"Coaches"

Crystalia discovered artistic swimming through a few try-it lessons and quickly fell in love, training daily to refine her skills and infuse her routines with expression, so it was more than a mere sequence of movements but a passionate play. Despite her young age, she possessed an incredible ability to accurately memorize each team member’s choreography including her own three routines, each with different songs and choreography. Consequently, while still competing as a swimmer, Crystalia’s journey into coaching began at a young age in 2009.

Five years later, after a severe injury, she quickly turned the setback into an opportunity. In 2014, she founded the Aqua Angels Synchro Team, to provide the community with opportunities to learn and admire this beautiful sport in a nurturing, safe environment. At the same time, she assisted the College of William and Mary’s Synchro Team by helping choreograph their routines and perfect their figures.

After three successful years coaching the Aqua Angels and relocating to Florida in 2017, Crystalia put the Aqua Angels team on hiatus and passionately led the Gainesville Gaviatas as head coach for four years. To enhance her coaching expertise, Crystalia completed an internship with USA Artistic Swimming (USAAS), conducted by two top leading premier USA coaches, Ludi Perrin-Stsepaniuk and Hiea-Yoon Kang. Upon returning to Gainesville, she re-established the Aqua Angels Artistic Swimming Team with a vision to create a positive, empowering environment for all athletes, regardless of their competitive or recreational aspirations, inspiring them to maximize their potential.

Crystalia is a USA Artistic Swimming Certified Coach (CCP Level 3) and a Level 2 judge. Her coaching philosophy and strategies are continually refined through teaching at various camps and clinics, attending annual clinics, coaches college, conventions, and studying sports psychology, child psychology, and emotional intelligence. Crystalia deeply values the esteemed elder coaches, directors, and champions who took her under their wings at a young age, mentoring and shaping her coaching approach, which continues today, giving guidance, feedback, and assistance.  

Those relationships and Crystalia’s coaching experience, spanning over a decade working with various age groups and skill levels, have greatly influenced her when she developed her team’s core values. She is a passionate advocate for fostering an environment of positivity and compassion. Crystalia believes her approach promotes mutual respect and trust, allowing athletes to feel valued and empowered. 

Challenging traditional norms, she encourages athletes to trust their creative instincts and decision-making abilities in their artistic expressions. Validating and incorporating their ideas into choreography and training sparks their passion for creativity. This motivation inspires and helps them develop essential life skills as they recognize the value of their contributions.

Dedicated to sharing this sport with the community, she believes it’s vital to cultivate the next generation of confident, compassionate coaches and athletes for their personal growth and success while also advancing the sport.

Coach Crystalia is pursuing her education at the University of Florida in Leadership, Sports Management, and Physical Therapy, focusing on injury prevention specific to artistic swimming.  In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, reading, painting, and planning parties and events for clients.

You can reach Coach Crystalia at aquaangelsas@gmail.com