Our Team

Eric has developed a system over the last 15+ years that has created some of the top swim athletes in the world. He has been in the fitness industry for almost 20 years, and his professional journey in fitness started in college where he majored in Exercise Science at Purdue University. Upon graduation, he worked as the head strength and conditioning coach of a club swim team near St. Louis. After spending three years on the pool deck as the dryland coach, he continued to work with high school swim athletes, while at the same time taking on new experiences that ranged from being the Personal Training Manager of a high-end fitness company, to working as the general manager and lead coach at several group training gyms. Through all of these experiences, his passion for working with and impacting competitive swimmers became more and more obvious to him. After three more years rounding out his knowledge of biomechanics and swim-specific performance training, he knew it was time to follow his heart and start focusing solely on dryland training. He felt the need for professionally designed swim-specific dryland training in the club swimming world, and wanted to create something that no other program could rival.

This is his passion and expertise, and with the sole focus being on SwimStrong Dryland, he continues to fine tune his skills and hunger to deliver the best world-class dryland program on the market. His 15+ years of swim-specific experience uniquely positions him to help athletes reach goals they once thought impossible. Each dream achieved has made him dream bigger, reach higher, and desire to perfect his craft for the sake of the athletes and their families. He believes that dryland training should focus on more than just the body to get consistent results—the mind and heart must be strengthened as well. This belief led him to further his education and he received his Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology from Capella University. Inspiring young athletes to be not only phenomenal in the water, but phenomenal in their homes, schools, and communities is his passion. He wants to see the next generation positively impact the world and redefine the word “impossible”.

Eric lives in Indiana, where he treasures spending time with his amazing wife and daughter. In addition to SwimStrong Dryland, he enjoys traveling, hiking, sports, working out, reading, watching great movies, and giving back to the community. He also enjoys spending time with close friends and family.

Credentials:

• Master of Science in Sport Psychology – Capella University
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science – Purdue University
• Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist – National Strength & Conditioning Association
• Functional Movement Systems (FMS)
• CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (Resistance Training Blocks, Treadmill Interval Training, Indoor Rowing)

Bryan’s experience working with club, high school and collegiate swimmers is unparalleled, and he uses his wealth of knowledge and experience to continually transform SwimStrong Dryland into the premier swim-specific dryland program in the country. Bryan has been involved with the sport of swimming either as an athlete or a coach since he was 12 years old. He was a member of the club swim team in the St. Louis area where Eric Hudson began his swim-specific dryland coaching career. Upon high school graduation, Bryan earned a scholarship to swim at the Division 1 level. Graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Bryan began his strength coaching career with internships at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Illinois, and DePaul University.

After graduating, Bryan went on to earn his Master’s degree at the University of Louisville. While attending Louisville, Bryan interned with their Sports Performance Department, where he worked as a strength coach with the Louisville Swim Team for two years. He had the privilege of working with multiple Olympic athletes while at Louisville. He then went on to become the strength coach for the swim team at Lindenwood University in the St. Louis Area. In his two years with Lindenwood, he coached numerous Division 2 NCAA All-Americans, including an NCAA Champion, and he helped lead the women’s team to a conference title. With all his hands-on experience, Bryan was able to combine his knowledge as a former swimmer with the scientific training principles that are required to make swimmers faster in the water and more resilient to injury. Bryan now works full time with SwimStrong Dryland, making it his sole focus and passion to deliver the best possible dryland programming for our swim athletes. Bryan believes that we should never stop learning and researching so that we can always be growing and improving. He also believes dryland training should challenge athletes to develop both physically and mentally so they can be the best swimmer and person possible.

Bryan lives in Oregon with his wife Renae. In addition to SwimStrong Dryland, he loves spending time with his wife, their dogs (Duncan, Echo, and Atlas) and their cat (Moo). He also enjoys training, bass guitar, and the great outdoors.

Credentials:

• Master of Science in Exercise Physiology – University of Louisville
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science – Eastern Illinois University
• Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist – National Strength & Conditioning Association
• Youth Fitness Specialist – International Youth Conditioning Association
• Performance Enhancement Specialist – National Academy of Sports Medicine

Brittany is a certified Sports Nutritionist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and Precision Nutrition. She also holds a Youth Nutrition Specialist certification through the International Youth Conditioning Association and is an Allied Health Professional through the American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association. She strives to bring the most up-to-date, science-supported, and relevant nutrition education to all SwimStrong Dryland athletes, coaches, and parents via outstanding content, virtual webinars/seminars, and personal support. She also coaches a select few athletes in a small group setting.

