Our Team
Carly Lobdell
Founder and Executive Director/Swim Instructor
Meet the founder, Carly Lobdell! Carly graduated from UGA with a degree in Marketing and International Business as well as a minor in Spanish. She is very passionate about swimming and has been coaching for 8 years! She has been swimming since age 5 and was a coach on her neighborhood team, the Laurel Springs Piranhas, during high school. She is excited to pursue her passion for teaching everyone to swim. Her favorite part of the job is bonding with her students. What makes her proud is seeing her once timid students’ confidence shine!
Theresa Gonzalez
Director of Operations/Swim Instructor
Hey Everyone! I’m Coach Theresa and I am incredibly excited to be joining the Oconee Flippers Team. I have a Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Human Development and Family Studies and I have 20+ years of experience working with children (of all ages) in a variety of settings. I have been a student teacher, assistant teacher, babysitter, nanny, soccer coach, dance teacher, and Preschool Lead Teacher. I also have several years of experience working in various office and administrative roles as well.
I strive to build a connection and relationship with each child with whom I have the privilege of working. My goal is to provide a positive and welcoming environment for each child as they learn to swim and learn how to make safe choices around water. I also have experience working with children with developmental differences. I believe swimming is an important life skill, and I am looking forward to working with your children.
Cecíl Mullan
Program Director/Swim Instructor
Born and raised in New York City, Cecíl (suh-SEEL) started lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons in 2016, and taught private swim lessons on the east end of Long Island from 2019 through 2024. Cecíl has always been a water enthusiast, learning to swim before they could walk, and earning their PADI Jr Open Water Diver certification at just ten years old (the youngest age possible). After high school, they played college water polo and coached a local competitive swim team. Cecíl briefly lived in Orlando, Florida and lifeguarded at Walt Disney World Resort pools, making magic while keeping guests safe. In addition to having been a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, they hold certifications as a PADI Divemaster, PADI Mermaid Instructor, DAN First Aid Instructor, and PFI Freediver and are always looking to add to that list! When they are not teaching lessons, you can find them working on school coursework, reading a fantasy or sci-fi novel, or playing a cozy video game in their hammock. Cecíl has a vast aquatic skill set and can teach lessons to all ages, abilities, and neurotypes. In addition to first aid and mermaid lessons, Cecíl loves working with our youngest swimmers (starting at six months) and is especially passionate about helping shy or anxious swimmers build their confidence in the water. Cecíl creatively imagines clever games and funny songs to captivate fearful young students, and has them practicing key safety skills before they even realize they are learning!
Kate Thomsen
Swim Instructor
Kate has been a dedicated swim coach for 20 summers, working with swimmers of all ages and skill levels—from infants as young as 4 months to adults in their 80s. With a passion for water safety and a special talent for helping anxious swimmers overcome their fears, Kate creates a supportive and confidence-building environment in and around the water.
A former state-level high school swimmer and collegiate club competitor, Kate brings experience and enthusiasm to every lesson. Now, as a parent to a 6-year-old daughter, they find even more joy in sharing a love for swimming and ensuring that every swimmer, regardless of age or ability, feels safe, capable, and empowered in the water.
Coach Caroline
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Caroline! She is a Senior at Oconee County High School and has been a competitive swimmer for 8 years. She started coaching 3 summers ago for the Oconee County Stingrays and loved it; so she is super excited to be joining Oconee Flippers and teaching year round! In her free time, she loves to travel, hang out with friends, and swim of course. Caroline is excited to teach kids safety in the water and watch them make progress and become more independent and comfortable with each lesson!
Coach Kailyn
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Kailyn! Kailyn is a Senior at Oconee County High School. Kailyn loves working with kids and has a background volunteering at schools and working at her church day camp! You can find Kailyn the happiest spending time with friends and family, making cherished memories. Kailyn hopes to help the kids get comfortable with the water while also ensuring the parents of their safety. She can’t wait to work with kids and see them thrive in the water!
Coach Lauren
Swim Instructor
Hi, I’m Coach Lauren! I am a third-year student at UGA studying Psychology and I’m from Cumming, GA. I love working with kids and I’m so excited to get to know and work with everyone and watch them gain confidence in the water. I’m super excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to build a fun relationship with these kids while watching them grow and become great swimmers!
Coach Jasmine
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Jasmine! She is currently a student at Oconee County High school and will graduate in 2026. She has a passion for working with kids and those with special needs. Outside of school Jasmine enjoys playing soccer, volunteering at ESP, and helping out at her church. She is excited to join the team at Oconee Flippers, where she can continue sharing her love for teaching, having fun with kids, and ensuring their safety as they learn this important life skill.
Coach Ella
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Ella! Ella is a Senior at Oconee County High School. Ella loves working with kids and has a background in interning at school and coaching kids in soccer. You can find Ella playing soccer or spending time with her family. Ella hopes to help every kid improve in swimming and feel safe and comfortable in the water.
Coach Natalie
Swim Instructor
I am a senior at Donovan Catholic School and I have been swimming competitively for 9 years on my local summer swim team and also swim on the Donovan swim team. l have also been a Junior Coach on my summer swim team for 3 summers and have been a lifeguard for two years. I also love to babysit and work with kids in my spare time. This is my first year with the Oconee Flippers and I am excited to be a part of the team. My favorite part about coaching is seeing the kids happy and finding their confidence while learning to swim.
Coach Tessa
Substitue/Summer Coach
Hi! My name is Tessa and I’m so excited to be part of the Oconee Flippers team! I am a Junior at North Oconee, and my dream is to swim in college. I have been swimming competitively for 7 years, and I am on the North Oconee State Team. In my free time I like to read, thrift, and paint. I have coached for my summer league team in the past and I cannot wait to continue to help kids feel more comfortable in the water!
Coach Aubree-Clare
Summer Coach
Hi, I’m Coach Aubree-Clare, and I’m so excited to be part of the Oconee Flippers team!
(Coach Aubree is back at Rhodes University but will be returning Summer 2026)
Coach Ansley
Summer Coach
Hi! My name is Ansley, and I’m so excited to be part of the Oconee Flippers team! I have swam competitively for 14 years for the Athens Bulldogs Swim Club. I am currently a Junior at Pepperdine University, where I swim at the collegiate Division 1 level and am studying Political Science. I love helping kids become more comfortable in the water and spreading love for the sport that has brought me so much joy!
(Coach Ansley is back at Pepperdine but will be returning Summer 2026)
