Wanda began playing racquetball competitively in 1980 and has been a top-ranked open player since 1985. She is a long-time Washington’s Women’s Open champion and is on the Washington Racquetball Association board. She is the Club Pro and is available for racquetball lessons and advanced clinics. Wanda spends her “spare” time with her husband, Mike, and their two children, Sarah and Wade. Her offseason is filled with golfing, hiking, camping, and traveling as much as possible.
Staff
Meet Mike
As a trainer, Mike’s greatest satisfaction is derived from helping you meet “Life’s” many challenges and succeeding. Beginning in the Fitness Industry in 1981 and a BAC employee since 1985 Mike has garnered over three decades worth of experience in Fitness, Rehabilitation, and Sports Performance. His clientele range from individuals new to exercise to older adults, from post-therapy patients to athletes from elementary age through high school and collegiate to professional.
“An athlete resides within each one of us,” states Mike. “No matter our age or gender, we compete each and every day in the biggest race of all…the Human Race”.
He is the recipient of the Northwest Athletic Club Association (NACA) Fitness Director of the Year Award in 1992 and the National Volunteer Service Citation from the Arthritis Foundation 2000.
When not coaching and training athletes and clients, Mike enjoys weight training, racquetball, golf, watching football and baseball, reading fiction and non-fiction books, music, movies, working around his property, and most importantly spending time with his wife and their two kids.
“With deeper understanding comes greater benefit.”
Coach Locke 2009
March Employee of the Month
Isabella Foos has been working front desk at BAC since September 2018. She is a sophomore at Western Washington University. Bella is majoring in kinesiology and hopes to become an athletic Trainer when she finishes her degree. When she isn’t busy in class or at work, Bella runs for the Western Track & Field team. She specializes in sprints! Bella hails from Olympia, Washington, where she is the oldest of 4 girls in her family. She also misses her dog, Buddy, who waits for her to visit on weekends and school breaks.
When Bella’s schedule isn’t filled with sports, school, and work, you can find her enjoying hiking the trails around town and hanging out with friends. Bella has become an instrumental part of the front desk staff. She works opening and closing shifts, so next time you see her in the early mornings or late nights give her a huge thanks for being here!
Thank you, Bella, for being reliable, dependable and just overall a great presence at the club! We appreciate all the great work you do!
Meet Victoria
Prior to joining the team at BAC, I lifeguarded and taught swim lessons at home in Palouse, Washington for five years. Before that, I swam competitively! My favorite stock is freestyle. I moved up to Bellingham for school, but now I’m taking a year off. I love exploring Bellingham and finding the best restaurants to eat at.
Meet Shea
I am studying pre-med at Western Washington University, with the goal of becoming a fetal surgeon. Before coming to BAC, I taught swim lessons for several years in my hometown, and found that I enjoy it a lot! My favorite stroke is the butterfly. Here’s a fun fact for you: I am the middle child of seven.
Meet Emily
I’m an aquatics instructor at BAC and I love the water. My favorite stroke is a tie between the backstroke and the butterfly. I did swim team growing up and am also a scuba diver! I enjoy heading to the beach when I’m not working. There’s nothing more beautiful than a Northwest sunset! I recently graduated with a degree in Anthropology from Western Washington University.
Meet Dakota
I have been swimming for twelve years, competitively for six. My favorite stoke is the backstroke. I’m an aquatic instructor at BAC and I’m seeking a degree at Western Washington University, where I am studying communications and journalism. I love to write, read, and play music, I’ve played the French horn for eight years!
Meet Brittany
I’ve been a swimmer my whole life – My Mom likes to joke that her prenatal water aerobics made me the swimmer I am today! I swam competitively for 10 years, and have been teaching for 11 years. I started working at BAC teaching and lifeguarding in 2014, and in 2016 I took on the role of Aquatics Director. I love all of the ways this position allows me to interact with students, parents, members and other instructors! There’s truly something magical about helping someone learn this important life skill. When I am not in the pool, you can find me in other departments at BAC, helping out in membership and front desk, as well as putting together our monthly newsletter. In my spare time, I can be found writing about and analyzing film, catching up over coffee with friends, or exploring all of the splendor that the northwest has to offer.
Meet Sean White
Sean White, moved to Bellingham from Elburn, Illinois to attend WWU. For those of you not familiar with Elburn it is a suburb west of Chicago. Sean attended DePaul University for two years prior to transferring to WWU where in 2017 he obtained his BS in Kinesiology. He will be attending graduate school this fall and will be a graduate assistant in the Kinesiology Dept. at WWU. Sean is a certified personal trainer, CSCS, through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
An avid hockey player and snowboarder from a young age, Sean also enjoys playing golf and is a car enthusiast who loves working on his car. Being from the Chicago area he is a diehard Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, and Cubs fan. Sean tries to take in Cubs games at Wrigley field when he is home during the season.
Howard, Sean’s 3 ½-year-old retriever/hound mix, keeps him company and on the go with his boundless energy.
After his post-graduate studies are over Sean hopes to see how he can meld the physical therapy and strength coach fields into a career path. Sean working with members of all ages and abilities.
Meet Cindy Olavarri
Cindy graduated from the University of California with a B.A. in Physical Education, a Secondary Teaching Credential, and a M.A in Exercise Physiology. She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health/Fitness Instructor and Advanced Personal Trainer. Cindy had a very active childhood, fishing, backpacking, and playing baseball and basketball with her brothers. She ran track and cross country in high school and at the University of California. She was also a member of the first women’s crew team at U.C. Berkeley.
After college, Cindy competed in bicycle racing and was a member of the U.S. National Cycling Team. She competed in four World Cycling Championships and won the silver medal in the pursuit in the 1983 World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. She also won three U.S. National Championship titles.
Cindy has worked in the fitness industry for over 30 years in a variety of capacities. She has been a personal trainer, fitness director, physical therapy aid, and college cross country coach. Cindy loves working one on one with clients of all ages helping them navigate the challenges of life with a healthy, active lifestyle.
In her spare time, she enjoys running, weightlifting, walking her dogs Lucy and Che, and working in her yard.