Dex Zhan

Head Coach

Currently a sophomore at the University of Arizona and a member of the university's club swimming team, I bring a wealth of international competitive swimming experience. My journey in the pool began at the age of four in China, leading to professional training by age twelve. Prior to a back injury at fifteen, I achieved notable results, including a 4th place finish in the state (Shanghai) 400 IM and 7th in the 4x100 freestyle relay at age fourteen. After a break during high school, I've returned to the sport with the University of Arizona club team, even competing at nationals. My primary strokes are now butterfly and freestyle, and I continue to train as a sprinter, having previously excelled in distance events with personal bests in the 50 freestyle, a 58-low LCM in the 100 freestyle, as well in 200 IM. Beyond my personal swimming, I also have coaching experience, assisting age-group swimmers on my former team during high school and returning every summer to coach swimmers aged 6-12, where I lead both in-water and dryland training.​​

Welcome to the CT Marlins, Dex!

Dex is available for private swim lessons, contact via text/SMS below.

 

Rowdy Fordney

Assistant Coach

Rowdy is returning as a coach to the Marlins in 2025 for a 2nd year! He started swimming SAAA for Highland Vista when he was 4 years old every summer until the age of 14 and then focused on long course season instead of SAAA after. At 8 years old, he started swimming year-round for the Tucson Country Club then moved to the JCC for better training at age 12. He got much more serious about swimming his freshman year, when he qualified for High School state in the 500 free, which he tried for the first time that season. After High School season, he really learned the benefits of hard work and made huge strides in swimming that season. After COVID, he joined FAST, where he remained the rest of his career. While at FAST, he managed to qualify for sectionals in multiple distance freestyle events and butterfly events. He even made it to the D2 finals at sectionals in the 200 butterfly, which is by far his favorite event. At high school state his senior year, he managed to get 4th in the 100 fly, 8th in the 100 back, and dropped a significant amount of time overall.

Welcome back to the CT Marlins, Rowdy!

Rowdy is available for private swim lessons, contact via text/SMS below.