Passages: Ray Benecki, FISH Founder and Coach of Kate Ziegler, Dies
Ray Benecki, who founded FISH Swim Club in Northern Virginia in the early 1990s, died on Tuesday. The club announced his passing in a statement, citing the cause as a battle with cancer.
Benecki founded FISH in McLean, Virginia in 1991, the club growing from a summer league team known as the Franklin Glen Gators to more than 350 members. A member of Potomac Valley Swimming, FISH earned the USA Swimming Gold Medal Club Award in 2009 in addition to four Silver Medal Awards (most recently in 2021) and six bronze medals.
Benecki coached until retiring in 2025, though he remained president of the team’s board.
The club’s most illustrious alumna is Kate Ziegler, accounting for much of the team’s accolades of four world records, nine American marks, five World Champions and two Olympic appearances. Ziegler represented the U.S. at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Benecki serving on the coaching staff in Beijing. She won four gold medals among six total at the World Championships in her career. Benecki was an assistant coach for the women’s team at Worlds in 2007.
Maddie Donohoe, JT Ewing, Emma Redman and Isabelle Rongione are among more recent graduates to go on to major college careers.
From the letter written by FISH CEO Monika Paris:
Ray retired from coaching in May of last year after decades of dedication to our team, but his influence on this community will remain. He built and shaped this program into something meaningful. Over the years, he coached swimmers at every level—from young athletes at their first Mini Champs to those who competed on the Olympic stage.
Ray’s legacy was about more than achievements or accolades. He believed in hard work, discipline, loyalty, and integrity. He encouraged athletes to discover their potential—not just in the water, but as teammates and as individuals. The culture he created continues to influence our community and the character of our swimmers.
Benecki was an ASCA Level V coach. He was an assistant coach on the open water team at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships and led the 2007 National Distance Camp. A Golden Goggles Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007, he has presented seminars in distance swimming for both USA Swimming and ASCA conferences.
Benecki swam collegiately at Cornell and the University of Delaware in the 1970s.
