Sarah Lynn Stickels

My deepest sympathy to all of the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this very trying time. Nancy

Lynn was truly an unbelievable coach. She took the time to care about every swimmer. If you wanted to put in the time to get better, she would take you there. She was one of my very first coaches on my first swim team. Long after I left MEYO, I still went back to Lynn for help. I'll never forget working with her one-on-one on stroke techniques and drills while I was in college. She had an eye for techniques and things you were doing wrong. I'll never forget her and everything she did for swimming in Madison and Wisconsin. I wish I could be there next Friday, the USA/YMCA swimming community lost a great coach/friend/person.

Lynn was not just a swim coach...she was a true friend to our family for over 13 years. She had a wonderful soul and a passion for life not seen in many people. Everyone she touched was a better person because of her. She will be missed but not forgotten.

Coach Lynn was my very first swimming coach and got me started on a 12 year competitive career. I have a hearing loss and many teams were very hesitant and cautious about allowing me on their team but Lynn welcomed me with open arms and treated me just like she treated anyone else. I never felt like I had a disability while swimming for MEYO. Later on, I became a regular lifeguard at East and got to continue working with Lynn well beyond the competitive swimming years. I will never forget Lynn and all she has done for me and for countless other swimmers and staff who have been able to know and work with her.

We will all miss Lynn but she is now with angels who embrace her spirit. This is a sad day for the state, community, for swimming, and for all her family and friends who knew just what a great person she is. She was my own coach in my early days at MEYO, as well as teaching my own daughters how to swim and coaching them. I had the opportunity to coach with Lynn, at MEYO, side by side for several years. She was always a very supportive friend -a wonderful person, and so good with kids -and adults. She and I had many common interests together, including birds and we exchanged information around them and other subjects over the years regularly... We will all miss her very very greatly. Sincerely yours Lynn, Ben, Ashley-Anne and Savie Hobbins

I have so many great memories of coach Lynn. She taught my sisters and I how to be strong and efficient swimmers, she nurtured community on our team, she was there for MEYO families, she taught us how to wrestle watermelons in the pool, she encouraged us in long-course meets, she coached us to try new events in the pool, and the list continues. Lynn was everything to Madison swimming and she supported everyone. I'm saddened to hear of her passing, and she'll be sorely missed. We love you, Lynn!