AUGUST 12, 2023 | Super Sprint, Sprint, & Olympic Races
Kids that Tri
Kids That Tri Cleveland (KTT) non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which creates a pathway for student-athletes in grades 6-12 to learn to swim, bike, and run with the goal of completing at least one or more triathlons. KTT provides youth in Cleveland access to skill-building, equipment, and competitive coaching — inspiring confidence and creating a solid foundation for a healthy and active multi-sport lifestyle at no cost to the athlete. This program prioritizes supporting youth who may not otherwise experience sport inside or outside of school.
Participation in youth sports transforms lives and builds stronger communities. In addition to acquiring the lifelong skills of swimming, biking and running, KTT athletes benefit from the important lessons of self discipline, clear communication, sportsmanship and teamwork. KTT expands horizons and encourages goal setting. In 2021, several participants had never competed in an athletic contest. For most it was the first opportunity to travel beyond their neighborhoods. Thanks to KTT, student athletes are pushing themselves to set and achieve goals within a community that equips, trains and celebrates individual and collective achievements. Lessons learned from the sport inspire focus, healthy living and success for a lifetime.
KTT has captured the hearts and imagination of the Cleveland triathlon community. Dedicated and talented volunteer coaches meet bi-weekly with youth participants for training and educational sessions on topics such as swim techniques, transitions, and bike maintenance. KTT’s extensive race calendar for the 2022 season includes the Zone 3 Youth and Junior Nationals in July. Word has gotten out and the triathlon community has generously supported the program through donations of bikes and gear and funding to cover entry fees and other expenses. The Greater Cleveland YMCA has opened its doors to provide free membership and a hub for swim lessons, dry land training, and bike storage in a safe and secure environment.
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Do you have a youth that is interested in the program? Fill out the 2023 Cohort Form
Kids That Tri is an officially sanctioned USA Triathlon Club.
Want to learn more about the program? Contact us at kidsthattricleveland@gmail.com
2022 Tri CLE Race Photos
2021 Tri CLE Race Photos
Meet the Coaches
Tove Shere
Jerry Shere
Jerry Shere
Head Coach
Tove is a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach and in 1989 began her racing career in triathlon. In 1994, after several years of competing as a Master’s Athlete she became an A.C.E. Personal Trainer and Multi-sport Coach in the private sector. Her clients ranged from competitive age-group athletes to pros attending Ironman World Cham
Head Coach
Tove is a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach and in 1989 began her racing career in triathlon. In 1994, after several years of competing as a Master’s Athlete she became an A.C.E. Personal Trainer and Multi-sport Coach in the private sector. Her clients ranged from competitive age-group athletes to pros attending Ironman World Championships. For 21 years, Tove was the boys and girls Head Track and Field Coach at Santa Fe Prep and in 2019 she ended her prep coaching career as an assistant. Tove has continued to compete in several sports at a Master’s Level and currently competes in the 65-69 age group. She has celebrated many personal athletic highlights over the course of her racing career.
Jerry Shere
Jerry Shere
Jerry Shere
Jerry competed in his first triathlon in 1988 at the San Diego International Triathlon. Over the years, he has had the privilege of representing Team USA at 8 World Championships in Triathlon and Duathlon. His wife, Tove, and him retired to Cleveland Heights in June of 2019. They were attracted to Cleveland following their participation
Jerry competed in his first triathlon in 1988 at the San Diego International Triathlon. Over the years, he has had the privilege of representing Team USA at 8 World Championships in Triathlon and Duathlon. His wife, Tove, and him retired to Cleveland Heights in June of 2019. They were attracted to Cleveland following their participation in the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships at Edgewater Park in 2018. They enjoy the incredible opportunities to experience the outdoors and their involvement with the robust triathlon community in Cleveland. Last year, they coached a group of kids at the Thurgood Marshall Rec Center in triathlon and led them to their first triathlon at the Age Group Nationals in 2019. Tove and Jerry he served as Ambassadors for the USA Triathlon Foundation for the past two years.
