Cassondre is the lead coach Red group and head of our weight training program M/W/F mornings at Planet Fitness for 13+ Athletes in Red and Blue Group. She started competitively swimming in the early 80’s. She swam both on a competitive team (starlit) and high school (Bishop Ireland). She competed at the college level at Old Dominion University, earning several honors, both academically and athletically. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a major in Therapeutic Recreation and double minor in Psychology and Sociology. She received her masters degree from NSU in Early Education. She then got her certification for personal training and worked for several years as a personal trainer. She was a professional IFPA bodybuilder and competed in several triathlons. She started coaching early with Evergreen Country Club in Haymarket, VA. She developed the team from nothing to winning several meets.

She moved to Virginia Beach and started coaching with Tidewater Aquatic Club on the dryland side assisting Coach Cassell. She then went on to coach the age group program. Developing swimmers from basic water safety skills to national level competitors. She then left TAC to coach with East Coast Aquatic Team. There she coached the age group athletes and was in charge of the dryland program. While on ECAT, she sent swimmers to age groups and to zones. She is currently coaching First Colonial High School women’s and men’s team. Last year the women finished as runner up for the 6A state meet. She loves the sport of swimming because every swimmer is capable of learning to be the best of their ability. Even if not an Olympic swimmer, it is still important to understand the sport. She cares about every swimmer no matter their ability. She wants the swimmers to be honest and communicate with the coaches because it teaches them responsibility. She is married to Keenan Wilburn and has one son, Cason, who will be attends the University of Notre Dame with a swimming scholarship and Olympic Trials cuts. 

Coach Cassell has been a Virginia Swim coach since 1994 and brings a vast knowledge of coaching swimming at all levels and experience. In his career of coaching he has coached Senior National, Junior National and Olympic trial qualifiers as well as high school All Americans. Cassell was previously the head age group coach as well as senior coach for teams in Virginia and produced some of the fastest swimmers in the state. His enthusiasm on deck gets swimmers excited about swimming. He is easy to recognize on the deck because he is always smiling with a positive attitude!