High Tide Aquatics Coaches

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. Since 2008, High Tide has sent five swimmers to the Florida Swimming All-Star 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.

Other coaches:

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 Charlie

Coach Jesse Brock

Coach Marc Shahboz