MEET THE COACHES
Coach Linn
Coach Linn has been coaching with Olympia since 2011 and was an inaugural Orlando Thunder Coach. Linn has produced 5 All Americans and two team State Championships. Coach Linn is our Head Goalie Coach and her multiple sport experience makes her an excellent game play strategist. She has worked with National USAWP Coach Sean Nolan to help select Junior National team goalies. She started her water polo coaching career at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs where she was an Olympic Team Athletic Trainer.
Coach Shelby
Over the past three years, Shelby has participated in D-I water polo at Mount St Mary’s University, helping build a program capable of challenging and defeating top-25 teams nationally.
Before her collegiate career, Shelby competed with Bulldogs Water Polo Club in Fresno CA, where she continued to refine her technical and tactical skills. A highlight of her club experience was competing against Fresno State, which pushed her to elevate her performance and deepened her passion for the sport.
Alongside athletics, she is pursuing a degree in Human Services with a minor in Elementary Education at Mount St. Mary’s. Motivated by a passion for working with students with special needs, she is dedicated to using her education and experiences to help these students thrive both academically and personally.
Coach Rachel
Coach Rachel
Rachel Carnevale started playing water polo at Olympia High School and was an Orlando Thunder original. She went on to play varsity water polo in college for Gannon University in PA, graduating as a four-year athlete with a degree in Exercise Science. Coach Rachel started coaching for Orlando Thunder in 2016 and was an assistant coach for Olympia High School while earning several championships, one of those being a State Championship. She has been an ODP Holiday Camp Coach and has traveled to California with our Junior Olympic Teams.
Coach Possell
Stephanie Johnson Possell, our original founder of Orlando Thunder, has been coaching and teaching since 1989, has over 1000 Career Wins and reached her 500th win with Olympia High School in 2020. She has built programs that are regularly at the top of the podium, focusing on fundamental skill and water polo IQ. Leading her teams to win gold medals at high school and age-group levels, she has also been awarded PA State Coach of the Year, Spectrum All Sport Central Florida Coach of the Year, several USAWP Coach of the Year awards, and many Metro Coach of the Year awards. She has developed numerous athletes to become All Americans and Academic All Americans. Stephanie has been part of the USAWP ODP Developmental Program and a coach in the selection process for the Junior National teams. She is most proud of how many athletes continue to play in college at the varsity and club levels, athletes that grow into coaches, and now is excited about the opportunity to coach second generation water polo athletes. Coach Possell believes being academically successful is as important as being athletically successful.
Coach Rosa
Rosa Priest is a proud graduate of Olympia High School and a dedicated Orlando Thunder alumna. Her journey with the Thunder began as a freshman in high school, and she has remained an integral part of the program ever since. Over the past two summers, Rosa has returned to the club in a coaching capacity, bringing her passion, experience, and leadership to the next generation of athletes. Currently, she is a student at Florida State University, where she competes on the club water polo team while pursuing a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in Elementary Education. Rosa is deeply committed to both academic excellence and the sport of water polo, and she continues to give back to the community that helped shape her.
Coach Elaine
Elaine played on the first ever Lyman HS team, she started the women’s UCF Team, played masters for over 10 years, coached Bishop Moore High School bringing them to several District and Regional Championships. She took some time off to be a mom, and now that her kids both Gavin and Ada are playing, she is back on deck! Elaine’s vast experience with water polo and education makes her a perfect fit for our program.
Coach Diego
Diego graduated from Universidad Valle del Momboy in 2020 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Coach Diego is the youngest of three brothers that have all played on National Level playing in Spain, and Pan American Games. His oldest brother was a Peru National Team Coach. Diego has played on the Venezuelan National Team as a 16u, 18u, 20u, and Open age athlete. Since moving to Orlando he has won Gold at the Sunshine State Games and is now coaching with Orlando Thunder Water Polo Club and Olympia High School.
Coach Dio
Emily Diacono, aka Coach Dio, graduated from Fresno State in 2022 with a Bachelors in Kinesiology, Exercise Science. She was a part of Fresno State's Division 1 water polo team, helping lead the program to back-to-back conference championships and NCAA appearances. Coach Dio is the assistant women's water polo coach for Santa Clara University. In addition to her collegiate and coaching careers, Dio played professional water polo in Malta. She coached Orlando Thunder in the Summer of 2023 and we're ecstatic to have her back coaching the Juniors group! She also helps with administrative tasks and social media.
Coach Mateo
Mateo Herrera started playing waterpolo at age 8 for Coach Possell and Coach Linn. He primarily played field until sophomore year at Olympia high school where he made the transition to goalie. He was able to get recruited to Bucknell University his senior year where he currently plays division one waterpolo as a goalie and is going into his senior year. Mateo has been a goalie coach for Orlando Thunder since his freshman year of university.
Coach Griffin
Griffin Ewoldt was a High School State Champion at the Center position for Olympia High School. Griffin is a smart player who makes things happen in the pool by his game awareness. This will be his second season as one of our primary coaches for our 14 U team. Griffin’s patience in the water and knowledge of the game make him a great coach and addition to our team. Currently Griffin is the Vice President of the FAU Water Polo Team helping to build that program. Griffin easily builds a good rapport with other coaches, parents and athletes and is a great role model for our players.