Skip Runkle
Senior Coach
Email
Coach Skip Runkle became the head coach at Mt Hood in
September of 2008. Skip coached at Multnomah Athletic Club
from 1981 – 2008, where he had tremendous success, leading
the team to four top 10 finishes at Senior Nationals. During
Skip’s tenure, thirteen of MAC’s swimmers have
represented the USA in international competition and MAC swimmers
have won 8 individual national titles.
In 1998, Skip received the American Swimming Coaches
Association’s Silver Achievement Award, given to coaches who
have experienced 15 years of placing swimmers in championship
finals of the National Championships. Skip is one of 12 coaches who
have achieved this level of coaching excellence.
Skip has been on the coaching staff for the USA National Team on 13
occasions, most recently as the Head Women’s Coach for the
USA at the 1998 Goodwill Games. This team won the gold medal in the
team competition. Skip has been the recipient of the "Ohio Coach of
the Year" award two times and the "Oregon Coach of the Year" award
three times. He has been very active in USA Swimming, both at the
local and national level.
Burt Stratton
Associate Senior Coach
Email
Burt’s swimming background starts with swimming and playing
water polo at the
University
of
Idaho
. In 1976, Burt became
the Aquatic Director and Head Coach at
David
Douglas
High School
. He was also the Head
Coach of the David Douglas Swim Club for many years. He is currently the Associate
Senior Coach of the Senior III squad for Mt. Hood Aquatics. During
his coaching career, Burt has coached Olympic Time Trial finalist,
National Finalist, and many Regional and State Champions. Burt brings experience and
stability to our Mt. Hood Aquatics staff.
Brandon Drawz
Senior I & Gold Coach
Email
Brandon (BD) has been involved in competitive
swimming since childhood. He had a successful career swimming
for the Multnomah Athletic Club Swim Team and the Lake Oswego High
School Swim Team where he was a State Champion and later in
college, at the University of Washington. BD has been
coaching for 15 years. He has coached for the former Phoenix
Swim Club, the Multnomah Athletic Club, and the University of
Wisconsin. Currently, he is the Aquatic Director for Mt. Hood
Community College, the Executive Director for Mt. Hood Aquatics
along with being the Black/Senior I team coach. BD has been
with Mt. Hood Aquatics for the last 5 years and has spearheaded
changes to make a great training and team environment for the
swimmers.
Jim F Bowe
Head Age Group Coach
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Coach Bowe grew up in
Seattle
. He began swimming competitively
when he was five years old and has been coaching since he was
nineteen. Jim is the
Head Age Group coach for Mt. Hood Aquatics (formerly DDSC) and
coached for DDSC since 1996. His previous coaching experience
includes the King Area Dolphins and
Kennedy
High
School
. He has coached Zone Teams and
All-Star Teams. Jim
coaches the Black, Senior I, and Senior Rec squads at the
DD location and is currently the David Douglas High School swim
team coach.
Dennis Baker
White & Red Coach [MHAC]
Email
Dennis was born and raised in Portland Oregon. He started
competitive swimming at the age of 5. He swam for David
Douglas Swim Club through high school and earned many State
Championships and All American honors. He attended the
University of Arizona and was Pac-10 champion twice in the 200
Butterfly. A two time finalist and three time participant at
Olympic Trials in 1980, 1984, and 1988. He was Oregon Male
Swimmer of the Year in 1979. This finished his "first life" in
swimming; his "second life" has landed him here at Mt. Hood
Aquatics. He began swimming again in 2000 and was awarded the
Oregon Male Swimmer of the Year in 2002 again at the age of
43. He is the oldest swimmer ever to qualify for the USA
Swimming Nationals. He narrowly missed becoming the oldest
Olympic Trials Qualifier in 2008 by the slimmest of margins.
He will attempt this again for 2012 representing Mt. Hood. In
2000, he began coaching younger swimmers and is the Head Coach of
the Oregon Reign Masters Swim Team which trains here at Mt.
Hood. Dennis loves to help younger and older swimmers find
their "inner athlete" and loves to train with the Senior Squad and
push them to new heights.
Seth D Dawson
White & Red Coach [Reynolds]
Email
Seth has been a swimmer with Mt. Hood Aquatics
(formerly Mt. Hood Swim Team) since 1997 and has 20 years of
competitve swimming experience. Seth received All
American Honors for 4 years and swam at California State University
at Bakersfield from 2003-2006. He was a member of the
2004 Mens NCAA Division II National Championship Team. He
graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration/Sports
Management. Seth has been coaching with MHA (MHST) since 1998
and has coached with the Aquatic Club of Bakersfield in 2004.
In addition, he helped coach for Oregon Swim Camp and the
Roadrunner Swim Camp in Bakersfield, California.
Jackie Martin
White & Red Coach [Barlow]
Email
As a young girl, Jackie started swimming with
the Santa Clara swim team in Santa Clara, California. As a
teenager, Jackie and her family moved to Oregon. Jackie swam for
the Barlow Bruins during her years in high school. Jackie then
attended MHCC and went to work for both MHAC and Gresham High
School pools. After getting married and traveling to Germany
through the military. Jackie worked with the American Red Cross and
was instrumental with the aquatic program. She also developed and
coordinated a series of aquatic events for their annual
“German-American Friendship Week”.
Jackie loves to coach and looks forward to many
productive and memorable years with the Mt. Hood
Aquatics!
Juan P Vidal
Red & White Coach [David Douglas]
Email
Juan has been involved with the David Douglas swim program (now Mt.
Hood Aquatics) for many years. He began swimming at age 10
and was part of the winning High School State team (David Douglas)
last year before graduating in 2008. Juan has been coaching
for MHA while attending Portland State University
. He continues to swim competitively for MHA and has Senior
Sectional achievements to his name. He enjoys coaching and
the opportunity to pass down his knowledge and experience to young
aspiring swimmers. He is an asset to our Mt.
Hood
Aquatics coaching staff. Juan coaches at the David Douglas
location.
