Other origins include a longtime interest in studying, understanding, and appreciating Human Development, Psychology, and Sociology. An undergraduate degree in Psychology, minor in Sociology (University of Arizona, 1985), a master's degree in Psychology (Pepperdine University, 1990), and a doctoral degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology (UNR, 2010), combined with a love of sport, have made working with children and young adults a natural fit. In 2009-2010, this combination of psychology and sport was the impetus for her doctoral dissertation study, entitled Self-Esteem and Actual, Reflected, and Self-Appraisals of Swimmers in Early Adolescents. With the help of USA Swimming, Swimming World Magazine, and USA Swimming teams from 23 states, a sample of swimmers (ages 12-15) participated in a study, along with their parents and coaches, examining self-esteem and ideas about scholastic & athletic ability and physical appearance. With the expertise of Senior Coach and web designer Nenad Rodic and the wisdom of theorists, researchers, teachers, philosophers, mathematicians, and statisticians, Weiss departed from conventional paper-and-pencil research methods and conducted the study online. The results were consistent with more traditional methods of research, which offered support for both the reliability of the measures used and the potential benefits of internet research in the social sciences. More importantly, the results highlighted the intricate relationship between evaluations of others and the development of individuals' self-perceptions regarding their own competence/adequacy in various domains (e.g., athletic ability) and their self-esteem. Specifically, this research supports previous findings that link self-knowledge and self-esteem. Self-knowledge refers to our ideas about ourselves, some of which come from our observations of how others react and respond to us, whereas self-esteem refers in part to how we feel about these ideas, or our self-worth. When self-knowledge is uncertain or unstable, we often observe a lower level of self-esteem, and this appears to be the case for swimmers in USA Swimming and the general population alike. A full report of this study will be available in 2012.

These origins, along with raising a family in swimming and almost 25 years of coaching, have resulted in a very simple philosophy for Weiss: regardless of ability, there is something for everyone in the sport of swimming. Happy swimming careers come in many forms and variant lengths of time. Swimming offers people of all ages an opportunity to figure out how to move swiftly through water, but in the meantime, it also provides a rich social and engaging environment, with people working together, breathing & laughing together, and learning about themselves, others, and the world together. At it's best, swimming facilitates positive human growth & development, not to mention a healthy lifestyle, friendships, time with family, and fun. The friends we make in swimming are often our best friends, our friends for life. For Weiss, coaching is as much about raising children as it is about imparting the art and science of swimming. For this and many other reasons, including a focus on continuity within our program, Weiss works with all training groups, including the Stroke Class, on a weekly basis.

This philosophy has been shaped and bolstered by a knowledgeable and awesome staff, great kids, and dedicated families since 1989. In the past two decades, Lakeridge has been home to countless age group swimmers who have grown up in a positive environment and a great sport. Lakeridge swimmers have learned proper stroke technique, training habits, nutrition, a strong work ethic, time management (i.e. academic achievement, other activities, etc.), and self-discipline. At the same time, they have enjoyed many personally rewarding and meaningful experiences, best times, and fun with friends who remain friends long after their towels have finally dried. Lakeridge swimmers have also been Nevada State Champions and Record Holders; Nevada High School State Champions and Record Holders; JO, Far Western, and Western Zone Champions and Record Holders; Sectionals, Junior, and National qualifiers and finalists; Olympic Trials Qualifiers; Scholastic All-Americans; academic and athletic college scholarship recipients; and NCAA Division I, II, and III competitors. Lakeridge alumni are teachers, artists, engineers, lawyers, policemen, triathletes, coaches, professional athletes, photographers, entrepreneurs, grad students, doctors, scientists, business people, and parents.

Nikola Savcic, Age Group Coach joined us at Lakeridge in 2001. He too was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He started swimmming at the age of 10. He was a member of the Yugoslav Swimming National Team and was the National Record Holder in breaststroke events from 1990 until 2001. As a member of the national team, he took part in lots of international swimming events, including the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000), World Swimming Championships, World University Games, and lots more. In 2001, he decided to make a change in his life and come to the United States to continue his swimming career, coach, and even train occasionally. As part of the Lakeridge Swim Team and Lesson staff, Nik works with the Silver, Bronze, and Stroke Class groups. He also represents Lakeridge as a swimmer, and Sierra Nevada Masters team as a masters swimmer because "swimming is the first thing (not counting chocolate!) that brings happiness to (his) life". Nikola also loves working with animals and currently when he is not on deck with the swimmers, he works as a veterinary technician in an animal hospital here in Reno. Besides swimming, he likes talking, reading, watching movies, eating, and dancing.