Coaches
Coach Bekemeyer is a retired middle school teacher with 20 years of experience teaching Science and STEM in the Atlanta area. He served as the middle school swim coach for the last eight years of his teaching career.
Growing up in central Florida, he began swimming at the age of two and has remained passionate about the sport ever since. Before relocating to Florida, he was a certified swimming official for high school and college meets across the state of Georgia. He also worked for the YMCA in Georgia as a swim instructor and coach for more than ten years.
Coach Bekemeyer is currently a swim instructor for Florida’s First Coast YMCA in St. Augustine.
He is very excited to serve as the Silverleaf Swordfish Head Coach and looks forward to working with Silverleaf swimmers and their families to create an atmosphere of safe competition, growth, and fun both in and around the water.
His motto is: “Perfect Practice Makes Perfect!” — Vince Lombardi
I grew up in Lakeland, Florida, and started swimming at just 2½ years old. From ages 6–8, I swam on a local Yacht Club team before shifting my focus to competitive tennis throughout high school and college.
My passion for swimming was rekindled through my children when they chose the sport. I began as a timer and later became a certified swim official during their high school years. While swimming daily at the YMCA, I was recruited by the Aquatic Director to teach group lessons. I went on to teach private lessons for 11 years and spent my final three years there as an assistant coach at the YMCA in Georgia.
My husband, George, who serves as head coach for the Silverleaf Swordfish, and I also worked together as assistant coaches for the YMCA Dolphins during our final year.
A fun fact about me: I swim a mile at 5:00 a.m., five days a week—and I personally practice the same drills I teach your kids.
Assistant Coach: Arturo "ArtMont" Montilla
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Coach ArtMont’s journey in the water began before the age of three. His dedication to the sport earned him a full athletic scholarship to the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR), where he refined the skills that would take him to the global stage.
A powerhouse in the Breaststroke and Individual Medley, ArtMont was a National Record Holder in the 100m Breaststroke (PB: 1:05) for two consecutive years. His international experience is extensive, having represented his country in three FINA Swimming World Cups (New York 2007, Shanghai 2008, and Dubai 2010), as well as the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez. His competitive resume also includes multiple appearances at CCCAN and CISC championships.
For Coach ArtMont, competitive swimming is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. His coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that "the body follows the mind," emphasizing that peak performance requires the total alignment of physical effort, mental toughness, and spirit.
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