Brittany has spent years creating nutrition education that will change the way swim athletes perform. Brittany was a competitive athlete herself from ages 5 to 18. In college, she began to realize she had been missing a key component of athletic performance her whole life – nutrition. She started making changes on her own and wanted to know everything she could about the field in order to help young athletes avoid the pitfalls she fell into.

Brittany is confident that nutrient-dense foods are crucial for peak athletic performance and that every swimmer has the ability to unlock hidden potential through proper fueling. She has experienced first-hand how a healthy relationship with food is a key starting point. She believes that habits hold great power, and that it is never too late to start implementing great habits that stick. These great habits will have a huge return on investment for the competitive swimmer’s performance, health, and well-being. She couldn’t be more excited to help meet the nutrition needs of the SwimStrong Dryland athletes!

Brittany lives on the Northside of Indianapolis with her husband, son, daughter and puppy. In addition to health and wellness, she enjoys bargain hunting, DIY projects, and spending time with close friends and family.

Credentials:

• Bachelor of Science – Purdue University
• Precision Nutrition Level 1 – Certified Exercise Nutrition Coach
• National Academy of Sports Medicine – Certified Sports Nutrition Coach
• American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association – Allied Health Professional
• International Youth Conditioning Association – Certified Youth Nutrition Specialist
• Nutrition Consulting Business Owner (2016 – 2019)

Summer Finke brings a unique combination of elite swimming experience, athlete development expertise, and a passion for helping athletes reach their full potential both in and out of the pool. She works closely with swimmers, coaches, and families to support the development of the whole athlete, believing that long-term success comes from more than just training and competition.

A two-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in 2012 and 2016, Summer grew up swimming at St. Petersburg Aquatics under coach Fred Lewis before continuing her career as a distance freestyler at North Carolina State University. While at NC State, she was a member of the 2019 ACC Championship team. Swimming has always been a family affair, as her older sister, Autumn, competed at the University of Florida and her younger brother, Olympic gold medalist Robert Finke, has become one of the world’s premier distance swimmers.

Following her competitive career, Summer earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management with a minor in Psychology from North Carolina State University and a Master of Science in Sport Management with a specialization in Athlete Development from the University of Florida. She has worked across athlete development, coaching, event management, marketing, and media, providing her with a well-rounded perspective on the athlete experience.

Summer’s philosophy is simple: “A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer.” She believes that athletic success is built on confidence, balance, personal growth, and a strong support system, and she is passionate about helping athletes develop skills that extend far beyond the pool.

Summer lives in Clearwater, Florida, with her cat (Tally), and two dogs (Keeli and Aster). Outside of work, she enjoys running, training for endurance events, exploring new coffee shops, and finding her next sweet treat.

Credentials:

• Master of Science in Sport Management, Athlete Development Specialization – University of Florida
• Bachelor of Science in Sport Management – North Carolina State University
• Minor in Psychology – North Carolina State University
• Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS) Certification

Logan joins SwimStrong Dryland with a deep passion for athletic development and a proven background as a lifelong swimmer & swim coach. Logan works directly with our club teams to design & implement periodized dryland programs for all age groups to enhance performance and promote long-term athletic development in and out of the water.  Beyond programming, he values the relationships built with coaches, believing that trust and collaboration are the foundation to help coaches and athletes become the best version of themselves, both in and out of the water. Logan also brings a wealth of leadership experience as he is passionate about developing and mentoring the next generation of swim athletes.

Logan started competitive swimming on a USA age group team in Central Illinois and upon graduation, continued to swim collegiately at a Division I program for four years. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science, Logan immediately got into coaching. Starting out in Kansas City as an assistant age group coach, then moving on to Wisconsin with experience as an assistant national team coach, head age group coach, and head coach. Logan has coached numerous swimmers who have achieved some of the highest levels of performance throughout his coaching career. 

