Coaches
2024/2025 Coaching Staff
Carly Ayres (She/Her) - Head Coach & Learn-to-ArtSwim South Lead Coach
Hello! My name is Carly Ayres and I am the Head Coach of Nova Artistic Swimming. This is my forth season with Nova and I am so excited to be a part of this amazing sport family. Our world has changed so much in the past few years and I am so thankful to be able to provide the opportunity for our young athletes to be active and share their passion of the water with each other.
As a head coach I will lead club development, support all of our coaches, promote swimmer and coach development and continue to build and promote our positive club culture.
I have been coaching for 17 years. I started coaching in Manitoba and am very proud to have been a part of the start of Aquatica Synchro Club. Throughout my coaching career I have worked with provincial and national stream athletes, coached at provincial team camps and lead development programs. I am a Competition Development certified coach. In 2019 I received the Most Promising Coach Award from Alberta Artistic Swimming.
I first started artistic swimming at the age of 9 and had the opportunity to represent Manitoba at the 2007 & 2011 Canada Winter Games, compete at the 2008 & 2009 US Junior Nationals and the 2010 French Open. After competing at a national level I have continued to swim as a competitive masters swimmer. My goal as a coach is to support all athletes to enjoy sport for life.
Outside of coaching I enjoy being a mom to my 2 daughters and spending time at our family cottage in Manitoba.
Liz Scott (She/Her) - Club Manager & Learn-to-ArtSwim North Lead Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 20 years. I have had the opportunity to coach in Germany and at some international competitions. It was so cool to learn from other athletes & coaches.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Team Spain “The Ocean” 2012 Olympic Free 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 singer!
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Seeing how proud a swimmer is when they finally get a skill they have been working so hard to achieve.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Travelling, reading, going for walks with my dog.
Naomi Grenke (She/Her) - Team Coach & Social Media Coordinator
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 10 years coaching. My favorite coaching experience is getting to coach young swimmers their first year with the sport and later again when they have grown into strong youth or Junior athletes.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: My favorite routine to coach is a Technical team and I have enjoyed all that I have gotten to coach so far. My favorite routine that I watched this Olympics is the USA team Free routine.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up. A librarian or firefighter.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Seeing the athletes confidence grow as they practice.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Reading and playing board or card games.
Paige S (They/Them) - Team Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 7 years and my favourite memory is my team having their best swim ever at Alberta Winter Games.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: My 2016 Puttin’ on the Ritz duet or my 2019 The Show Must Go On solo.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up. An astronaut.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Being able to connect with so many athletes and watch them improve and grow as both people and athletes.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I love journaling/scrapbooking and collecting things, like stickers, Pokemon cards, etc.
Meg Hipkin (She/Her) - Teen Rec Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 16 years. There are so many, but it was a blast to travel with my team to Alberta Winter Games in 2018, and to witness them having a "mini Olympic" experience.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: The Stairway to Heaven combo routine that Spain did around 2009 is a classic at this point and one of my all time favorite things to watch.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up. An animal lover - I wasn't much of a future planner when I was 5
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Witnessing my athletes grow together as a team and as individuals. Seeing their confidence expand as their abilities improve and being there as they hold each other up and support one another.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Scuba diving is my absolute favorite thing to do outside of the pool.
Meghan Hughes (She/Her) - Team & AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: I have been a coach for 3 years, I am starting my second year coaching competitive. 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 routine that I got to swim would have to be my spiderman solo that I did 2nd year of 13-15.
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? The most inspiring part of my job is getting to meet athletes who love to swim, and helping them find a connection to this sport for life.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Away from the pool I love to crochet, knit or do anything crafty!
Asha Nelson (She/Her) - Learn-to-ArtSwim South Assistant Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 7 years coaching between recreational and competitive. Favourite coaching memory is watching athletes build their confidence in their skills and performance from the beginning of the year to the last competition and seeing how proud of themselves they are.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: My 16-20 team routine to Prince, it was so much fun!
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up. A soccer coach for elephants or a doctor
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Watching athletes learn new skills and build friendships with their teammates
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Recently, mountain biking has been a favourite!
Alexis Squire (She/Her) - Teen Rec & Learn-to-ArtSwim North Assistant Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 4 years. My favourite coaching memory is coaching summer camps and creating fun routines to show off to parents.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: Lady Gaga 16-20 Free Duet.
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 the athlete improve and grow both in the sport and as people after every single practice.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? Cooking
Annaleise Walker (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach & Sub
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: 8 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 :)
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
Chylee Keddie (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: It’s my first year and I am excited!
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: When I swim 16-18 when I was 13, we did a Cowboys routine and it was my favourite.
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up. An Olympic athlete.
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Watching a new generation grow and learn the sport that I love in the community that is surrounded
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? My favourite hobbies outside of the pool we’re hanging out with friends and watching movies with a cosy blanket and a warm drink in my hand.
Gabby Rota (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
Years of coaching experience & favourite coaching memory: This is my first year coaching! My favourite coaching memory was probably doing the course and making new friends.
Favourite Artistic Swimming Routine: My favourite routine was my junior free solo last year, which I swam to how far I’ll go from Moana!
When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be ___________ when I grew up: A pop star or professional singer! lol
What's the most inspiring part of your job? Helping swimmers improve each practice.
What is a sport or hobby you enjoy away from the pool? I love to dance and go on walks.
McKinley Deering (She/Her) - AquaGO Coach
