Amy Parent, Co-Founder, Head Coach [email protected]
Amy began swimming at the age of 5, with a wealth of experience as a competitive swimmer that spans high school, US swimming, and collegiate levels, she possesses a deep understanding of the sport. Amy’s competitive career took off as she represented New England Swimming while training with the Pioneer Valley Aquatic Club, where her dedication and excitement for the sport were evident from the very beginning.
She continued to excel in the pool at the collegiate level, attending the University of Connecticut, where she specialized in distance events. She earned recognition as a top 3 finisher in both the BIG EAST and ECAC championships. She graduated from UCONN with a degree in Information Management Services, demonstrating her ability to balance academics and athletics effectively. Furthering her education, she earned her MBA from Western New England University, equipping her with valuable skills for both her professional and coaching endeavors.
After college, Amy pursued competition in triathlons, participating in 5 Ironman and 10 half-Ironman events. She consistently finished at the top of her age group and earned spots at the 70.3 Ironman World Championships in both 2014 and 2015. After Ironman, Amy stayed active by training in the pool by being a USMS swimmer.
Amy brings over 25 years of coaching experience and is excited to introduce a new team to the Western Mass area. She is passionate about sharing her enthusiasm for swimming and inspiring the next generation of athletes. Committed to both the sport and her athletes’ growth, she aims to help them reach their full potential both in and out of the pool. Amy lives in Wilbraham, MA, with her husband Chris and their children—Josh, Alex, Zach, and Olivia.
Howard Hinds, Co-Founder, Asst. Coach Senior Elite and Swim School Director [email protected]
Howard Hinds joins our coaching staff as co-founder and coach, further strengthening our commitment to growth and excellence at Sunrise. In addition to serving as the Head Coach of the Men’s & Women’s teams at Springfield College, Hinds brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished swimming background that will greatly benefit our athletes.
As a former standout student-athlete at Springfield College, Hinds was inducted into the 2020 Springfield College Athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the sport. During his college career, he set multiple program records, including five in 1999 alone, and still holds the record for the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.08, set in 2000. His impressive accomplishments earned him six All-America honors and the title of TWO-time NEWMAC Swimmer of the Year. At the end of his college career, he was a co-recipient of the Robert Muir Award, given annually to the senior swimmer who accumulates the most points at the New England Championships over four years.
Hinds also made a significant international impact, representing the Netherlands Antilles in the 1999 and 2003 Pan-American Games, reaching the semifinals in the 50 freestyle in 2003. As a two-time Olympian, he competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, finishing 51st in the 100 freestyle and 52nd in the 50 freestyle in 2000. His career highlights demonstrate his dedication, competitive spirit, and mastery of the sport.
Following his competitive career, Hinds has continued to foster growth in swimming through coaching with the Long Island Aquatic Club and working as a personal trainer with Impact Training in New York City. His expertise, passion, and drive to develop athletes make him a valuable addition to our Sunrise team, and we look forward to the growth and success he will inspire among our swimmers.
Peter Davis, Lead Senior Elite Coach [email protected]
Peter Davis is a lifelong aquatics athlete with a passion for coaching and developing high level athletes and people to their greatest potential. His father swam for legendary coach George Haines at Santa Clara Swim Club and went on to swim and play water polo at Palo Alto HS and at Stanford. Because of this Peter was able to gain exposure at a young age to the highest levels of both sports, following in his father’s footsteps at Palo Alto HS, where he was multi-time section champion and All-American in swimming, and league MVP, first-team all-section, and All-American in water polo.
Throughout his athletic career he was lucky enough to be able to train and compete alongside some of the greatest athletes in the world and under some of the best coaches in the world, including coaches Dante Dettamanti and John Vargas at Stanford WPC, Bruce Watson at West Valley College where he graduated with honors earning a degree in History, Tony Batis at Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics, and Dave Durden and Greg Meehan at Cal. While a member of the Men’s Swimming & Diving team at Cal, he was an individual NCAA qualifier, member of multiple NCAA scoring relays, placed 3rd individually at 2009 PAC-12s in the 200 Butterfly, and found time to earn a degree in Political Science.
