on emphasizing proper body position and swimming technique, while keeping the element of fun central to the practice sessions.

Guillermo Toro "Billy" - Intro 4 and Waves

Billy started coaching with NYAC in 2010 after an illustrious swimming career with the club. He joined NYAC in 2003, moving up through the various group levels before joining head coach Murray Drudge's group in 2008. Born in Paraguay, Billy has chosen to be a NYAC coach because he loves the challenge of a new season and the challenge of each practice. He particularly enjoys working as a team with the swimmers and helping each person discover how to be the best they can be.


Sabrina Ng - Mentor Coach

Sabrina started coaching back in 2002. This is her 10th season with NYAC and she is looking forward to working with all development coaches within the club. Sabrina has trained many swimmers from pre-competitive to high-performance levels during her tenure in NYAC. She focuses on training not just the body, but the mind of a true competitor. Her knowledge and expertise in stroke efficiency has helped many of our swimmers in winning regional, provincial and national competitions. As a swimmer, Sabrina has competed since she was 6. Her most recent accomplishment was finishing first in both the 50m and 100m Breastroke at the World Master Games in Edmonton. She has a vast background in different training tactics and race strategies that can benefit swimmers at any level. Currently, Sabrina works full time at RBC Financial Group and is training with the North York Gators.

Claudia Bolognesi of Studio C

NYAC is delighted to have Claudia as part of our delivery team. Claudia has been certified through the American Council on Exercise as a personal trainer for over 10 years. In addition, she is a certified spinning instructor and a Sport Conditioning Coach. Over the years Claudia has taken many courses making her proficient in training and instructing on the following mediums and techniques: TRX suspension training, Bosu certification, Swiss ball training certification, Equalizer Instructor. Claudia completed her undergraduate degree in Brazil in Nutritional Sciences and she also completed a Master Degree in Sciences from University of Toronto. Claudia's clientele include: swimmers, cyclists, triathletes, rowers, runners, UFC fighters, hockey and lacrosse players. She loves her profession and takes it very seriously. She feels accomplished by her clients' success and in turn she expects a lot from them.