Biography link

Chris Pfaff joined the Carmel Swim Club staff in April of 2014.  He currently serves as the Associate Head Coach. He has previously served as the Head Age Group Coach and lead Coach of Challenge 1, Senior 1, Challenge 3, Exploration 1 and Imagination 2 training groups.  Additionally, Chris has served on the staff of Team Indiana at the 2016 Mid-States Championships.

Coach Pfaff previously coached at Boilermaker Aquatics from 2011-2014.  He also has high school experience coaching at West Lafayette West Side High School from 2011-2014, serving as Head Coach 2013-2014.  Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for the sport to CSC. 

Chris swam for South Bend Riley High School for 3 years. After high school, he continued swimming for Purdue University (2007-2011) and graduated with a degree in Movement and Sports Science.

Kyle joined the Carmel Swim Club staff in May of 2023. Kyle is the current Head Age Group Coach and Lead Coach for Challenge 1. 

Prior to joining the CSC Staff, Kyle was the Head Age Group Coach and Senior Assistant Coach for Gold Medal Swim Club in Chandler, Arizona for 5 years. Throughout those 5 years, Kyle helped grow the program from 50 swimmers to over 200, and from a 10th place finish at the Age Group State meet to being 2-time State Champions. Kyle's age group team was also recognized as the 45th and 37th best age group program in the country in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Kyle's assistance with the senior side of the program also helped propel Gold Medal into becoming a Bronze and Silver Medal Club in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Kyle was selected to be a Lead Coach for the Arizona Swimming All-Star meet in 2023 and was selected as one of the recipients of the American Swimming Coaches Association '30 under 30' coaches in 2022. Additionally, Kyle was also the Head Coach at Campo Verde High School in Gilbert, Arizona for one year, where his team finished 2nd place at the AIA Division 2 State meet. 

Kyle grew up in Normal, Illinois, where he swam for the BNY Waves, BNSC, and University High School. 

Jon Ranochak joined the full-time coaching staff in the fall of 2014.  He currently is the Lead Coach for the Exploration 1 and Senior 2 training groups.  Previously, he served as the Lead Coach for the Imagination 2 training group.  Coach Ranochak is also an assistant coach on the Carmel High School staff.

Jon previously coached at the South West Allen County (SWAC) Swim Team from 2011-2013.  There he served as an assistant coach in their senior program, as well as Interim Head Coach for a large portion of 2013.

Jon attended Purdue University majoring in Law and Society.  He also minored in Psychology, Organization, Leadership, and Supervision.  He was a four year letter winner swimming for the Boilermakers.  Jon grew up swimming in Fort Wayne, Indiana and was a high school All-American at Homestead High School.

Coach Melanie joined the club in June 2018. She is currently the Lead Coach for Senior 3 and Imagination 1 as well as an assistant coach for Senior 2.  Coach Melanie joins the club with over 18 years of coaching experience. She started her coaching career at the Annapolis Swim Club in Annapolis, MD. Most recently, Coach Melanie was an assistant coach at the Lawrence Swim Team and Lawrence North High School.

Coach Melanie grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio before moving to Pasadena, Maryland her senior year of high school.  Coach Melanie continued her education at McDaniel College (Western Maryland College), in Westminster, MD where she graduated with a degree in Exercise Science/Physical Education as well as minors in Sports Coaching and Sports Management.  Coach Melanie represented McDaniel College at the 2002 NCAA Division III Nationals, where she competed in the 1650 Freestyle, the 500 Freestyle, the 400 Individual Medley and the 200 Individual Medley.  Before graduating from McDaniel College Coach Melanie decided she wanted to continue her coaching career and took the Head Coaching Position at Pendleton Swim Club and Pendleton Heights High School, which allowed her to move to Indiana so she could be closer to her family.

Throughout Coach Melanie’s coaching career she has been a part of several Zone and Mid States Staffs.  In 2010 Coach Melanie became a member of the Indiana Swimming Board of Directors, and was appointed as the Team Indiana Manager.  Coach Melanie served as the Team Indiana Manager for seven years before stepping down, so she could focus on her coaching career.

Kayla has been Club Coaching in various lead and assistant positions since 2013. She was most recently the Head Age Group Coach at Prime Aquatics in Alcoa, TN (2021-2023). Prior to Prime, she held various positions at Tiger Aquatics in Baton Rouge, LA (2015-2021) and at Nu Wave Swim Club in New Orleans, LA (2013-2015). 
 
She has been a part of 5 Age Group Zone Teams (4 as an Assistant Coach, 1 as Head Coach), an assistant coach for the USA Swimming Southern Zone Select Camp, and is currently a part of the USA Swimming Women in Governance program. 
 
Kayla grew up in Portland, Oregon where she swam for Parkrose Swim Club/Mt. Hood Aquatics and St. Mary’s Academy. In college, she swam at Tulane University and graduated with a B.S. in Public Health and has a Masters in Healthcare Administration.

Kinsey coached with Lakeside Swim Team in Louisville, KY for three years where she was Head of the Developmental Program and also served as Meet Director.

She grew up in Carmel and swam from fifth grade through the end of high school. She was involved with the Carmel Aquatic Center as a Swim Instructor and junior coach.

Kinsey attended the University of Louisville and has her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Coaching, teaching, and swimming have always been three of her biggest passions, and she is very excited and grateful to be back home at the club that raised her.

