Meet The Coaches
Welcome to the new AAAA season of swimming! Here is a little bit about our coaches. We are here to support your needs. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other swimming related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact Patrick Norman at 785-331-6940 or by email.
Head Coach
Patrick started coaching in April of 2002 with the Lawrence Aquahawks. His early years allowed him to grow as a deck coach and position himself for an opportunity with Duke City Aquatics as Head Senior Coach. With Duke, he furthered his passion for coaching and managed additional administrative responsibilities. He was able to coach his first Senior National qualifier, grow pool numbers and help lead Duke City Aquatics to second place at the New Mexico State Championships.
A move in 2007 brought Patrick back to Lawrence to coach the Bronze, Platinum and Senior groups for the Aquahawks. In 2008, he assumed the role of Head Age Group Coach. He helped implement important programs including Weekly Updates, Aquabucks, Group Testing, Challenge Sets and Start and Turn Clinics. During this time, he was also able to coach multiple team record holders.
Patrick is the longest tenured club coach in Lawrence with 8+ years of experience in town. In the summer of 2010, he started Ad Astra Area Aquatics with the idea that the club would be Athlete Centered, Coach Directed and Parent Supported. He also runs his own lesson program, The Lawrence Swim School and graphic design company, Wildernorm.
Patrick lives in Lawrence with his wife Sarah and two children, Elle and Jay. Sarah and Patrick are proud graduates of the University of Kansas, where both swam competitively. Patrick grew up swimming under Jim Sheridan of Donner Swim Club in Columbus, Indiana.
Honors and Achievements
• Coached multiple league and state champions at the high school level
• Coached Sectional, Junior National, Senior National and Olympic Trial qualifiers
• Numerous Team Record Swimmers
• Nominated for 2006 New Mexico Coach of the Year
• Head Coach of New Mexico All Star team
• Assistant Coach for Missouri Valley’s Central Zone team 2007, 2008, 2009
• ASCA Certification Level 3
• Top 16 swimmer at Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships (1999-2001)
• All Big 12 Academics (1999-2001)
• Junior National Champion
• Head Age Group Chair for the Missouri Valley LSC 2010-Present
Assistant Coach/Board of Directors
Cassie has been involved in the sport of swimming since she was 5 years old, first as an athlete, then a coach, and in recent years as a parent. She has coached for 20+ years in all levels of age group, high school, and college swimming. Developing the novice swimmer has become her passion over the last 7 years. Currently, she helps with all groups in Quad A but her primary focus is 12 & under groups.
Head Assistant Coach
I am originally from Mitchell, South Dakota and just recently moved to Lawrence, KS. I began swimming competitively when I was 11 years old. My love for the sport took me to Minnesota where I swam breaststroke for the Gophers. After two years, I transferred back to South Dakota to finish my collegiate swimming career for the Jackrabbits. I graduated from South Dakota State University in December of 2010 with a Physical Education and Health Teacher Education Degree. This past year, I was the Head Coach of the Brookings Swim Club in SD. I met my husband at SDSU, and got married this past August, which brought me to Lawrence to share my passion of swimming with the AAAA swimmers. I am blessed to continue my coaching in Lawrence and I am excited to be a part of this amazing team.
Assistant Coach
Hannah Buchner is currently attending the University of Kansas, majoring in Psychology, and ultimately her Masters in Clinical Social Work to work with children as a Family Counselor. Hannah's swimming experience began at the age of 8 as a member of the Fairfield Fly in Connecticut. She spent 1 year abroad in Sydney, Australia swimming for her school, Ravenswood. Her move to Kansas in 2001 brought her to the Lawrence Aquahawks, where she swam for 7 years and then as a college freshman for Willamette University in Salem, OR. Hannah has also been a swim instructor for Lawrence Swim School for the past 7 years.
Hannah will concentrate her time primarily coaching the Asteroids group.
Assistant Coach
Parker swam 5 years competitively for the Kansas City Blazers and Lawrence Aquahawks. She also competed in high school for Blue Valley Northwest high school, and then went on to swim at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for one year. She is a student at KU studying Sports Management.
Parker brings a wealth of knowledge to our team as both a former summer league coach in Kansas City and as a successful competitive swimmer. Her accomplishments in the water range from scoring Top 16 at Sectionals (100 Fly, 2009) to being voted her High School team MVP 3 years in a row (2007-2009).
Parker will be working primarily with the Comets group.
Rachel Buchner
Assistant Coach
Rachel became a swimmer through Mike Soderling about six years ago. She recently swam for the Elite Squad for Ad Astra Area Aquatics with her best events being the 100 and 200 backstroke. Rachel is entering her freshman year at the University of Kansas where she plans on studying in the school of education so she can become an elementary education teacher.
Rachel will be working primarily with the Comets group.
