John has been a coach for the Club since 1982 and has been the head coach since 1986. He coaches the swimmers 13 and up in the Senior or National group. John and Cindy met at Lodi High School’s pool, June of 1979, during the master’s swim practice, they were engaged August 1979 and married a year later in 1980. They have one daughter, Katelyn who swam for the Club for 22 years.

John started swimming in 1968 in Redding, CA for Don Prince. His family moved to the Woodland/Davis area and swam with Davis for Jerry Hinsdale. At the time, he ran track in Esparto and commuted to Davis to swim. He attended Chico State in 1972-75, ran cross country the first year and swam for Ernie Maglischo the second. During the summers and school breaks, he swam with Woodland under Tom McCrakin. He transferred down south and swam while he attended San Diego State. He has memories of swimming in Lodi and driving here under the Lodi Arch and competing at Lodi High, so he actually swam here before meeting Cindy. He started a USA swim team in San Diego, in 1977 at the Peninsula YMCA before coming to Lodi and opening his Fleet Feet store in Stockton and Lodi, CA.

Troy Scheideman: “Coach Troy” has been an age group coach with Lodi Swim Club for 29 years; 1990-1993 and 2001 until the present. He swam for the club for six years and earned High School All American status in the 100 free in 1980. Coach Troy competed at Junior Nationals and swam for UOP. He brings energy and enthusiasm with his experience and occasionally offers double candy challenges at practice. When he is not coaching, Coach Troy is an insurance claims investigator and enjoys making sauerkraut.

Senior Group Coach: Coach Justin Langstrom began swimming with Gold back in 2012. In 2021, he graduated from the University of the Pacific with a B.S in Psychology, and is currently the assistant coach to John Griffin’s 13&up Senior group. Coach Justin also works with Lodi Gold swim lessons alongside Coach Halli Garza. He enjoys substitute teaching for Lodi Unified School District, and has ambitions of working in a school. Coach Justin began working with Lodi Swim Club in the summer of 2023 and has been loving coaching since!

6 & Under Coach

Cindy has been a member of the swim program since 1962. She swam for the Club and went to Olympic Trials in 1968 at age 12 in the 800 meter free and in 1972 at age 16 in the 400 IM; placing 5th. She also swam for Pacific Aquatics in the early 70’s at University of the Pacific. Cindy attended college for 2 years then transferred to Cal Poly where she earned her teaching credential. She is currently a 3rd grade teacher at Lodi Christian School. She has been a coach for the past 48 years and has coached the 8 and Under Group and the Gold Group 9-12 years old.

8&under: Coach Halli love coaching and has been coaching with Gold since 2019, and helping out with Coach John and Justin's group. She loves focusing on technique while having a fun time too! She swam competitively starting at 9, and swam in college at Denison University where she places all four years at DIII NCAA Championships. When not on the pool deck, Coach Halli enjoys teaching English and History at Lodi Christian School.

6 & Under Group: Vanessa swam for Gold from 1991-1999 before heading off to swim at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. She has been a teacher for the Elk Grove Unified School District for 21 years and has also coached high school swim. Two of her children, Vivienne and Olivia, have also found a love for swimming and joined Gold too. Since 2022, Vanessa has been fostering the love of swim for the 6&under Group with her enthusiasm and focus on technique.

Robert is our best sub, fill in Coach.