Shane Logan – Head Coach since 2005

Shane Logan joined RRST as head coach in 2005. Bringing a championship mindset to the team, RRST swimmers greatly improved through hard work and fun. He had an immediate impact, as the team more than doubled in size and several swimmers made their first LSC Championship cuts in his first year. Coach Logan’s swimming philosophy focuses on quality over quantity. He promotes technique work for stroke efficiency to maximize speed and endurance, while helping to prevent injury. He works hard to make each swimmer faster, as well as ensuring they have a good time, learn self-confidence, sportsmanship, and time management. Every year, he prepares seasonal plans for the team and for the individual swimmer. Practices are designed to optimize each swimmer’s physical and mental aptitude, preparing him, or her, to swim the highest quality race. Coach Logan’s growth as a professional is always evolving, as he is continually learning by researching, attending clinics, and keeping open dialogues with other coaches.

Since he has been with Rapids, Coach Logan has had at least one swimmer every year to a Top-10 ranking in the Niagara District, including several No.1 age-group rankings. Leading RRST, he has coached Eastern Zone All-Stars, Section V Champions and NY State Championships swimmers. In 2006, he was selected to be the 13-14 Boy’s Eastern Zone All-Star Coach and the Girl’s Scholastic Empire State Games Coach, which won Team Gold. He continues to lead RRST into becoming a highly competitive team in the Rochester area and in the Niagara District. His ultimate goal is to have swimmers continually qualifying for high level meets (such as Speedo Championships and Nationals).

Coach Logan began his career in 2001, serving as an assistant coach and recruiter at Nazareth College for Rick Aronberg, a former world-class swimmer, and an ACC top-50 All-Time athlete. Coach Logan was soon asked to help with Coach Aronberg’s club team, the Greater Rochester Racing Raiders (GRRR), where he soon took over as the team’s head age-group coach. GRRR was considered a highly competitive team in the country and has produced an age-group world number one, Olympic Trials qualifiers, national level swimmers, and many Speedo Championships qualifiers. During his time with GRRR, Coach Logan learned about the dedication and excellence it took to be a USA Swimming Coach. He started to leave a successful professional footprint, as he developed several individuals that went on to be successful swimmers in the Niagara District, Section V, NY State and college. He personally coached a swimmer to reach several age group No. 1 rankings and who went on to break a District Record. He has also coached at the high school level, serving as JV coach for Penfield High School.

Coach Logan currently lives in North Chili, NY with his wife, Jessica. He has a BFA in Illustration from The Ringling School of Art and Design. He has produced several published works, including a tennis manual and a motivational book written by famous tennis coach, Nick Bollettieri.

Lisbeth Vavalo – Age Group Coach since 2007


Lisbeth joined the Rochester Rapids Swim Team as an Assistant Coach in September of 2007. She primarily works as the Age Group coach with developing swimmers ages 6-13. While Lisbeth believes technique-work is crucial to competitive swimming, she also believes swimmers need to have fun and enjoy what they are doing. “I work to make our swimming environment as pleasurable and meaningful as possible. Swimmers should want to come to practice and look forward to learning new things.” In working collaboratively with Head Coach Shane Logan, Lisbeth is constantly implementing new drills and techniques. All competitive swimmers, regardless of age and ability, need to know the four fundamental competitive strokes. The quality of work is important, not the quantity.

Lisbeth began swimming at the age of 10 on a number of USA swim teams in the Syracuse area. Starting at the age of 12 she swam on the varsity swim team at Christian Brother’s Academy and continued to swim through her four years at William Smith College. Through years of tough training and great swims the most memorable moments for Lisbeth were the times spent making friendships and memories with her swimming “family.” While her favorite stroke to swim is breaststroke, Lisbeth believes the most important races are the ones where invested time and effort come together for a successful swim.

Away from the pool, Lisbeth works as a full-time mom.  She currently holds a New York State teaching degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Literacy. Despite her love for staying busy, Lisbeth always looks forward to coming home to her family.