Coaches
2026/2027 Coaching Staff
Carly Ayres (She/Her) - Head Coach & Team Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? My coaches had a huge influence on me growing up and were like my second mom. I looked up to their confidence, strong leadership and how they looked out for swimmers both as an athlete and as a person.
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? I would love to be a mermaid! I have always loved dolphins and ocean animals and dreamed as a kid of living in the ocean.
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? One of my favorite places I’ve travelled to was Arcachon, France. It had huge soft sandy beaches and was the perfect beach town.
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? I have a dog named Ally.
Do you like to gel your hair? No
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? Outside of coaching I am a mom to my two amazing girls who are 3 and 6 this year. I also continue to swim myself as a competitive masters swimmer!
What's your favourite artswim skill? My favorite routine skill is a ballet leg rolling series, if I’ve ever coached your solo there was probably a variation in there, haha. My favorite skill to coach is figures, specifically front pike pull downs and walkouts.
What's your Starbucks order? I like to switch it up! My staples are an oat milk chai on a cold day and an iced green tea lemonade for something refreshing.
Liz Scott (She/Her) - Club Manager, AquaGO Coordinator & Team Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? They taught me that working hard can be fun!
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? Mermaid. I love flipping and spinning underwater, and it is the closest to an artistic swimmer!
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? Iceland or Greece
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? A rescue Chiweenie Terrier named Malibu (or BuBu!)
Do you like to gel your hair? LOVE IT!
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? Kinesiologist/Physio Assistant and F45 coach!
What's your favourite artswim skill? Barracuda and spins!
What's your Starbucks order? Oatmilk London Fog
Naomi Grenke (She/Her) - Team Coach
Paige S (They/Them) - L2AS - North Team Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? Balanced in being tough and being encouraging.
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? Fairy, because they are little and small.
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? Emerald lake, near Banff.
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? Dog named Pippin, cat named Cherry.
Do you like to gel your hair? No
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? School
What's your favourite artswim skill? Barracuda and wraps
What's your Starbucks order? Strawberry Lemonade
Bailey Fawcett (She/Her) - Team Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? They are patient, empathetic.
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? Fairy
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? Italy or Rwanda
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? Dog named Ruby & cat named camp.
Do you like to gel your hair? LOVES DOING IT!
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? Triathlons, studies education at U of A
What's your favourite artswim skill? Spins
What's your Starbucks order? Banana bread latte
Meghan Hughes (She/Her) - Team Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? Someone who can lay down the law while also staying fun and keeping it serious when it’s needed.
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? Water Fairy
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? Florence, Italy
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? 2 cats, Kuzco and Lola, and a dog, Charles.
Do you like to gel your hair? Yes, everytime.
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? School and work
What's your favourite artswim skill? Swirly switches
What's your Starbucks order? Iced brown sugar shaken espresso
Josie Bardas (She/Her) - Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? Someone who is regulated and organized but also patient.
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? Mermaid 🧜???
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? Disney world
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? A cat named Harvey.
Do you like to gel your hair? Yes, but only in the morning.
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? School
What's your favourite artswim skill? Body Boosts
What's your Starbucks order? Anything with blonde espresso.
Katja Lemke (She/Her) - Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? Making practice and the environment so fun it didn’t feel like I was training.
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? Mermaid, because I love sea animals and breathe underwater.
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? Hawaii
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? Golden Retriever
Do you like to gel your hair? No
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? I got to MacEwan University and I am studying Social Work.
What's your favourite artswim skill? Barracuda
What's your Starbucks order? Iced Caramel Macchiato
Olena Cherniak - Coach
What qualities in your favourite coach inspired you to become one? My mom is a coach, so she inspired me to be a coach.
Would you rather be a mermaid or a fairy? Mermaid
What is your favourite place you’ve traveled? Egypt
Do you have any pets? If you do, what is/are the name(s)? If not, what pet would you want? Cat - Umca
Do you like to gel your hair? No
What do you do for work/study/do outside of coaching? Ukrainian Dance, Basketball, and Swimming
What's your favourite artswim skill? Loves everything, arm sections.
What's your Starbucks order? Depends on the season, but right now Iced Pumpkin Chai Latte
Keira Chester (She/Her) - Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 4 year of coaching experience. My favourite coaching memory would have to be my first time being on deck coaching at a competition for the first time.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: My favourite artistic swimming routine was the 16-20s Poseidon routine. It was the first higher level routine I watched, and the swimmers swam it beautifully.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. A Doctor or Elsa
What's the most inspiring part of your job? I love getting to interact with the kids and hear about dreams and aspirations, as well as be a figure for them to look up to.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I like reading
Gabby Rota (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: I have 2 years of experience. Watching my swimmers at the winter watershow swim their best and have fun!
