Meet Our Coaches
Behind every Panther team is a coach committed to helping students grow, not just as athletes, but as teammates, leaders, and people. Get to know the coaches who lead our programs and support our student-athletes every step of the way.
Janelle Swenson, Athletic Director | Head Cross Country & Track Coach
Janelle Swenson brings a lifelong passion for athletics, education, and student development to her role as Athletic Director at The Independent School. A four-sport athlete growing up in Iowa, she went on to compete collegiately in cross country and track at Northwest Missouri State before building a career coaching and teaching in Kansas.
A dedicated lifelong learner, Janelle has earned degrees from Iowa State University, Wichita State University, and Emporia State University. She believes the same qualities that help students succeed in athletics, including perseverance, curiosity, discipline, and teamwork, prepare them for success in every aspect of life.
As Athletic Director, Janelle is committed to building an athletic program where every student feels known, supported, challenged, and proud to represent The Independent School. Her vision is to strengthen the traditions that make Panther Athletics special while continuing to create opportunities for every student-athlete to grow in confidence, character, and leadership.
Outside of school, Janelle enjoys spending time with her family, who share her enthusiasm for sports, learning, and an active lifestyle.
"Athletics are about building people."
Ali Alibadi, Head Soccer Coach
Ali grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, where he played both club and high school soccer before earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Oklahoma. After moving to Wichita in 2021, he built his career leading software engineering teams, where he developed a passion for building strong cultures, solving complex problems, and helping people succeed together.
As the founding coach of The Independent School's soccer program, Ali is excited to build something special from the ground up. He believes the strongest teams aren't always the most talented—they're the most connected. His coaching philosophy is rooted in trust, communication, accountability, and the belief that every player has an important role to play.
With soccer continuing to grow across the United States, Ali sees this as an exciting time to introduce the sport to more students at TIS. His goal is to build a disciplined, connected program where athletes develop strong fundamentals, compete with confidence, play with joy, and represent The Independent School with pride.
"The best teams are not always the most talented ones, but the most connected ones."
Rose Cantrell, Head Volleyball Coach
Rose Cantrell brings more than 20 years of coaching and youth development experience to The Independent School. Throughout her career, she has coached athletes in school, club, collegiate, and community programs, including serving as Head Coach and Mentor for the Division I international volleyball team at The American University of Paris.
Rose believes great teams are built through trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to growth. Her coaching focuses on developing strong fundamentals, competitive confidence, and a positive team culture where every athlete is encouraged to reach their potential both on and off the court.
Outside the gym, Rose enjoys cooking and teaching ballroom dance, combining her passion for movement, creativity, and lifelong learning.
rose.cantrell@theindependentschool.com
Trevor Darmstetter | Wrestling Coach / Assistant Track & Volleyball Coach
Trevor Darmstetter is a lifelong Wichitan and proud alumnus of The Independent School. As a student-athlete, he competed at the state level in three sports: cross country, wrestling, and track.
Trevor earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wichita State University and remains an active part of the Wichita running community. He first coached at TIS in 2010 and 2011 as an assistant coach for the back-to-back state championship cross country teams. During that time, he also served as the Head Middle School Wrestling Coach.
Since then, Trevor has continued supporting TIS athletics through the Panther Cub youth wrestling club and as an assistant coach for track and field. He is excited to help bring back the Upper School wrestling program while also assisting with Middle School volleyball.
Trevor’s coaching philosophy is rooted in helping students not only learn how to compete, but also truly love their sport. He focuses on building strong athletic fundamentals, sportsmanship, and the drive to never give up. Trevor also believes in the benefits of being a multi-sport athlete and encourages students to try new sports and activities during their time at TIS.
"Great teams are built through trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to growth."
Katie Idbeis, Head Girls Swim Coach
Katie Idbeis has been a member of The Independent School community since 2011, where she teaches Lower School art and has coached the Girls Swim Team since 2015. She brings an exceptional background as both an educator and an accomplished competitive swimmer.
A native of Emporia, Kansas, Katie was a six-time KSHSAA State Champion, three-time Kansas Swimmer of the Year, five-time NCAA All-American, NCAA Champion at the University of Georgia, USA Swimming National Champion, and an Olympic Trials finalist in both 2000 and 2004.
As a coach, Katie has worked with swimmers of every level, from first-time swimmers to Division I athletes and Olympic Trials qualifiers. She loves helping student-athletes build confidence, develop strong time management skills, and discover what they're capable of through dedication and hard work.
When she's not on the pool deck, Katie inspires creativity in the classroom, introducing Lower School students to art through the lens of art history.
"One of the greatest rewards of coaching is watching students discover what they're capable of."
Kathy Simms serves as an assistant coach for the TIS tennis program, bringing a lifelong love of sports, movement, and physical fitness to her work with students.
Sports have been an important part of Kathy’s life for as long as she can remember. As a child, her sport of choice was competitive diving, and she earned a bronze medal in the Junior Olympics at age 10. As an adult, Kathy developed a love for racquet sports, beginning with tennis in college and later expanding into racquetball, squash, and pickleball.
Professionally, Kathy spent 30 years as a personal trainer and holds certifications in yoga, Pilates, and spin. She has also served as a substitute teacher for grades Pre-K through 12 and spent one year as an Upper School P.E. teacher at Wichita Collegiate School.
Kathy is especially passionate about tennis because it is a lifetime sport. She loves helping students build skills they can carry with them well beyond their time at TIS. She is excited to coach the tennis team again this year, help the program grow, and encourage students to develop a lasting love for the game.