Amador Polar Bears

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.

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.

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! 🏊♂️🌊

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. 

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. 

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!

I grew up in Utah and began swimming competitively at the age of seven. Throughout high school, I qualified for and competed at the state meet every year, continuing my swim career at the collegiate level where I earned All-American honors.

Today, I am passionate about giving back to the sport that shaped me. I coach at the local high school and have proudly been coaching with the Polar Bears summer swim program for the past three years. Outside of the pool, I am a proud mom of two beautiful children who inspire my commitment to helping young athletes grow in confidence, discipline, and love for swimming.

My connection to swimming began early. At age four, alongside my eleven-year-old sister, I spent nearly every day at our local YMCA pool in Los Angeles. What started as morning swimming lessons quickly turned into full days spent learning, playing, and growing by the water. The lifeguards knew us by name and took incredible care of us, teaching us not just how to swim, but how to be safe, confident, and independent. Some of my earliest memories include napping in the lifeguard hut after long afternoons in the sun. After moving to New Jersey, I continued with the YMCA, where I transitioned from learning to competing. I swam for teams in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, developing discipline, teamwork, and a love for the sport. As I grew older, I became a certified lifeguard and began working as a canoe instructor at YMCA Camp Bernie. Over time, I stepped into a leadership role as Waterfront Director, overseeing both pond and pool activities. My training expanded to include teaching swim instructors, certifying lifeguards, and providing instruction in CPR, First Aid, AED, and oxygen administration. I spent eight years living and working at camp, where I also taught environmental science and led outdoor education programs. Also, during this time, I had an incredible experience training with lifeguards on Cronulla Beach in Australia. While attending Rutgers University to pursue my teaching credentials, I continued working with the Hillsborough YMCA. There, I taught swim lessons, lifeguarded, assisted with the swim team, and eventually became a stroke mechanics coach. I led both one-on-one sessions and group clinics, helping swimmers refine technique and build confidence. I was later promoted to Assistant Aquatics Director. Eventually, I followed a new path west, relocating to Folsom, California. I continued teaching swimming and lifeguarding with the Sacramento YMCA while completing my degree at California State University, Sacramento. Around this time, I also became a parent, which further deepened my commitment to education and mentorship. Swimming has been a constant throughout my life. Shaping who I am as both a teacher and a coach. With a strong foundation in aquatics, education, and leadership, I bring both experience and passion to everything I do. For five years, I have been in Amador County; I am grateful to return to coaching and thrilled for the opportunity to work with your child and be part of this team.