Jeff Bridwell’s swimming journey began in 1993 at the West Side Swim Club, and from that first lap, the water became his second home. Over the years, he swam for Madison West YMCA, the original Madison Aquatic Club (which later merged to form Badger Aquatics Club), Verona Aquatics Club, Madison West High School, and UW–Whitewater. Since 2010, he’s been a familiar face swimming laps at the Oregon pool.

Jeff’s coaching career kicked off in 2014, helping a friend launch the Sun Prairie Storm. Watching the team triple in size during its first year hooked him on the sport from a whole new perspective. By 2015, he was the Head Coach of the Waterloo Swim Club, where he grew the program from 30 to 50 swimmers and led them to multiple state titles—putting a small town on the Wisconsin swimming map.

In 2017, Jeff took the reins at Stoughton Aqua Racers, growing the team from 60 to 90 swimmers. Many of his athletes have gone on to compete for some of the top college programs in the country. From 2019 to 2023, he also coached the Stoughton High School boys and girls teams, helping produce the school’s first-ever state champions and All-Americans. In 2022, Jeff joined OCSC, and his leadership, passion, and vision have continued to push the team forward.

As Head Coach and CEO of OCSC, Jeff brings a blend of competitive excellence, program-building experience, and a love for fostering growth at every level. While he enjoys coaching all strokes, open water freestyle has a special place in his heart. His pre-race ritual? A powerhouse juice blend of beet, apple, carrot, grapefruit, ginger, and kale—chugged in one breath.

Outside the pool, Jeff enjoys long walks that let his thoughts flow, exploring old-world architecture, and tackling extreme endurance challenges—including finishing several Ironman races, one of which he completed on the same day he worked an eight-hour shift.

With decades in the sport and a track record of building winning programs, Jeff is committed to leading OCSC into its next chapter—fostering a culture of hard work, team spirit, and lifelong love for swimming.

Join us in welcoming Coach Sydney to the team!

Sydney was born and raised in Sauk City, Wisconsin & has been a competitive swimmer since the age of 5. Although not swimming year-round because of other extracurricular activities (including dance, show choir & marching band) she considered swimming her primary sport. In high school, she qualified for the state championships all four years and continued swimming at UW-Whitewater for one year before a shoulder injury led her to the difficult decision to stop competing.

Sydney worked as a lifeguard at her local community pool and taught swim lessons. From there she got involved with coaching her town’s summer swim team - the Sauk Prairie Pool Sharks in the Tri County Conference. She coached there for 8 years, including as the team’s head coach for 3 years. Her favorite stroke is backstroke but she does enjoy them all.

Sydney recently relocated to the Oregon community after moving the past few years for her husband’s medical career. After teaching elsewhere, she now joins OSD as an elementary teacher and looks forward to being part of the community! From Sydney - “Coaching has played a significant role in inspiring my current career as a teacher. I love working with children, helping them refine their swimming techniques, and supporting their personal growth. I am eager to reignite my passion for swimming.”

Other fun facts from Sydney: I love the color pink! I have two adorable cats named Binkie and Ozzie who are just the best. I really enjoy watching scary movies and TV shows. When I’m not working, you’ll probably find me at live music events with friends and family or out shopping.

Join us in welcoming Coach Sydney to OCSC, and be sure to say hi! 

We’re excited to have Coach Matt Gorney on our coaching staff!

Matt brings over a decade of swimming experience, having spent 12 years in the pool with teams including the Oswego Otters, Fox Valley YMCA Aqua Force, Delta Aquatics, Oswego High School, and the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. His competitive background and passion for the sport make him a valuable asset to our team.

Matt spent three summers coaching with the Oswego Otters, where he discovered a love for helping swimmers develop both their technique and their confidence. His favorite stroke to swim and coach is freestyle, and he’s all about perfecting the details that make a difference in races.

When it comes to pre-race fuel, Matt keeps it simple with a tried-and-true snack: string cheese. And here’s a fun fact — he once competed against the same team Coach Jeff swam for in college!

Outside the pool, you can find Matt gaming on his new PS5 or cheering on his favorite football teams.

After joining us in 2025, we’re thrilled to have Coach Matt continue on deck with OCSC.

Coach Kevin has been involved in many places in the swim world and he's no stranger to our pool! Kevin began swimming competitively at age 7 and is an OCSC alum himself. Over the years, he’s also trained with STAR, MSS, and MAC, and even swam alongside Coach Jeff at UW-Whitewater. He has coached for five years, including time with the Stoughton Aqua Racers, the Whitewater High School Boys Swim Team, and a Special Olympics swim team. In addition to coaching, he spent six years teaching swim lessons at SwimWest. 

Kevin's favorite stroke to swim is butterfly and distance freestyle, and he especially enjoys coaching long-distance freestyle events.

Outside the pool, Kevin loves spending time with his wife and three kids, camping, hitting water parks, and playing golf. Fun fact: he trained under Robert Pinter, a former Olympian and coach for STAR and OCSC!

Most recently Kevin is adding the Stoughton High School swim team to his repertoire, so his time with OCSC will be reduced. However, as one of OCSC's biggest cheerleaders he continues to offer support where he can and we appreciate his involvement in practices and meets as he is able.