Logan is currently living in Southeastern Wisconsin with his wife Karleen. Outside of SwimStrong Dryland, he loves spending time with his wife, cheering on Chicago sports, reading, traveling, golf, and spending time at the gym. 

His lifelong love for the sport of swimming, and the opportunities it has provided him, fuel his commitment to giving back to the sport and empowering the next generation of athletes to thrive.

Credentials:

• National Academy of Sports Medicine – Performance Enhancement Specialist
• American Council on Exercise – Certified Personal Trainer
• International Youth Conditioning Association – Certified Athlete Development Specialist
• American Swim Coaches Association – Level 3 Coach
• Bachelor of Science – Eastern Illinois University

Heather graduated from Purdue University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s in Business Management & from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2014 with a Master’s in Business Administration.  Heather not only has over a decade of administrative & business growth experience, but a passion for health & fitness as well.  Heather was a high school athlete who competed in both softball & cheerleading. She also went on to take part in two NPC bodybuilding competitions post-college.

As SwimStrong Dryland’s Director of Business Growth and Development, Heather assists the team with many administrative tasks, improving processes & functions, event planning and helping to grow the SwimStrong Dryland family.  Heather’s work will allow the team to focus more on the foundation of SwimStrong Dryland — the success and enjoyment of our athletes.

Heather lives North of Indianapolis with her husband (Aaron), her two huskies (Kiba & Kaia) & her cat (Yoshi).  She enjoys playing competitive darts, traveling & spending time with loved ones.

Coach Christen is a Professional Confidence Coach who works with Olympians, World Record holders and NCAA Champions.

She is former All American Swimmer at the University of Tennessee and she coached for 16 years, spending time as an assistant coach at Michigan State and SMU and Head Coach at the University of Miami.

During her time as a coach, Christen watched too many athletes miss out on their potential because of their lack of confidence. Realizing that there was a significant lack of resources for these athletes, Christen left her college coaching career and started Coach Christen, a business focused on helping athletes build their confidence and handle their pressure moments well.

She works one-on-one as a confidence coach with some of the best athletes in the world. In 2024, she had 7 clients qualify for the Paris Olympics bringing home 8 medals, including World Record holder, Gretchen Walsh. She is also a sought after speaker, speaking to teams, athletes and business leaders about building confidence and how to handle the “pressure to perform” moments.

Katherine Bell Hill, MD is a nationally recognized pediatrician specializing in sports nutrition, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), and eating disorders in athletes. She cofounded AthleatMD, a virtual medical and nutrition practice for athletes, with Dr. Megan Hellner in 2025, and currently serves as Medical Director. She completed her undergraduate degree, medical degree, and Pediatric residency at Stanford, and is a former faculty member at Stanford in Adolescent Medicine.

Megan is a nationally recognized sports dietitian and the Co-Founder and Nutrition Director of AthleatMD, where she specializes in sports nutrition, eating disorders, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). With more than 20 years of experience in the field, Megan has worked extensively with competitive athletes, including athletes within Division I collegiate programs, helping them optimize fueling, recovery, performance, and long-term health. Her clinical and professional work centers on the intersection of nutrition, performance, and athlete well-being, with a particular interest in identifying and addressing low energy availability and REDs. A former competitive swimmer herself, Megan brings both personal insight into the demands of the sport and extensive clinical expertise to her work with swimmers and other high-level athletes.

Credentials:

• Clinical Licensure

  • Registered Dietitian

• Undergraduate: BS, Foods and Nutrition, San Diego State University

• Graduate: MPH, Epidemiology, San Diego State University

• Doctoral: DrPH, Preventive Care, Loma Linda University

Kat McCurdy is a Registered Dietitian specializing in performance nutrition for athletes and the treatment of athletes with eating disorders and REDs.  Kat brings advanced clinical expertise in low energy availability, REDs, and performance physiology. As a former Division I cross country and track athlete, Kat offers a rare combination of firsthand understanding and specialized training in the challenges and needs of high-performing athletes. Kat practices from a weight-neutral, evidence-based framework to support athletes in fueling their best to feel their best. Kat regularly works with athletes presenting with complex issues, including chronic under-fueling, recurrent injury, hormonal disruption, and performance decline, and is skilled in guiding athletes through both recovery and sport. Kat’s experience includes developing and leading a comprehensive sports nutrition program for a nationally competitive high school rowing team and serving as a sports dietitian for a Division II athletic program. Kat is currently working as a Sports Performance and Eating Disorder Dietitian at AthleatMD, a virtual clinic specializing in medical and nutrition support for athletes.