Allison grew up in South Bend, Indiana where she started swimming at age 7 at South Bend Swim Club.  She swam primarily butterfly and distance free in college at IUPUI.  Allison graduated from IUPUI with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and now works as an Engineer for Citizens Energy Group.  After college, Allison quickly missed the sport and was eager to be a part of swimming again.  Over the last couple of years, she has coached a variety of ages and skill levels, including 10&Under swimmers at Lawrence Swim Team before joining the CSC coaching staff.  Prior to coaching, she spent her summers and free time in college teaching swim lessons.  Allison is excited to be a part of Carmel Swim Club and is looking forward to coaching Imagination 2.

Kinsey rejoined the club in September 2022 as the Lead Coach for Discovery 1. Kinsey attended Ball State University from 1999-2005, and graduated with a degree in Exercise Science: Aquatics. After graduation she moved to Louisville, KY and worked as an Aquatics Director for a local community center for 3 years.  Kinsey then went on to work as an assistant coach for Lakeside Swim Club and helped coach a variety of age groups, primarily 6–12-year-olds.

In 2008 Kinsey moved back to Indiana and accepted a job with Carmel Swim Club as the Aquatics Director. She worked as the Aquatics Director from April 2008-August 2015 where she managed the swim lesson and community programs offered through the Center. She also worked as an assistant coach for the Discovery 1 & 2 groups during her time with CSC! 

In her final two-years with the club, Kinsey went back to school at Indiana Wesleyan and completed an Elementary Education degree. She is currently living in Westfield with her husband, Jeremy, and her two boys; Nathan & Calan.

DesNeiges Buchanna is back for another season with the Carmel 10 & Unders: she is the Co-Lead of Discovery 2.  She has over 15 years of experience in the Carmel program.  DesNeiges has also been an assistant coach for Center Grove Aquatic Club.  She has been around competitive swimming nearly all her life and she excels in teaching our youngest athletes the proper fundamentals for future success in the CSC program.

DesNeiges has taught kindergarten in the Indianapolis Public School System for 20 years.  She currently lives in Indianapolis and enjoys spending time with her son Parker.

Megan grew up on the south side of Indianapolis and started swimming on a swim team at 5 years old.  Before moving to Carmel from Greenwood IN, Megan coached for the Greenwood Gators from 2000 to 2007 and coached the Greenwood Middle School swim team for three years.

After graduating college in 2007, she accepted a teaching position at Creekside Middle School and started coaching for the Carmel Swim Club. She coached until 2013 when her son, Mason, was born. Megan then took a break from coaching and also had a daughter, Morgan.  Now that her children are swimming, she is excited to be back on the deck coaching again. Megan taught math at Creekside for three years and now teaches math at Carmel High School.

Nicole Bills became the Aquatics Director in August of 2015.  She is a full-time member of the Carmel Swim Club Staff.  Nicole oversees all non-competitive programming (swim lessons, community lap swim, masters, and facility rentals) and manages the Carmel Swim Academy.   She also sets ups and tears down all Carmel Swim Club and Carmel High School swim meets that are scheduled at Carmel High School. 

Nicole came to Carmel from after serving as the Aquatics Director at the Jerry L. Garver YMCA in Canal Winchester Ohio.  She previously worked in South Carolina at the Greenville YMCA and was the Head Swim Coach for Eastside High School. 

She brings a vast amount of aquatics experience to the program.  Nicole has managed and taught swim lessons, managed lifeguards and swim instructors, as well as coached various swim teams the past 17 years.  Throughout her career, she has traveled to various parts of the US to work in different fields of aquatics including sleep away camps and Sea World.  She is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science with emphasis on Aquatics.  While at Ball State, she worked with the university Women's swim team as a volunteer assistant. 

Nicole loves to be in the water and teaching kids.  She enjoys all levels and age groups.  Nicole especially loves being in the water with her two young kids Ella and Michael.
 

Brittany Van Meter joined as the Aquatics Director of the Carmel Swim Academy in April 2022.  She is a resident of Indianapolis and alumni of Pike High School and the University of Indianapolis.

 She came to Carmel from Indy Parks & Recreation after serving the community in Indianapolis for 20+ years.  She started her career in Aquatics as lifeguard and moved up to Pool Manager, Park Manager and finally the Aquatics and Staff Training Manager.  Throughout her career, she has organized and taught swim lessons, operated large and small aquatic facilities, managed and trained staff and coached and oversaw swim team programs.  In her most recent position, Brittany focused on Aquatic Risk Management and Lifeguard and Lifeguard Instructor Training.

Brittany loves spending spare time in the backyard pool with her husband, Brett and 2 kids, Connor & Elliot, as well as travelling whenever possible!

Maggie Mestrich returns to Carmel Swim Club as Director of Business Development. In this role, Maggie oversees the Carmel Swim Academy construction and fundraising efforts as CSC works to expand its community programs and impact. From 2009 to 2012, Maggie was a full-time coach (working with Challenge 2 and High Performance) and the Director of Operation Omaha 2.0 for Carmel Swim Club. Prior to coaching with CSC, Maggie was the Head Age Group Coach of the Fishers Area Swimming Tigers, and served as a Volunteer Assistant Swim Coach with Indiana University.

From 2012 through the end of 2019, Maggie worked as the Director of Development for the Joseph Maley Foundation, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization with the mission, “serving children of all abilities.” At JMF, Maggie was responsible for all aspects of fundraising and communications.

Maggie lives in Westfield with her husband Jeff, a Physical Therapist, and two children: Leo (7) and Maisie (3).