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BLAST Coaches



John Matson - Head Coach

John Matson was a four year All American at the University of Tennesee and the number one high school sprinter in the nation while attending the Mercerburg Academy. Coach Matson was the assistant for three years at Division One American University in Washington, D.C. While at American University , the team won two men's and two women's Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championships.

Coach Matson has trained NCAA and Olympic finalists, was a Student Assistant at the University of Tennessee (1989), Head Coach of BAC (1990), Head Coach of Pilot Aquatic Club (1994), and was the Head Coach of Maryville High School (1998-2004).
 
 
 

Keith Lambert - Assistant Coach

Keith swam competitively for 12 years with the Knoxville Swim Association. In 1979 he was the Tennessee State High School runner up in the 200 IM and finished 3rd in the 100 backstroke. At the 1979 Southeastern All-State Meet (now called Zones) he was the 200 IM winner.

Since graduating from UT, Keith has been involved in local swimming for 13 years. He is a USA, High School and GKAISA official. He was the GKAISA President in 2002 and is a Current Merit Board Member. He is the 2005 Maryville-Alcoa Flying Dophins (MAFD) Head Coach.

He has three daughters, Renee', Sara and Tina. Renee' is a former BLAST swimmer who now attends Marshall University, Sara swims for Maryville High School and Tina swims for both Maryville High School and BLAST.

 
 
 

Wanda DeWaard - Assistant Coach

Besides being a part time, assistant coach for BLAST, Wanda DeWaard is also a "swim mom" with her son, Case, on the team. Wanda has been a Water Safety and Lifeguard Instructor since 1971. She has a M.Ed. degree in Recreation and Environmental Education and it was in college where she discovered fitness swimming which became a lifelong hobby. Wanda enjoys working with swimmers on basic skill development, stroke improvement and endurance. She is also a wilderness EMT, First Aid/CPR Instructor and a USA Swim Coach. When not hanging out by Lane 1 at practice, she is usually outside involved in various outdoor education activities.