Meet Eliza! She wears many hats – a devoted mom, a compassionate guidance counselor, and an inspiring high school swim coach. Sports have always played a role in her life, but now, as a mom and swim coach, they carry even more significance.
Eliza was a multi-sport athlete in her youth, participating in soccer, basketball, softball, and swimming. During her freshman year at Manasquan High School, she juggled soccer, lacrosse, and swimming. However, by sophomore year, Eliza decided to focus on swimming, competing in the 50 free and the 100 free as a varsity team member. Although she didn’t continue swimming in college at La Salle University, the sport remained a vital part of her life.
Currently serving as a school counselor at Wall Intermediate School and coaching the varsity swim team, Eliza’s dual roles allow her to view her athletes through both counseling and coaching lenses. She not only supports their physical health but also addresses their social and emotional well-being, drawing on her counseling background to help them navigate challenges.
Eliza, driven by a desire to set a positive example for her daughter, remains active and involved in fitness. She’s a dedicated member of Fitness By The Sea in Avon, participating in CrossFit-style classes and numerous 5k races. Notably, Eliza recently completed her first Marathon in Philadelphia in 2023 and is now training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Her daughter has been cheering her on since she was a baby and Eliza leads by example, emphasizing that fitness is enjoyable and something she does for herself. Her daughter is so inspired that she even asks to go running with her! Read more about Eliza and how sports, especially swimming, has shaped her life.
Q: What sports did you play growing up?
When I was in elementary school I played soccer, basketball, softball. In high school, I did soccer, swimming, and lacrosse my freshman year, but starting sophomore year I focused on swimming.
Q:Was there anything that made you hesitant about starting your sport(s)?
When I first joined the swim team, it was a brand new sport at Manasquan. I only knew a few people at the time, and never swam competitively before. I had such a great experience though because of the coaching staff and the positive environment they created for all swimmers, with all different skill levels.
Q: What female athletes (or any athletes) did you look up to?
There weren’t many female athletes that I knew of honestly! Swimming wasn’t highlighted too much until Michael Phelps and I enjoyed watching him swim.
Q: What is your favorite memory associated with sports?
During the swim season, I can vividly remember the team bonding with my teammates as we rode the busses to the our meets playing our favorite songs at the moment. Coach Murin was a coach who always knew the potential we had, even though we might not have always seen it. My junior and senior years, when competing at Championship meets, I always felt supported with all of my swims, whether it was my best or worst.
Eliza and Coach Murin as an athlete and now coaching along each other.
Q: How has playing sports helped shape your life?
Even though I have played all different types of sports since I was little, I never felt pressured by my parents to do something that I didn’t 100% love. When I wanted to focus just on swimming, they supported that whole heartedly. They drove me to late night practices, came to all my meets, even though they both worked full time and were always proud no matter the outcome. Was I the best swimmer? No. But being part of a team taught me responsibility at a young age, it taught me how to deal with disappointment and not give up.
Now as a mom to a 9 year old girl who is starting to get into competitive swimming and softball, I am seeing it through a different lens. I have told her since day one that if she ever loses the spark of any activity she is involved in, to let me know. I want her to love what she is doing, and not continue something if the desire isn’t there. From someone that used to get so nervous before any competition, it is so refreshing to see my daughter cool, calm and collected. From huge swim meets, to softball games, she takes everything in stride and doesn’t let the weight of the competition get to her. She is just happy to be part of the team.
Another way that a positive sports experience has helped shape my life is that I am now head coach of the Wall High School Swim team. I started last year as the assistant coach, with really no coaching experience, but being a former swimmer and school counselor and with knowing a lot of the students, I felt that I could bring positive energy with an awareness of the athlete psyche.
This year, I have taken over as head coach and continue to try to build a healthy bond between the swimmer and the sport. I think having such a positive experience with Coach Murin, really helped shape the kind of coach I wanted to be. Coach Murin is still coaching the Manasquan High School swim team (25 years later) and it has been so great to reconnect with him and one of my former teammates, Kim Ward, as fellow coaches.
Q: What advice would you give to young girls who are just starting off in sports?
My advice would be to make sure you are always having fun and always believing in yourself. There are going to be days when things don’t go your way, but it’s all about how you pick yourself up and learn and grow from each experience.
Coach Rachel 