Coaching Staff
Head Coach
Scott Fortier
Swim4PCST@gmail.com
Swim4PCST@gmail.com
I recently served as the Head Coach for the St. Croix Dolphins and the Virgin Islands National Team. As a native Floridian from the Panhandle, I grew up swimming with the Area Tallahassee Aquatics Club, setting many club records that still stand today. My swimming career highlights include qualifying for the 2012 US Olympic Trials, becoming a Junior National Finalist, and holding Florida Swimming records. I attended the University of Alabama as a scholarship swimmer, but after an injury ended my competitive career, I spent my last two years there as a student assistant coach.
After graduating, I moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I volunteered as an Assistant Coach for Louisiana State University (LSU) and served as Senior Coach for Tiger Aquatics. During my two years in Louisiana, I managed swim meets with up to 1,000 swimmers and coached the LSU distance swim group. My journey then took me to Cincinnati, Ohio, where I became a full-time assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati and was later promoted to Men’s Director of Recruiting. In Cincinnati, I met my wonderful wife, Caitey, whom I married in September 2022.
In 2023, Caitey and I moved to the Virgin Islands to embrace international coaching opportunities. Reflecting on this experience, I can say that traveling to five new countries for swim meets over the past year was the job of a lifetime, and standing on the pool deck at the World Swimming Championships in Doha, Qatar, was a moment I will never forget.
My goal as your coach is to help you gain a deeper love for swimming and to help you reach your dreams, regardless of your current level. I look forward to building lasting relationships with everyone who is a part of this program.
Head Age Group Coach
Hope Best
coachhopeb@gmail.com
Coach Hope has over 10 of experience in competitive swimming and athlete development. Passionate about nurturing young talent, she focuses on building strong foundational skills while promoting teamwork and sportsmanship. Under her guidance, numerous athletes have achieved personal bests and qualified for regional and national competitions. Coach Hope is dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive environment where every swimmer can thrive and reach their full potential.
Lead Site Coach
Steve Burdeshaw
Coach Steve has been a swimming enthusiast for 40+ years. He started swimming for PCST at 14 and was on the first Mosley High School swim team in 1974-75 (the first high school swim team in Bay County). Coach Steve swam for Steve Bultman at Pensacola Jr. College and later briefly swam for Randy Reese at UF. These two coaches influenced Steve’s love of swimming and coaching in particular.
In 1979, Steve began coaching at Mosley High School and has been involved in club swimming off and on since then. Currently an ASCA Level 2 coach, he started coaching and overseeing the Mosley Site for PCST in 2013. In addition to his work with high school and club swimming programs, he remains heavily involved in the middle school swimming program in Bay County, which has grown significantly since it began in 2006.
Age Group/PreTeam Coaches
Spencer Selhorst
I began my swimming career in 8th grade with the Panama City Swim Team (PCST) and quickly found a passion for the sport. Throughout high school, I had the privilege of qualifying for NCSA Junior Nationals and Winter Junior Nationals, and I was proud to claim a state championship title.
After high school, I continued my passion for swimming at the Division 1 level with the University of Cincinnati. During my college career, I qualified for the US Open my freshman year, earned four conference medals, and became the record holder in the 400 IM I graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and began coaching with PCST in May of 2024 and am excited to see the team continue to improve and grow in the future!
Gretchen (Maggie) Freisthler
Gretchen (Maggie) Freisthler is excited to return to the Panama City Swim Team as an assistant coach, bringing with her experience and a deep love for the sport. A two-time NEWMAC qualifier in backstroke and IM events while swimming for Mount Holyoke College, Maggie has also competed with PCST, Machine Aquatics in Washington, D.C., and the Jerusalem Rabati Swim Team in Jerusalem, Israel. Her coaching experience spans various skill levels. Maggie is dedicated to fostering a positive and encouraging environment where swimmers can develop their skills, build confidence, and strive for excellence in the pool.