Dee Boyd
Jerry Shere
Dee Boyd
Demetra (Dee) started her triathlon Journey in 2015 not knowing how to swim, but she knew how not to drown! She completed her first indoor triathlon doing the back float! Dee has completed many triathlons since 2015. In 2019, she had bilateral knee surgery, but that hasn’t kept her from maintaining an active lifestyle. She has her eyes
Demetra (Dee) started her triathlon Journey in 2015 not knowing how to swim, but she knew how not to drown! She completed her first indoor triathlon doing the back float! Dee has completed many triathlons since 2015. In 2019, she had bilateral knee surgery, but that hasn’t kept her from maintaining an active lifestyle. She has her eyes on one day completing an IronMan. Dee is excited about the Kids That Tri program. She is often 1 of 3 African Americans racing at a triathlon, so she hopes that this program can work on changing the future of the diversity of triathletes. Dee is a mother of 3 boys, ages 13, 18, and 28 – and has an understanding of how important offering a program like this is for youth.
Micaela Gonzalez
Micaela Gonzalez
Micaela Gonzalez
Micaela has been an athlete her whole life (varsity teams: crew, swimming, track) and a year-round competitive swimmer since the age of 4. After graduating from Case in Biomedical Engineering and having her daughter, she knew she wanted to participate in events that would raise money to find a cure for her disease, Neurofibromatosis Typ
Micaela has been an athlete her whole life (varsity teams: crew, swimming, track) and a year-round competitive swimmer since the age of 4. After graduating from Case in Biomedical Engineering and having her daughter, she knew she wanted to participate in events that would raise money to find a cure for her disease, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). So, she trained and eventually ran her first full marathon, it was exhilarating. Naturally, she decided it was time for a bigger challenge...Triathlon!
In the summer of 2019, while being deathly afraid of cycling and a foreigner to her bicycle, she conquered her fears and completed her first sprint, super sprint, and Olympic distance races. Fortunately, she qualified for Nationals in her sprint event! Being a member of the Cleveland Triathlon Club (CTC) inspired her to kick it up one more notch and try her hand at a long-distance event. In 2020 she trained for a Half Ironman and Full Ironman which unfortunately was canceled. In 2021, she qualified for the World championship in the super sprint and will represent Team USA in 2022. She also completed her first 70.3 and competed at the 70.3 world championship in St. George, Utah.
She is stoked to mentor and teach the youth in this program. Her hope is that by "showing up", our youth will feel pride within themselves and motivation to push for greatness. She is honored as an Afro-Latina woman to help increase inclusion and representation in this great sport and hopefully, to inspire others to shoot for the moon!
Debbie Makowski
Micaela Gonzalez
Micaela Gonzalez
Debbie has been a Fitness and Food Coach for over 20 years. She is I.S.S.A. certified in personal and group fitness, ballet barre, and nutrition which allows her to coach in a personalized way. She was a marathon runner for many years before becoming a triathlete. Shortly after running the Boston Marathon, she was diagnosed with aggress
Debbie has been a Fitness and Food Coach for over 20 years. She is I.S.S.A. certified in personal and group fitness, ballet barre, and nutrition which allows her to coach in a personalized way. She was a marathon runner for many years before becoming a triathlete. Shortly after running the Boston Marathon, she was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. As a celebration of her 5-year remission, she entered triathlons for the challenge and to see what she was capable of doing. She completed Sprints, Olympics, Half Ironman’s, and one Ironman at Lake Placid. Triathlon was just what she needed to train her body and mind to the fullest! Her greatest sport is the sport of not quitting!
Coaching kids with KTT and serving the community holds a special place in Debbie’s heart. She thrives on seeing the kids develop, gain confidence, and have fun. She likes to bring her skills as a coach and a mentor to the kids so they feel the support and passion KTT provides.
