Club Officers & Leadership
Jill Basile, President
Meet Jill Basile! Jill has been a runner for ten years and decided to take up cycling five years ago due to many running injuries. Her passion for cycling grew rapidly! She did her first 75 mile bike tour only six weeks into her cycling career! Ever since then she has been a competitive cyclist!
In 2019 she decided to “Tri” her hand at the sport of Triathlon and took 1st place in her age group in her first ever Olympic Triathlon! She has been in love ever since!
Jill has competed in many Sprint and Olympic Triathlons taking home many podiums and is currently training for her first full IRONMAN!
In 2020 when Covid hit hard Jill was training for her very first marathon. Four weeks before her marathon Covid forced the hand of the race directors to postpone the race. That did not stop Jill! She ran her very first marathon supported by her family and friends through the streets of Harleysville Pa. She completed her first marathon while her family and friends waited at the finish line with a live Facebook feed so 400 of her friends could watch her cross the finish line!
Jill loves the family feel and camaraderie of the SVY Gator community! We love to support and cheer each other on!! There is nothing like running around the corner to the finish line seeing our Gator family cheering you on every last step of the way!!
David Stone, Vice-President
Meet David Stone! David has been a member of the SV Gators Triathlon Team since 2019 and is starting his first position with the club as Vice-President. He has been participating in triathlons since 2008, and will be attempting his first Ironman this summer with several teammates at Lake Placid. David is active in the local cycling community, having spent most of his adult life racing and riding bikes.
David is married to Megan, also a Gator team member and has 5 children, with the youngest two, Belle and Lily, also members of the Jr. Gators.
In addition to triathlon and bicycle riding, David also enjoys sailing, skiing, and spending time with his family and friends
Don Mack, Secretary
Meet Don Mack! Don is serving his 5th term as club Secretary. In that role, Don is responsible for the club's internal leadership and member communications. He also coordinates a variety of club activities including the board and coaches meetings, seminars, clinics and various club events. Don also developed "Gatorthon", the club's annual fundraiser (in support of the YMCA's "Annual Campaign), which includes members of the club forming relay teams that each run a treadmill marathon (Don has personally run an individual treadmill marathon 5 times as part of the event). Don also manages the club's "Who's In?" calendar that tracks members events over the course of the year and leads the club’s fall/winter “Gator Fitness Challenge” program. Don is also a part of the club's coaching team and is a past Spring Valley YMCA "Volunteer of the Year" because of his club activities.
Don, a Limerick resident, receives amazing support for his club leadership activities from his wife, Lisa. Don and Lisa have three adult children, Frank, Alyssa, and Josh plus two grandchildren.
Rachel Truckley, Treasurer
Rachel is new to the leadership board for 2022 and has been a Gator since 2018. She's been with the YMCA as an employee since 2010; getting her start at our very own Spring Valley! She's been training off and on for her first Tri since 2020, postponing and deferring throughout Covid-19, and at long last competed in July 2022 at the Delmo Women's Tri in Philadelphia. Rachel has been an athlete her whole life, focusing mainly in martial arts for 15 years where she secured her 4th Degree Master Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. She enjoys hiking, pestering her cat Milo, and cooking and eating delicious food in her leisure.
Joyce Williams, Membership
Meet Joyce Williams! Being a triathlete is something Joyce never anticipated. But, in 2017, she literally took the plunge by jumping off the Cape May Lewes Ferry as part of the Escape the Cape Triathlon. She had not run for more than 40 years, never swam competitively, and her cycling consisted of riding her hybrid bike on the local trails. After signing up for Escape the Cape on a bucket-list whim, Joyce joined the Gators to figure out how to do a triathlon. She gained so much more than athletic advice, finding a group of positive people who enjoy supporting each other as much as they enjoy racing and training together.
While Joyce did not plan on doing another triathlon after her first, she quickly became hooked. Since 2017, she has competed in many triathlons and 5Ks, the Broad Street Run, the Philadelphia Half Marathon and numerous other races. In 2021, her goal is to complete the Ironman 70.3 distance in Atlantic City.
As co-leader of the Welcome Committee, Joyce looks forward to meeting new Gators and helping them to quickly feel a part of the Gator family.
Sheri Kuss, Sponsorship
Meet Sheri Kuss! Sheri got into running as a National Down Syndrome Society Athlete Ambassador (NDSS) spreading awareness of Down syndrome and the importance of health and being active. She does this in honor of her nephew Bradley.
As a child and in college, Sheri was an avid swimmer. She became interested in triathlons while seeing it in action at Tri the Wildwoods.
Sheri joined the Gators after doing her first indoor Triathlon at the Spring Valley Y. She immediately found a love for the sport and signed up for her first outdoor Triathlon - The Women's Philly Tri. Sheri feels that the support of the Gators Team is fantastic. Everyone is there to support one another and offer assistance to new athletes in the sport. Beyond the support, the Gators culture has unparalleled positivity.
In her spare time, Sheri keeps busy with her Husband and 3 children (one who is part of our Gator Tots) in Spring City.
Jeff Moyer, Sponsorship
Cindy Kelecic, Youth Program Committee Leader
Meet Cindy Kelecic! Cindy is a new triathlete who joined the SV Gators in 2018. She came in to the sport with very little background in endurance sports. She grew up and trained as a figure skater and ice-dancer, only dabbling in swimming, soccer, and dance here and there. After an extended break from all sports and looking for a new challenge, she decided to start training for 5ks a few years ago and completed her first half marathon in 2017. That same year she decided to participate in the American Cancer Society's Bike-a-Thon, a 66-mile ride. Afterwards, a neighbor jokingly asked if a triathlon was next. Little did that neighbor know, the seed was already planted. Always up for a challenge and setting new goals, she is forever grateful for the warm welcome and support she has received from the Gator community. She looks forward to spreading this support to others and helping the Youth membership take off and grow this year.
Angela Epelbaum , Youth Program Committee Leader
Meet Angela Epelbaum! Angela is a first-year triathlete and new to the Gators in 2019. Road running has been her sport of choice, she became interested in triathlons from several friends who were Gators and while looking to find ways to grow in a competitive sport without having to run a full marathon. Both cycling and spin are very new to Angela, and it has been quite an adventure getting started. Her biggest accomplishments have been completing 3 half marathons, and 7 ten-mile races, Broad Street being her favorite. In her spare time, Angela loves all things fashion, is an avid hiker with her family, and loves to attend yoga, pilates or barre classes. Angela is looking forward to completing her first triathlon this year and is excited to help work with the youth Gators as they grow in the sport!