As a coach Peter has led teams from 12u through 18u age groups at Lamorinda WPC and Stanford WPC, as well as been the Senior Assistant Swim Coach at Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics, under the guidance of Head Senior Coach Tony Batis. He was able to work with and support over 50 future Division I athletes over 6 years in these positions, including PAC-12, ACC, Ivy, and MPSF champions, NCAA individual and team champions, Junior and Senior National Team members, World Championship Team Members, and two future Olympians.
During the day Peter is a Sales Operations Manager for an engineering and manufacturing company in the golf industry, and in his spare time he likes going hiking and exploring the Northeast with his fiancée Anne, spending time with his nieces and nephews, golfing every chance he gets, and staying up late planning tomorrow’s workout.
Tim Van Der Beken, Assistant Coach Junior and Age Groups
Tim grew up in New Hampshire and began swimming as an age grouper for Manchester Swim Team (MST). He continued his passion for the sport at Springfield College, where he was a four-year contributor to the Men's Swimming program. Currently a fourth-grade teacher in the Chicopee Public School system, Tim has been coaching locally with Falcon Swim Club since before the pandemic. He is now excited to join the coaching staff at Sunrise Swim Club, eager to share his passion for both teaching and swimming with his athletes.
Kim Nowicki, Lead Coach Development and Assistant Age Group Coach
Kim is a 6th-grade math teacher at Wilbraham Middle School. She grew up in eastern Massachusetts, swimming for the Attleboro Bluefish, before competing Division I at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as an IM specialist and butterflier. Kim began coaching in 2018 alongside Coach Amy at a local team. She is a passionate swim coach dedicated to helping swimmers of all ages and abilities reach their full potential. Kim excels at creating a positive, supportive environment where swimmers feel comfortable pushing their limits, while fostering a love for the sport and developing key traits like perseverance, dedication, and teamwork. Kim is an ASCA Level 2 coach and will be working with the development group and Age Group team. She lives locally with her four children. Kim is excited to contribute to the development of swimmers at Sunrise Swim Club.
Stephanie Mattrey, Cupping Therapist & Acupuncturist, Nutrition Counseling
Stephanie Mattrey, Lic.Ac., has been involved in New England swimming for nearly a decade. A mother of three daughters—all swimmers—she has extensive coaching experience from her family’s former club team. A former competitive swimmer specializing in butterfly and distance events, Stephanie represented the mid Atlantic LSC in her youth and played collegiate water polo at West Chester University. She earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Creative Writing. Stephanie studied Traditional Chinese Medicine at Yo San University, earning a Master’s in Acupuncture and TCM. Based in Amherst, she owns Shine Acupuncture, is a Chinese Medical Herbalist, and Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach. She specializes in eating disorders and food addiction, integrating acupuncture and nutrition counseling. She looks forward to helping your swimmers become the best athletes and individuals they can be!
Joel Lockwood- Lead Coach - Maine [email protected]
With over a decade of coaching experience across multiple sports, Coach Joel brings a dynamic and innovative approach to swim coaching. His diverse background in athletics, business, music, fitness, and endurance events—including marathons—gives him a unique perspective on mental toughness, discipline, and performance optimization.
Believing that success is 90% mindset, Coach Joel is passionate about instilling confidence, resilience, and self-belief in every athlete. His coaching philosophy is straightforward: every decision should prioritize the swimmers’ growth—both in and out of the water. By emphasizing mindset, technique, and motivation, he empowers athletes to push past their limits and unlock their full potential.
Whether working with beginners or seasoned competitors, Coach Joel is dedicated to creating a positive, high-performance environment where athletes believe in themselves, work hard, and achieve their goals. His energy, experience, and commitment make him a powerful force in shaping confident, resilient swimmers ready to excel.
