Head Coach:
Coach Josh Cazaad -
JOSH CAZADD AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I JOINED THE AMADOR WATER BUFFALOES (RENAMED THE AMADOR POLAR BEARS THE FOLLOWING YEAR) WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND CONTINUED COMPETING UNTIL I WAS 18 YEARS OLD. I SWAM AND COMPETED IN COLLEGE AT THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE. AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE AND RETURNING TO AMADOR COUNTY IN 1999, COACH SIERK AND I COACHED THE AMADOR AND ARGONAUT SWIM TEAMS TOGETHER FOR THE FOLLOWING 11 YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, I COACHED THE AMADOR POLAR BEARS FOR 7 YEARS. IN 2017 I CAME BACK TO HELP COACH THE POLAR BEARS WHEN MY DAUGHTER JOINED THE TEAM.
IN ADDITION TO COACHING THE LAST 25 YEARS, I CONTINUED TO COMPETE IN NUMEROUS U.S. MASTERS POOL AND OPEN WATER COMPETITIONS. I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SPORT AND ENJOY TEACHING THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF COMPETITIVE SWIMMING. MY COACHING FOCUS IS ON TECHNIQUE DEVELOPMENT, A STRONG WORK ETHIC, AND HOPEFULLY A LIFELONG APPRECIATIONFOR THIS GREAT SPORT.
Additional Coaches:
Coach Sarah Sammons -
Sarah was raised in Amador County and swam competitive for Argonaut High School while also swimming for Amador Polar Bears. She met her high school sweetheart through swim team and has continued to raise their family around the pool. She has been part of our Amador Polar Bear family for many years, now having three daughters who all swim for APB. Sarah has led our 6 and under program for 5 years and enjoys helping build the team. Sarah has also taught private swim lessons for years, bringing many of those families to our APB team. On her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, swimming in their pool, going to the ocean, walking her dogs and being outdoors. She enjoys helping younger kids learn how to swim and gain confidence in the pool.
Coach Jared Saldate -
I’m Jared, your swim coach, and I’m stoked to be part of this awesome team. Let me give you a little insight into my aquatic journey.
I practically grew up in the water, splashing around with the Amador Polar Bears since I was a wee cub. Swimming through high school coached by coach Josh was a blast, and I even dipped my toes into college swimming before taking the plunge into diving. Spent a couple of years flipping and twisting before realizing my heart belonged in the lanes.
Now, here’s a fun fact: in my final year, I scored the jackpot and snagged an All-American title for our league. Pretty cool, huh? But honestly, the real thrill for me comes from coaching. I’ve dabbled in everything from rec leagues to high school squads, even threw in some competitive gymnastics coaching for good measure.
Outside of the pool, you’ll find me knee-deep in family life – married with three kiddos. They keep me on my toes, just like you all do in the water.
When I’m not yelling cheers from the sidelines or perfecting those stroke techniques, you can catch me shredding trails on my mountain bike, getting lost in the wilderness backpacking, or diving headfirst into some epic board games.
So, here’s to making waves, breaking records, and having a ton of fun along the way. Let’s do this, team! 🏊♂️🌊
Coach Melissa Knigge -
Hi. I’m Melissa Knigge. I was born and raised in Amador county. In my free time I like to hang with family, read, bake, paddle board and walk my dog. My love for swimming started at a young age. I had an above-ground pool in my backyard growing up. I swam for Ione Marlins for a few years then joined APB at age 14. I continued with APB all through high school. I swam for Argonaut High school all four years as well. My freshman year I was the only girl on the team. My favorite race was IM. My last two years of high school my sister (coach Sarah) swam as well, so we got to be on the same relay. I also assisted with APB 6&U while in high school. I was able to jump back into coaching a few years ago when my nieces joined the team. I love being around the pool and teaching kids to love the sport as much as I do.
Coach Allan -
I'm coach Alan! I swam on the Polar Bears for eight years and am still a record holder. I enjoy coaching and seeing swimmers excited when they cut off time on their races is the best part!
Coach Christian Mullan -
Amador native, born and raised by Amador Polar Bear families. He began swimming at the age of four in 1996, and he as well as the entire coaching staff well remember the frigid water of the unheated pool (so no complaining). He met his now wife Jessie Mullan (Larsen) here on the team at the tender age of six. He swam for APB for 14 years and with Amador High until 2010 under Julia Sierk and Josh Cazaad. He also taught lessons at the Sutter Creek Pool for four years before joining the Navy in 2011. The Mullan family recently returned to Amador in order for their kids to have the best childhood ever and now the oldest of his three has joined the team. His specialty is breaststroke, freestyle, and endurance swimming, but most of all he loves coaching and mentoring young swimmers to find the best of their abilities in all strokes and looks forward to coaching indefinitely.