While not coaching and training, she practices law and enjoys helping others solve problems. Debbie and her husband, Jeff, have 4 sons and the cutest dog ever, Macy Gray who is sometimes spotted at races and other athletic events!
Eric Gibb
Mark Brandt
Mark Brandt
Prior to finding triathlon in 2000, Eric played basketball, soccer, and ran track in his early youth. In his late youth, after 2000, he has raced in all manners and forms of Swim / Bike / Run. Competing in triathlons ranging from super-sprint to Ironman has kept things interesting with training and racing. Eric has been a member of th
Prior to finding triathlon in 2000, Eric played basketball, soccer, and ran track in his early youth. In his late youth, after 2000, he has raced in all manners and forms of Swim / Bike / Run. Competing in triathlons ranging from super-sprint to Ironman has kept things interesting with training and racing. Eric has been a member of the Cleveland Triathlon Club since the clubs' formation in 2003. Recently he just completed 8 years on the CTC Board and was President of the Club in 2020 - 2021. The multisport community in Northeast Ohio has provided a lot of inspiration and memories for Eric and he is excited to share the passion of triathlon with the Kids That Tri. He hopes to show young athletes what triathlon can provide them....motivation, pride, and most of all fun. Eric is fortunate to share the multisport lifestyle with his wife Aimee who is also an Ironman finisher. They enjoy the travel that accompanies the races so they can see the world.
Mark Brandt
Mark Brandt
Mark Brandt
Mark is a long-time member of the downtown business community. He found triathlon at the elevated age of 50 and races in half IronMan distance events plus and enjoys sharing his disciplines of swimming, biking, running, strength training, and nutrition with others. He founded a newly reimagined triathlon in downtown Cleveland that took p
Mark is a long-time member of the downtown business community. He found triathlon at the elevated age of 50 and races in half IronMan distance events plus and enjoys sharing his disciplines of swimming, biking, running, strength training, and nutrition with others. He founded a newly reimagined triathlon in downtown Cleveland that took place on August 21, 2021, with the three shortest event distances to attract more people to the sport.
His passion is seeing new people enter the sport so he’s worked with his network to launch “Kids that Tri” for Cleveland Urban youth with the backing of The Cleveland YMCA and Davis High School. Mark is a graduate of St. Edward High School, Cornell University is a former board member of Notre Dame College in South Euclid
Meet the Support Staff
Jessica Schmidt
Jessica Schmidt
Jessica Schmidt
Jessica has been a cheerleader her entire life. She has a passion to cheer on, encourage, and support people to the fullest! She has been accused of being annoyingly positive takes this as a compliment! As a teen, Jessica was involved in softball, ski, and cross country teams. As an adult, Jessica had a full marathon on her bucket list,
Jessica has been a cheerleader her entire life. She has a passion to cheer on, encourage, and support people to the fullest! She has been accused of being annoyingly positive takes this as a compliment! As a teen, Jessica was involved in softball, ski, and cross country teams. As an adult, Jessica had a full marathon on her bucket list, fast-forward, le't just say she has achieved that bucket list goal and then some!
Jessica enjoys many outdoor activities, but running is her favorite as it gives her that alone time to be connected to nature & pray.
Jessica was a part of the fashion industry for 20 years, then switched gears to focus on fitness & wellness. Jessica has been blessed to have 5 children who are very active & competitive in sports.
She has coached middle school cross country for three years & enjoys the relationships she has built. For the past few years, she has been involved with We Run This City and last year accepted the position as Coordinator of the program. She enjoys being that person to help students set and achieve goals so they can gain self-confidence plus overall wellness. Jessica is excited to be a part of the KTT community!
Contact Jessica at: jschmidt@clevelandymca.org
Gary Guzy
Jessica Schmidt
Jessica Schmidt
Director of Aquatics at the YMCA.
Email Gary at: gguzy@clevelandymca.org
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