High Tide Aquatics Swim Coaches
Coach Mike and Coach Jennifer Davidson
Mike and Jennifer Davidson both have been around swimming since the 70’s as competitors. Jennifer swam 1984 US Olympic trials, and Mike swam 1984 Olympics for New Zealand. Also, during the 80’s they swam for US Head Olympic Coach Don Gambril at the University of Alabama. Both were all-American’s and Jennifer was featured on an ESPN backstroke technique documentary with Coach Gambril.
The New Zealand town of Whangarei is where Mike grew up. From 1987-1989 Mike and Jennifer coached and managed the indoor/outdoor swimming and diving facility with over 50 pool and swimming staff. They were both named as New Zealand National Swimming Coaches in 1988. In 1990 they returned to the United States and back to Alabama where Mike finished his studies and coached at the University, helping the distance program.
Upon completion of Mike’s studies they both returned to Florida and Jennifer’s home town, North Palm Beach. Mike coached a Master’s group with Jennifer’s Coach, Coach Dick Cavanah. During the 90’s they got into the restaurant business and started competing again; this time in different sports: Triathlons and bike racing. Both Jennifer and Mike made the USA National Triathlon Age Group Team two years running and competed at World Championships in Muskoka, Canada and Manchester, England. Jennifer capitalized on her cycling skill and competed in the 1996 US Olympic cycling trials and finally, the Hewlett-Packard Women’s Tour race (seven days Tour de France stage races) in Idaho two years running, 1997 and 1998. Mike was busy too, with marathons in New York, Disney, Miami and the Boston marathon with a time of 2.44. Jennifer also competed in marathons running the first three Disney Marathons with a personal best time of 3.33. With the triathlons came the challenge of the Ironman and Mike competed in the Japanese Ironman and the 1995 and 1996 Hawaii World Championship Ironman where he went 9-hours 5-minutes in 1996.
In 1999 they moved to Alachua and started a new restaurant, Harvest Thyme Café…and then ….in 2000 Jake showed up. Jake was born in Gainesville in April 2000 and as he grew Mike and Jen wanted Jake to be able to swim “at least all four strokes!!!” Now with a restaurant location in downtown and Jake attending school in Gainesville, it was time to get back into coaching and to get Jake started with “at least all four strokes.”
Mike and Jennifer started High Tide Aquatics, LLC in December of 2006. On day one three swimmers showed up, Brooke and Lance Reccoppa and Jake Davidson. High Tide Aquatics now has over 70 swimmers in various groups. Since 2008, High Tide has sent five swimmers to the Florida Swimming All-Star team and two to the zones team……..as Arthur Lydiard once said, “you don’t have to leave the city limit to find the next World Champion.”
Mike and Jennifer are American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Level III coaches. Jennifer Davidson also coaches PK Yonge swim team.
Coach Joyce Shahboz PT, CSCS
Coach Joyce has been a Physical Therapist since 1997 and is a member and registered health care professional for the USA Swimming Sports Medicine and Science Network. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Since graduating from the University of Florida, she has worked in outpatient orthopaedic and sports clinics treating everything from pediatrics to geriatrics. She has also worked with professional arena football and hockey players as well as other athletes of all abilities.
Ms. Shahboz holds multiple black belts and was formerly a martial arts instructor at the University of Florida. As an athlete, she has competed in numerous martial arts tournaments, mountain bike races, Master’s swimming events, triathlons, biathlons, running races, open water swims and what ever else she can fit into her schedule. Her areas of expertise include movement analysis, biomechanics, efficiency of movement, manual therapy and sports specific training.
Coach Marc Shahboz
Coach Marc Shahboz started competitive swimming at an early aqe in Miami, and has over 30 years of swimming experience. His coaches include: Robert Strauss, Al Sheeler and Kirk Peppas. Marc was an All American water polo player in high school and played throughout college during his undergrad at FSU. He holds a BS in Psychology (FSU 92) and an MFA (UF 1999) in Electronic Media. Marc is a full professor at Santa Fe College where he teaches Digital Arts and Design. While in Tallahassee, Marc coached 10 and under for the Maclay Blue Dolphins under Coach Marc Garguilo. He still enjoys competing in swimming and holds multiple USMS top 10 US rankings. In USA Swimming meets, he will occasionally swim senior events, and is edging closer to Grand Prix cuts. In the open water, Marc has been the fastest overall male swimmer in events such as the Jacksonville Xterra and the Publix Open Water Series.
In addition to swimming, coach Marc has taught martial arts and holds black belts in multiple styles. Having a father that owned a bike shop, he grew up in the cycling industry and has raced both on and off the road. Coach Marc is an avid swing dancer (with coach Joyce) and runs a blood cancer charity dance in the summer. He can also be found from time to time hanging upside down in the rock climbing gym.
Coach Austin Voutour
Austin Voutour is a student at the University of Florida studying applied physiology and Kinesiology. Austin coached the last two years with the summer league Oak leaf Orcas of Jacksonville. Coach Austin swam and coached for Dale Porter, Bolles Head Age Group Coach, while Coach Porter was Head Coach of Spartan Aquatic Club in Orange Park, Florida. Austin’s favorite stroke is butterfly! Coach Austin’s philosophy is to balance work and play, "swimming is a sport of consistency and dedication, not just in the pool, but outside the pool as well, and is just as mental as physical." Coach Austin coaches the junior team and is looking forward to coaching High Tide Aquatics Junior swimmers to new heights!
Coach Rob Ramirez
Coach Rob was born in 29 Palms, California, in the upper Mojave desert (a long time ago:-)!) Rob grew up in a military family traveling and living all around the United States. As a swimmer Rob was a High School All-American, a University of Florida Collegiate All-American (5-time) and world ranked swimmer. Rob is still on the USA all time top 100 times for the 50-freestyle! Coach Rob has been teaching learn to swim in Gainesville since 1976 and has been the Gainesville High School swim coach for the last 25-years-last year Coach Rob was Gainesville's Coach of the year after his boy's team placed second at States.
Rob has been employed by the Alachua County School Board for the last 29years. His first 14-years at A. Quinn Jones Center he was responsible for implementing a Physical Education program, a first of it's kind, and for the last 15-years Rob has been Dean of Students. While Coach Rob was helping students at A. Quinn Jones he also help start the North Florida YMCA Lighting Bolts who are now known as the Mako's of Gainesville.
Coach Rob is happily married to his lovely wife, Susan Eisen, and they will be celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary this year. They are the proud parents of Carly and Lily. Lily is a 12-time United States High School All-American and a current Collegiate All-American. Carly is a member of the PK Yonge swim team and is also enrolled in the Performing Arts Program at PK Yonge.
When Coach Rob is not coaching he enjoys the outdoors and can be found (a lot of the time) out on the lake skiing and towing would be victims behind his boat on a tube!!! High Tide Aquatics is lucky to have Coach Rob on the deck providing our swimmers unparalleled coaching and teaching with their swimming.