Paul Ikeda

Coach

l’ve always been happy in a pool. I jumped into one as a small child and my dad jumped in clothes and all to pull me out. I spent summers as a kid at the pool my parents joined. I started swimming laps at the YMCA in the suburbs of Chicago once out of college. After I moved to Seattle in my mid 20s, I started swimming laps with engineering friends from work at lunch time at the pool in Tukwila. The first swim team I joined was ORCA and my first swim meet was an ORCA meet at age 30 in 1990. I’ve been coaching at ORCA since the mid 1990s and I am currently a certified Red Cross Lifeguard and a certified ASCA and USMS swim coach. In addition to swimming, I ride my bike in the AIDS/LifeCycle charity, and I enjoy cooking and gardening. I make a living by working on retirement benefits.

SARAH PUTULIN

Development lead, coach

I love the US Women's National Team, martial arts, ultimate frisbee, Avatar the Last Airbender (original version - duh) and of course swimming. I’ve been coaching the ORCAs Team since October 2023 after joining in June 2023. 

My experience with swimming started when I was 3 or 4 and my parents took me to the local YMCA. After stubbornly refusing to participate and expressing a vehemence against the floating class, my parents decided to try a different approach at the local swim club (Palo Alto Swimming Aquatics) where I thrived; I haven’t looked back since. In high school, I swam junior varsity and varsity for Palo Alto High School, becoming team captain my senior year, and ironically, I ended up coaching the little ones at my local YMCA, an experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I try to mix up the practices to give everyone a bit of something they like or perhaps something they need. Seeing what an individual can accomplish always makes me super happy. I always welcome feedback. So, please let me know if it’s ever too challenging or if you’d like to see a specific drill or set in the next practice! 

I love that the Orcas Team is open and inviting to the queer community!

Emily Lederman (she/her)

head coach

The water is my happy place. I swam competitively throughout high school and college, and joined ORCA in 2023. I’m a USMS Level 3 certified coach with experience coaching both Masters and collegiate swimmers.

My coaching philosophy is to promote longevity in the sport. I’m passionate about empowering swimmers of all levels to achieve their goals through “working smarter”. As a deaf signer, I am dedicated to creating accessible, inclusive spaces for swimmers with disabilities.

I'm proud to be part of ORCA's vibrant community! Outside of the pool, I enjoy exploring the beautiful PNW on land and in the water.