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 coaching staff. 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.
Growing up I juggled a full schedule of activities and sports that included swim, dance, and soccer. I spent many of my summers swimming for a local summer swim team and I swam after school at my local Y. I also swam for two years with a local club swim team and I began swimming on my high school swim team when I was in 7th grade. I continued to swim off and on during high school and into my first year of college. I played club soccer through my teen years and then went on to play soccer for two years in college.
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.
Gaby Delliponti
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Gaby Delliponti! She graduated from UGA in 2022 & swam competitively most of her life. When she’s not swimming she manages hospitality for the Georgia Theatre & works on music with friends! Her favorite part about coaching is helping kids build confidence while having fun in the water!!
Caroline Prince
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Caroline Prince! She is a Junior 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 teaching all year! 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!
Kailyn Fallows
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Kailyn Fallows! Kailyn is a junior 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!
Caleb Heiple
Swim Instructor
Hi everyone, I’m Coach Caleb! Caleb graduated from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology but is currently focusing on his career in the music industry, playing with several local bands and studying audio engineering at Tweed Recording. Caleb gained his swim instruction experience while working as a WSI, LGI, and Lifeguard at several pools for Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation throughout high school. His favorite part about coaching is seeing kids take concepts they’ve learned and apply them to the outside world, showing that they’re gaining more confidence in the water and that the instruction is resonating with the student.
Lauren McGarl
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!
Jasmine Lockamy
Swim Instructors
Meet coach Jasmine Lockamy! She is 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.
Ella Hudgens
Swim Instructor
Meet Coach Ella Hudgens! Ella is a junior 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.
Natalie Uptagrafft
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.
Copelyn Chastain
Swim Instructor
Hi everyone, I’m Coach Copelyn! I am currently in the 10th grade, and I attend Westminster Christian Academy, which is such a blessing in my life! I am very passionate about swimming, and I have been on the swim team for 5 years, so I am very comfortable in the water. I love working with kids of all ages and love to babysit. I think swimming is a very important skill to have in life, so I am super excited to help your kids learn, but also have fun!
Tessa Steger
Substitue/Summer Coach
Hi! My name is Tessa Steger and I’m so excited to join the Oconee Flippers team! I am a rising 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!
Aubree-Clare Flores
Summer Coach
Hi, I’m Coach Aubree-Clare, and I’m so excited to be joining the Oconee Flippers team! I’m a senior at Jefferson High School and swam varsity all 4 years for my High school team. I have been competitively swimming for 13 years, and I plan to swim in college! During my free time, I usually watch movies or color on my iPad! I have helped with swim lessons in the past, and I’m extremely excited to help kids be more confident in the water!
(Coach Aubree is back at Rhodes University but will be returning Summer 2026)
Ansley Halbach
Summer Coach
Hi! My name is Ansley Halbach, and I’m so excited to be joining the Oconee Flippers team! I have swam competitively for 14 years for the Athens Bulldogs Swim Club. I am currently a sophomore 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)
