"About Us / Core Values"
Our Story
Crystalia Blake began coaching in Virginia in 2009 and established the Aqua Angels in 2014. Upon relocating to Florida in 2017, she put the team on hiatus and served the Gainesville Gaviatas Artistic Swim Team as head coach for four years.
Following her participation in an Internship with USA Artistic Swimming, she revived the Aqua Angels Artistic Swim Team in Gainesville to enrich the community and its surrounding areas.
Crystalia developed the team’s core values based on her belief that positivity is vital to unlocking athletes’ potential because it provides the environment for them to thrive. She emphasizes good sportsmanship and the development of the inner champion, which are of utmost importance.
With a firm belief in this coaching style, the Aqua Angels staff also utilizes the unique approach of empowering athletes by validating and implementing their creative ideas, building and boosting their confidence.
With these values at the heart of our team, we are dedicated to cultivating the next generation of confident, compassionate coaches and athletes for their personal success and the advancement of the sport.
Our Aqua Angels staff are well-known for working harmoniously together and enjoy coaching when the atmosphere of a compassionate culture is allowed to flourish. They are devoted to providing the positivity required to aid the healthy development of the athlete’s self-esteem and self-confidence, which, in turn, breeds champions.
To enrich our community and introduce families in and around Alachua County to the beautiful and challenging sport of Artistic Swimming, our team offers classes at the North Central Florida Community Center (former YMCA) in recreational and competitive formats with a flexible schedule.
We look forward to meeting and inspiring the champion in you!
A.N.G.E.L.S.
CORE VALUES
A.N.G.E.L.S.
Inspiring our community to ADMIRE the rewarding, challenging, and beautiful sport of artistic swimming.
A.N.G.E.L.S.
Providing a NURTURING coaching staff and a compassionate culture, creating a fun-loving learning environment.
A.N.G.E.L.S.
Guiding the athlete in achieving GOALS that awakens and inspires the champion within.
A.N.G.E.L.S.
Inspiring the spirit of EXCELLENCE to strive for the flexibility and strength of a gymnast, ENDURANCE of a swimmer, and the ELEGANCE and artistic EXPRESSION of a dancer.
A.N.G.E.L.S.
Encouraging LOYALTY to teammates through teamwork that inspires creative LEADERSHIP skills beneficial in all aspects of life.
A.N.G.E.L.S.
Supporting a SAFE environment by following the policies of AAAS, USAAS, SafeSport, Sun Country, North Central Florida Community Center (former YMCA), and CDC guidelines for the SAFETY of staff, athletes, and our community.