Kat lives in Massachusetts with her husband and dog (Bodhi). She enjoys reading, finding the best coffee ships, spending time with friends and family, and skiing as much as possible in the winter.

Credentials:

• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics – University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Dietetic Internship – NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
• Registered Dietitian – Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Certified Eating Disorder Specialist – International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals

Credentials:

• Doctorate in Physical Therapy – Saint Louis University
• Master’s in Physical Therapy – Saint Louis University
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science – Saint Louis University
• 30+ years of experience in Physical Therapy
• 20+ years of experience working with swim athletes

Kaii Winkler, who has been part of the SwimStrong Dryland Family since he was a young age group athlete, has been competing since the age of 6. He has many years of experience with content creation, video editing, and has a passion for high quality content that will leave an impact on athletes around the globe and benefit their swim/life journey.

Kaii is an Olympian, as he represented Germany at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He is currently on the German National Team. He is a World Championship Qualifier and holds National Age Group Records in Germany as well.

Kaii is also a two-time USA National Junior Team member, a former World Junior Record holder, a three-time National Age Group Record holder, a three-time medalist at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, a four-time National High School Record Holder (Two SCY, Two SCM), a 33-time FGC Record Holder, a 13-time SSDL Record Holder, a two-time Florida High School State Record Holder, and a four-time state champion. Kaii has also won the SSDL Athlete of the Year award three times in a row.

Kaii currently swims at NC State University, where he is making waves at the NCAA level and on the world stage.

Erika Pelaez, who has been part of the SwimStrong Dryland family since she was a young age group athlete, has been a swimmer since the age of 5. Erika has a strong passion for what SwimStrong Dryland is doing for its athletes, and hopes to educate athletes worldwide about the program through our social media platforms.

Erika is a three-time USA National Junior team member, a four-time World Junior medalist, a two-time National High School record holder (SCM), a 57-time FGC record holder, a 13-time SSDL Record Holder, a five-time Florida High School State Record holder, and a 12-time Florida High-School State Champion. She was the youngest Olympic Trial Qualifier back in 2020 after qualifying for two events at the age of 13 (100 free, 100 back). She has also won two SSDL Athlete of the year awards.

Erika now swims at NC State University, where she has already set multiple school records and been an All-American multiple times.

Julie Mishler is from northern Indiana and has been part of the SwimStrong Dryland Family since early on in her high school career. She is passionate about reaching out to teams and athletes so they can be positively impacted, as she was, by the SwimStrong Dryland Program and Community. She has been swimming since she was 5 years old and spent 3 years training with the Fishers Area Swimming Tigers. Julie graduated in 2025 from Wawasee High School. She is passionate about swimming and always looking for ways to push herself and improve.

Julie is on the USA Junior National Team and represented Team USA at the 2025 Junior World Championships. She is a World Junior Record Holder with Team USA in the Women’s 4×100 Free Relay. She also qualified for the Olympic Trials in multiple events.

Julie broke the National High School Record in the 50 freestyle. She is an Indiana State Champion in both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle and also holds the Indiana State Records in those events. On top of that, she’s a two-time Winter Junior National Champion in the 50 freestyle (short course) and a two-time Summer National Champion in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke (long course).

Julie now competes for the University of Louisville, where she’s continuing to grow as an athlete and make her mark at both the collegiate and international levels.

Nicolas Kline brings 25 years of industry experience architecting technology systems and mobile applications scaled to millions of users. Over his career, he’s built a reputation for turning complex technical challenges into robust applications that users love.

Outside of work, Nicolas is on the soccer fields in Kansas City almost as much as he’s behind a keyboard — playing the game, coaching, and watching his three boys’ teams. He’s logged enough hours on the sideline for two lifetimes, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Owen Rauckman brings 16 years of experience building software and digital products. A full-stack engineer and designer, he loves turning ideas into real products, solving hard problems, and making complex technology feel simple and intuitive. His motto is pretty straightforward: “I like to make cool stuff.”

