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last updated 07/14/08
Coaching Staff:
Rob Knight - Head Coach for Silver/ Gold
 Contact Rob at
RKSA.1@verizon.net
Rob Knight, a Bloomington-Normal native, lives in Normal with his
wife Chris, daughter Kathleen (15), and dog Lenny, who Kathleeen named
after Olympic backstroker Lenny Krayzelburg. Rob started swimming at age
six for a local summer team and over the years competed locally for the
YMCA, BNSC, and U-High where he competed at the State Championship meet
as a Sophomore, Junior, and Senior. Rob held the record for the 100
Freestyle at U-High (48:30) for over 20 years.
After a short break from competitive swimming and graduating from the
University of Illinois with a degree in Agriculture, Rob returned to
Bloomington-Normal and began coaching as an assistant age group coach
for the Redbird Swim Club, formerly the Bloomington Normal Swim Club.
After several years working in agricultural related jobs and age group
coaching, he opened Rob Knight’s Swim America, a learn-to-swim school in
Bloomington in 1992. After a few years of successful operations teaching
lessons, the swim school expanded its programming to offer a year-round
competitive swim team.
In addition to swimming a couple of times per week over the lunch hour,
Rob enjoys going to local sporting events, visiting athletic clubs and
aquatic venues, and an occasional Rib-eye steak covered with sautéed
mushrooms. He also wants everyone to know the success of the swim school
and swim team would not be possible without the dedication and sacrifice
from his family, all the athletes who work so hard in practice, and
their parents who help support the program.
Congratulations everyone on a great TEAM effort.
Janell Shine - Head Coach for Bronze
 Contact
Janell at
rksa.coachjanell@gmail.com
Janell Shine, born and raised in Champaign, Illinois graduated in May 2006 with a degree in
Psychology.
Janell swam competitively at a very young age and continued swimming
through high school. She swam for the CCMY Aqua Chiefs, and then swam
for Centennial High school where she was the co-caption her Junior and
Senior years, and a state qualifier in the 100 Fly. She loved swimming
the 200 IM and the 100 Fly which were her strongest events in her
competitive career. She is an advocate for high school swimming
indicating it was a fun and influential time in her life. She enjoys
following the RKSA high school swimmers, especially when our team
members are competing against her younger brother Jayson, who is
swimming for Centennial H.S.
She has been teaching swim lessons since she was 14 years old, and
currently splits her time between RKSA team and Swim America. She
enjoys working with the kids whether it be at lessons or swim team. She
feels there is a lot to gain through swimming which will be useful later
in life.
She is also a lifeguard, and a Level I certified coach through the
American Swimming Coaches Association.
RKSA parents always comment about the energy level she brings on the
deck of the pool, her attention to stroke technique, and how she tries
to motivate their kids to work harder in practice!
Dawn Fudge
Dawn Fudge, raised in Waukegan, Illinois, started swimming at an early
age for YMCA and the Park District with her father as her coach.
Attending Waukegan West High School, she swam fro 4 years joining a
relay team at the State Championships for 2 years. Dawn also taught
learn to swim programs and also assisted in coaching park district
teams. Her favorite events were 100 breast and 100 IM.
While attending Illinois State University, Dawn utilized aquatic therapy
while working with children with developmental disabilities. Graduating
with a Bachelors in Communication and a Masters in Special Education,
Dawn currently teaches Special Education at Parkside Jr. High in Normal,
Illinois. She still gets in the pool with her students weekly for
therapy and with her own to kids to work on their swimming technique.
Dawn lives in rural Standford, Illinois with her husband Chuck, son
Harrison (6), daughter Hadley (3) and 11 or so assorted dogs and cats.
Harrison and Hadley started learn to swim programs at 6 months with
RKSA, and Harrison is currently a member of the RKSA swim team. Like his
mothers, Harrison's favorite stroke is breast. Hadley loves her swim
classes and will soon be ready to "take your mark".
Molly Legner
Molly Legner grew up in the Chicago suburb of
Bolingbrook where she lived with her parents and her older sister.
Both her and her sister started swimming at a young age and by
the time Molly was 9 years old she was swimming for Westmont Swim Club.
She swam for Westmont until she was about 17 years old.
When she first started swimming, her favorite event was the 100
breast. At the age of 10,
Molly placed 1st in the 100yd breast at Jr. Olympics.
But after a knee injury, she became a distance swimmer doing the
500 and 1650 free.
As a teenager, Molly was a lifeguard at the
neighborhood pool as well as taught swim lessons every summer for about
5 years.
After high school, Molly went on to earn an
Associates degree from College
of DuPage
in Glen Ellen, IL, and then transferred to Illinois State
University where she
earned her Bachelor degree in Elementary Education in December 2007.
Molly is eagerly looking for a full-time teaching
position for the fall and is very excited to continue working with the
swim team and teaching lessons at Swim America.
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