Coaches & Directors
We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact one of the board members.
Coaching Staff
Janine M Yoder
Founder/CEO/Head Coach Of KASC
Janine moved to the Los Angeles area in August 2003, from Leavenworth, Washington where she was born and raised. She comes from a competitive swimming background, The Leavenworth Otters Swim Team. She started on the team at age 5 and has a total of 29 years of swimming experience. She has been a swim instructor/lifeguard for thirteen+ years. Besides having extensive teaching experience, she also is trained in First Aid, CPR/AED, Lifeguarding, Infant/Toddler, Water Safety Instructor, Fundamentals of Instructor Training, and Adaptive Aquatics Certification USMS Certified Level 3 Coach, Foundations of coaching, and many more.
In 2006, she opened Kidz Aquatic, LLC private swim school in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. Now, she runs the KASC nonprofit 501 (c) 3. Whether its lessons or club, we have it all.
She believes that Kidz Aquatic Swim Club can accomplish these goals because we believe in making swimming fun, and letting the swimmer enjoy the water, not fear it. We look at the age of a child and discover what they are capable of achieving. is to show both the youth and adults alike that swimming can be a rewarding and challenging experience no matter what their ability level. We are here to build a higher standard of team unity, character development, quality coaching, and family support. Janine wants the kids to love the sport of swimming as much as she does.
Come to join our KASC & VMSC family and be apart of great :)
Steve Frlekin
Gold, Assistant Coach, VMSC (ATLS)
Steve Started swimming when he was 6 years old (1954). Fearing water, he would not put his face in the water, so he swam like a water polo player. But when he went to the San Pedro YMCA, he saw all the swimmers with their faces in the water. He, then, started putting his face in the water. Steve has been either a solo National Record Holder in the age groups or a participant in relays in National Records. He has in one year participated or singly held over 13 National Records. He has swum in the Junior Olympics and has a Junior Olympic CHAMPION Patch (related to National Records), along with a Junior Olympic patch (which relates to being a Junior Olympic record holder). Steve swam in all age groups and High School (where he was an All-American for 2 years, 1966 and 1967), which he held a vast majority of the records at his High School.
Steve had two goals when he began swimming. One was to be good enough to qualify to receive a Scholarship to a University so his parents would not have to pay for his schooling. The second was to go to the Olympics. He reached his first goal in 1967 when he was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Southern California. Where he made the All-American Team in 1968. In 1969 Steve broke his eardrum after the Summer Nationals in Louisville, KY. Steve was selected to swim on the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay. The relay broke the National Record and missed the World Record by 3 tenths of a second. (There is a story behind this, ask him sometime). Steve almost reached his second goal in 1968 where he participated in the US Olympic Trials in Long Beach, CA at the Belmont Shores pool (which at the time was just finished).
In 1995 Steve thought about the possibility of coaching. He went to the local YMCA, the Mid-Valley YMCA in Van Nuys, and inquired about the swim team if it existed. The Administrator told him, they did have a team but lacked a coach. Steve responded to their call. Steve coached the Y team for only one (1) year. Due to a family crisis, Steve was unable to continue coaching after the season was over. Steve’s swimmers improved dramatically and actually had a winning season. The team of approximately 20 swimmers were saddened but understood the sensitive and immediate nature of his family’s crisis. Since then the crisis has gone through a generation of changes and has been quenched to a great degree. However, Coach Steve has compartmentalized these emotions and is looking for the next generation of Olympic swimmers. Come and meet Coach Steve during practices at CSUN (California State University at Northridge) Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Timothy Komori
Head Seahorse & Starfish Instructor and Assistant Coach
Bio to Come
Troy Sanders
Pre-Team (Navy), Assistant Coach
Bio to Come
Danielle Drake
Lifeguard & Seahorse, Starfish Levels Instructor
Bio to Come
Johnjairo Garcia
Lifeguard
Bio to come
Mark Soliva
Backup LG, Back up Assistant Coach
Mark Soliva has lived in the San Fernando Valley for most of his life so it was nearly fated that his path and that of Kidz Aquatic would cross. He swam and played water polo for 3 years in high school and was the Vice President of the CSUN Triathlon Team for 3 years. In the fall of 2008, Mark began working as a swim instructor with Kidz Aquatic and the rest, as they say, is history. Currently, he is the manager of Kidz Aquatic and brings with him an extensive first responder and aquatic instructor experience. He is certified in both American Red Cross first aid/CPR/AED and Lifeguarding as well as Emergency Medical Technician B Certificate. Some of his experience includes being an Emergency Medical Technician with PRN ambulance and the Safety Officer for Mountains Restoration Trust. Prior to working with Kidz Aquatic Mark worked as a Lifeguard with LA County where he first began his first responder career.
On his free time, Mark participates in numerous outdoor activities including hiking, backpacking, and fishing. He has competed in numerous endurance races including half/full marathons, triathlons, and one-half Ironman.
Directors for KASC
All persons listed here are parent volunteers who donate their free time and services without payment to help run our club. Also, they volunteer at all meets, so If you like to be a board member, please contact any member below.
The Board of Directors oversees the administrative functions of the club. The Board consists of three parents elected for rotating three-year terms. The elections for Board positions are held annually at the General Team Meeting (2 members are elected each year. See By-Laws on www.kidzaquatic.com for specifics).
Name Position Contact Address Phone Term
| Name | Office | Phone | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janine Yoder | CEO/President | janine@kidzaquaticswim.club | (818)599-4002 | 2017 |
| Janine Yoder | Head Coach | janine@kidzaquaticswim.club | (818)599-4002 | 2017 |
| Janine Yoder | Treasurer | janine@kidzaquaticswim.club | (818)599-4002 | 2017 |
| Andy Portenstein | Secretary | 2017-2019 | ||
| Andy Portenstein | Director | 2017-2019 | ||
| Janine Yoder | Director | janine@kidzaquaticswim.club | (818)599-4002 | 2017 |
| Claudia Castro | Director | 2017-2019 |