Outside of work, Owen loves to run, hike, play pickleball, work from coffee shops, and strike up conversations with strangers. He’s also always up for playing with unicorns or drawing with his daughter.

Porter LeVasseur is a USA Swimming coach and former Division I swimmer
with five years of collegiate experience, bringing a high-performance
background to athlete development

A current SSDL record holder, he combines elite-level competition experience with a strong technical foundation.

He earned his degree in Exercise Science from Long Island University and a
Master’s in Sports Leadership from Rider University, equipping him with
both the scientific and leadership principles behind effective training.

Porter currently serves as the Lead 11–12 Coach and Dryland Coordinator at
Excel Aquatics, where he plays a key role in developing swimmers during
one of the most critical stages of their careers. His work focuses on stroke
technique, strength development, and building training habits that
translate to long-term success.

With over seven years of experience teaching and coaching swimmers of all
levels, Porter has a proven ability to connect with athletes and help them
grow both in performance and confidence.
He is passionate about developing well-rounded athletes, emphasizing
discipline, accountability, and character—helping swimmers succeed not
only in the water, but in all areas of life.

After 25+ years in the health and wellness industry, Coach Chuck has always focused on taking a proactive approach to helping people live their healthiest lives. Seeing firsthand how crucial mindset, intentional movement, and healthy habits are in preventing health issues, he believes now more than ever that helping people stay in peak form will have a far reaching impact in every area of life.

What makes Coach Chuck uniquely suited to support swim coaches and families is not just his deep understanding of the physical body, but his holistic view of wellness—one that considers the demands and emotional rollercoaster of the lives of competitive swimmers and their families. For nearly 25 years, he’s been dedicated to guiding thousands of individuals toward their fitness and wellness goals, and now he’s turning his passion towards giving swim coaches and families resources to best support their athletes, as they take better care of themselves.

Coach Chuck knows that It’s easy to lose track of your own health and well-being in the process of serving others. That’s why he’s passionate about coaching and inspiring habits that will help you maintain your energy, patience, and mental clarity. At SwimStrong Dryland, Coach Chuck’s goal is simple: to help you gain the strength, resilience, and peace of mind you need to be your athletes’ best supporter. By focusing on your own well-being, you’ll be setting both yourself and your athletes up for success—inside and outside of the pool.

Credentials:

• 25+ years as a Health and Wellness Professional
• Certified Personal Trainer
• Certified Life Coach
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Public Speaker

Christine graduated from Purdue University in 2014 and has over a decade of business and administrative experience. She was a competitive athlete from childhood through high school and has a love of all sports. She has a passion for fitness and personal well-being, and enjoys learning about new ways to improve physically and mentally. Christine’s high character and care for people led her to want to make an impact with SwimStrong Dryland. She is continually creating new systems and procedures to make the delivery of the SwimStrong Dryland Program extremely efficient and practical.

As the Executive Assistant for SwimStrong Dryland, Christine works closely with the SSDL staff to handle a number of valuable administrative tasks in order to free up the rest of the team to focus on each of their specialities. This allows the SwimStrong Dryland Program to continually grow, evolve and thrive in powerful ways that positively impact every team and athlete we work with.

Christine lives Northwest of Indianapolis with her husband, two sons, and golden retriever. In addition to SwimStrong Dryland, she enjoys cooking, visiting new places and hiking with her family.

Ben’s love of filmmaking evolved from a love of travel and a desire to capture amazing locations in their best form. He’s lived in five countries and traveled to over forty. Since moving back to the US in 2021 and making the transition to working in video production full-time, he’s gone on to pursue other niches like sports and corporate videos.

Originally from New Jersey, Ben currently lives in Charlotte, NC. He frequently travels around the US and abroad for a variety of projects, aiming to make people feel meaningful emotions through video.

Josh bought his first camera just before taking a 6 month backpacking trip across South America.  Here he was able to learn more about photography and videography while capturing some of the world’s best views, and his interest in filmmaking and storytelling has only continued since then.

Josh currently lives in Charlotte, NC and works full time in video production.  He has a passion for sports, and was an All-American at the University of South Carolina in track and field, throwing the javelin.  Having the opportunity to now film sports really combines two of his biggest passions in life, and he loves being able to bring out the raw emotion that athletic competition breeds within his videos.