All Tiers
Coach Tina is the Co-Founder of the team along with Coach Raquel, which they established in 2015. Coach Tina has been involved with coaching Artistic Swimming since 2009 and is a USA Artistic Swim and USA Paralympic Certified Swim Coach. Coach Tina is an Aquatics Therapy Assistant for injured veterans and is enrolled in the SJSU M.S. Graduate program for Kinesiology with a focus on sports & facilities management for people with impairments. Coach Tina is a strong advocate for long term athlete development and knows that the skills learned and earned by athletes with disabilities are lifelong in any career they chose. Coach Tina has been instrumental along with Coach Raquel in the national and global push to include artistic swimming as a future Paralympic sport. Coach Tina was successful in guiding the USA Artistic Swim Federation to include a category for athletes w/disabilities (AWD) to compete in locally, regionally, state and nationally. Coach Tina has been a guest speaker all over the world for the inclusion of artistic swimming as an adapted & Paralympic sport, in addition to engaging athletes with disabilities with the sport. Coach Tina has made a global impact not only as a Head Coach but as the President of her advocacy organization, Artistic Swim AWD-USA. Her ultimate goals are commitment to growth and equity for artistic swim clubs locally and across the nation with AWD inclusion, long term athlete development (LTAD) for athletes with impairments, Paralympic inclusion and establishing a local aquatics facility for people with impairments. Her compassion, understanding and qualifications will result in the success of these goals.
Tiers 5 & 6 Remote Coach
Coach Raquel is the Co-Founder of the Team and the USA Pioneer in evolving artistic swimming as a main stream sport with parasport categories (Tiers). Coach Raquel began the formal global movement in 2014 to include athletes with disabilities in Artistic Swimming, starting with competing as the first AWD representing the Santa Clara Aquamaids USA, in the Canadian Nationals in 2014. Coach Raquel began her artistic swimming career in 2009 with two local teams and ultimately started the Bay Area Artistic Swim Team in 2015 to allow for athletes w/disabilities (AWD) to have full opportunities in all competitions. Coach Raquel continues to compete as an athlete in National and Int'l competitions and exhibitions as a Tier 6 athlete in the physical disabilities category. Coach Raquel believes in inclusivity in sports and has traveled all over the World to speak about the importance of inclusion and keeping our athletes with disabilities engaged and independent. Coach Raquel graduated from San Jose State University in 2022 with a degree in Political Science. She took a break to coach and continuing the pursuit of the AWD global movement for inclusion in future Paralympic Games. Coach Raquel has been instrumental as a founding leader for athletes, coaches and clubs to develop inclusion advocacy and outreach. She has encouraged many members of the USAAS National Teams, as well as clubs around the world to take part in developing outreach programs such as AWD webinars, podcasts and summer camps to promote AWD in our sport nationally and globally. Coach Raquel is now one of our remote coaches and she is currently attending Law School in San Diego. As VP of her advocacy organization, Artistic Swim AWD-USA, she continues to advocate for the rights of our underserved populations and has started an accessible students association (Unified Abilities) at her law school just two months after she began her studies. Coach Raquel as an AWD, is committed with strength and passion to lead AWD and non-AWD swimmers to success in the pool and in their lives and to be a successful and integral part of our community as a champion, not only in the pool but in our community helping others achieve their dreams.
Tier 1 & 2 Program Coach
Coach Tulisha has been a USA Artistic Swim Federation certified coach since 2018. Coach Tulisha was instrumental in the early beginning of this team to find success locally and with inclusivity at local pools. She has coached at local, regional, and Int'l competitions. She brings a wealth of experience with customer service and satisfaction while working as a senior customer service rep in internet and retail services. Coach Tulisha's experience and ability to coach up and coming athletes to enjoy what artistic swimming has to offer has led to numerous successes for athletes who would have very little opportunity to excel in other sports. Coach Tulisha gives every swimmer the opportunity to develop their skills while having fun. Coach Tulisha believes in long term athlete development and has the ability to encourage young swimmers to stay engaged and to fulfill their dreams of showcasing their acquired skills to the world. Coach Tulisha graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in public relations. She is also representative on the Artistic Swim AWD-USA coaches board, where she uses her strong voice for advocacy & inclusion and for AWD throughout the Nation and beyond. Coach Tulisha is also a caregiver for her mom, who is visually impaired and knows the frustrations athletes w/disabilities face when it comes to equity and inclusion. Coach Tulisha believes coaching is a lifelong journey for her as it is with many of the athletes she coaches.
Lead Program Tiers 4 to 6
Coach Katie has been a USA Artistic Swim Federation certified coach since 2019 and was a competitive artistic swimmer for a local team for 6yrs. Coach Katie has coached at local, regional, state, national and Int'l competitions for athletes with disabilities. By dedicating herself to coaching, she found a way to be involved in the sport she loves while pursuing her education. Coach Katie is passionate about providing individualized support and skill training to young athletes with developmental and physical disabilities. Coach Katie is graduated in 2025 as an English major with a Human Rights minor from UC Berkeley. She is also an Artistic Swim AWD-USA representative on the Coaching Board, where she uses her voice to advocate for AWD across the Nation and beyond. Coach Katie loves to choreograph routines, finding joy in working with new artistic swimmers on the creativity and musicality of the sport. Coach Katie continues to provide a calm and safe space where athletes with disabilities are accommodated, and their abilities are valued. Coach Katie is committed to compassion and the understanding of the challenges which athletes with disabilities face and has the experience as a coach with an impairment herself; to pass on to athletes so they can excel in their endeavors for this sport and in their daily lives.