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: This routine!
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up: A teacher!
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Watching kids improve!
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I like reading books.
Isabel Henderson (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: My 2nd year coaching, and my favourite coaching memory was my first winter water show as a coach! It was so special to see the athletes I trained have their big moment just like I have had being a swimmer.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Probably my human body duet! The choreography was so unique and I had a lot of fun.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be a ___________ when I grew up. A vet. I still love animals though
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Seeing swimmer’s routines start to come together and watch them be proud of themselves for achieving and learning something so awesome
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I enjoy dance at school and then in my free time at home I love to read and go on walks
Cordelia Vretenar (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory:This is my first year coaching! As a past competitive athlete, I’m so excited to spend time with my club and all of the swimmers!
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: I loved watching the older girls swim at my club a lot. A routine that always stuck out to me was Madeleine’s junior solo a couple years ago. It was always really inspiring watching her perform because of how elegant and talented she was.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. I always thought I would be a singer when I was younger. Still do, a little bit.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Being able to inspire and support swimmers as I was inspired and supported when I was younger.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I love singing, writing, playing piano, and hanging out with my friends!
Do you speak another language other than English? I’d say I can hold a decent conversation in Spanish!
Sadie Dagenais (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: This is my 2nd year coaching! my favourite coaching memory is when I can see the growth and the progress my swimmers have made and can think "wow I helped them achieve that!" It truly fills me with so much joy!!
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: My favourite artistic swimming routine was China's 2024 Paris olympics free routine !! it was so fun to watch and see all the amazing acros and figures. :)
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. When I was 5, I was 100% sure I would be a barbie mermaid ballerina princess (yes all 3) and I would live a life of a queen in Paris or some beautiful fantasy world.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Seeing the world through the eyes of a little girl or boy of this generation is honestly so cool!
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I love playing tennis and I also do musical theatre at my school which is so truly amazing and such a great experience for me.
Do you speak another language other than English? I do speak quite a bit of french but I can't say that I'm fluent. :)
Chauston Whenham (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: This is my 1st year coaching.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Italy’s 2020 Olympic Qualifier for Tokyo.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. An actress.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Being able to help younger athletes grow and strengthen their abilities through the sport and hopefully see them fulfill their goals.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Volleyball.
Do you speak another language other than English? A little bit of french.
Ace Linke (They/Them) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: This is my first year coaching! Super excited! Last year I was a volunteer coach for AquaGO and my favourite memory is when a little kiddo asked if I was 40 years old.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Russia Free Routine 2020
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. A veterinarian.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Seeing the kiddos start loving the sport as much as I do, and seeing their confidence in themselves growing.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I absolutely love art of all kinds.
Do you speak another language other than English? I’ve been learning German for almost two years now!
Pemberley W (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: This is my first year coaching and all of my favourite coaching memories are whenever I get to work one on one with a swimmer.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Team Canada
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. A vegetarian! Now I want to be a nurse.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? That I get to teach and connect with my swimmers.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I like art. For example, painting, potty, drawing, etc.
McKinley Deering (She/Her) - Sub Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: Three years coaching experience. One of my favourite memories coaching was when I got to go to Red Deer with my rec team and see them show off their routine and skills to other swimmers. And to be able to see how far they have come in their skills and the fun that we were having.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Russia's Archangel routine from Rio 2016
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up: A mermaid!
What's the most inspiring part of your job? It always inspires me seeing the kids grow in theirs skills and strengths, but also as humans!
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I love hiking in the mountains and being outside!
Do you speak another language other than English? Spanish
Meg Hipkin (She/Her) - Sub Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 17 years. It’s hard to choose- I love witnessing the growth of my athletes over a season, both as athletes and people.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Spain’s original Led Zeppelin routine.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up. A Marine Biologist
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Getting to be a mentor for amazing human beings and seeing them step into their own over a season or a few seasons.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Biking, yoga, pole dancing.
Annaleise Walker (She/Her) - Sub Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 9 years of coaching. Watching how proud and excited athletes get after finally achieving a skill they have been working really hard on.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Team USA “The Sorceresses” 2024 Olympic Acro Routine
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. A Teacher.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Seeing how much kindness and positivity the athletes bring into the world.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Weight lifting and traveling :)
Aubrey Kjeld (She/Her) - Sub Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: This is my first year coaching but I loved doing acro’s with my coach Paige last year.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: This routine, especially at 1:45
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be __________ when I grew up. A Librarian.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? I love watching kids fall in love with the sport.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Cooking and reading.
Do you speak another language other than English? No but I am trying to learn sign.
