Director / Head Coach: Jennifer Muzyk , New Canaan, CT

BA, Psychology, Canisius College, 2000

A former Aquiana, Jen is back coaching the team after graduating from Canisius College. She works with the 13-15 age group and 14 and over junior swimmers. Under her direction, the 12/13 team swam to a fourth place finish at the National Age Group Championships two years in a row. In 2005, Jen co-coached the 14/15 age group team to a national championship at Age Group Nationals. Her 14/15 swimmers also placed third in trio and fifth in duet at this competition.In the summer of 2005, Jen was the coach of the NEST (North East Synchro Team) that represented the United States at the Junior Pan American games in Orlando, Florida.

This past summer she also coached the 13-15 age group at the Aquatica Open in Lima, Peru and the 16-18s that represented the United States in the ASUA Pan-American Age Group Championship in Calgary, Canada.  In her collegiate swimming career, Jen was a 2000 Collegiate All American, Collegiate National Finalist in 1998, 1999, and 2000. She was also the Canisius Synchro Griffs' team MVP in 1998 and 1999, as well as the ECAC Champion in 2000. Jen was a 2000 Senior National Team qualifier and placed tenth in team at the Jantzen National Championships.
Jen's other honors include Aquiana of the Year in 1996 and the 2004 National Coaching Merit Award. Jen is very dedicated to her swimmers and will always go the extra mile to ensure their success in and out of the pool.

Assistant Director / Coach: Krista Bessinger , Norwalk, CT

Krista Bessinger has been involved with Synchronized swimming for over 20 years, first as a swimmer for the Hamden Heronettes from 1988-1996, then as a New Canaan Aquiana from 1996-1997.

Beginning her coaching career in 1998 in Hamden she coached her team to 7 th place at Age Group Nationals in 2001. This was the first Hamden routine to place in finals in more than 10 years. She then went on to coach other successful teams there placing in the top 3 at East Zone Junior Championships 2001-2003, and finishing in the top 6 at East Zone Senior Championships those same years.

In 2004 Krista joined the Aquiana coaching staff. That year she co-coached the 2005 14-15 team to a gold medal at the Age Group nationals. 

Krista is now the 11-12 coach for the Aquianas and oversees the intermediate program. She is extremely happy about her opportunity to work with the younger swimmers and is excited to teach them all about the sport she loves!

 

Assistant Coach: Thea Bardin , New York, NY

BS Psychology, University of Florida, 2006

BS Health Science, University of Florida, 2007

Thea swam for the New Canaan Aquianas for seven years, competing nationally and internationally.  She was a finalist at junior nationals in 2001 and 2002 and U.S. Opens in 2002 and 2003.  In 2003 she was named East Zone Swimmer of the Year in 2003 and won a silver medal at the Finnish Open.  She then moved to Florida where she competed for the University of Florida's Gator Synchro.  She was a collegiate finalist in 2005 and 2006 and also served as Gator Synchro's president in 2006. Thea began coaching for the Aquianas in 2003.  She taught a summer synchro program at Newfield Swim Club in Stamford, CT from 2002-2005.

During that time the club transitioned from performing to competing, and Thea coached them to their first undefeated season.  She has also coached at various camps, including Camp of Champions and Wheaton College's summer synchro camp. 
Thea is a certified lifeguard and swim instructor.  After graduating from college she returned to the New Canaan YMCA to teach swimming and coach synchro.  She is very excited about working with the Intermediates and 11-12s!

 

Nicole Querze , Stamford, CT

BA, Communication Science & Disorders, James Madison University, 2001

MA, Autism, SCSU, 2008

An Aquiana alumni, Nicole competed nationally and internationally for eight years. Some of her competitive highlights include a bronze medal at the 1996 Age Group Nationals and a silver medal at the Athens Invitational also in 1996. In her first year coaching the Aquianas, she coached the 16/17 Team to a 6th place finish at National Age Groups and coached several other routines into the finals. She also was an invaluable asset in helping the senior team retain their Team Trophy at the Senior East Zone Championship.

She was the 2005 & 2006 Team Manager for the North East Synchro Team (NEST) competing for the US at ASUA Age Groups. In 2006 and 2007 Nicole Managed the US Junior National Team at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.   This past summer she managed the US Junior World Team competing in St. Petersburg, Russia.
After earning her Bachelor degree at JMU she was an Early Childhood Interventionist for children with Autism in San Diego, California. She currently works for the Darien School System as an autism specialist and helps to coach the 13 and over teams.

 

Laura Mase , New Canaan, CT

BA Communications and Elementary Education, University of Richmond, 2005

Laura has been involved in synchronized swimming since 1993. First as a swimmer, Laura swam for the New Canaan Aquianas from 1993-2001. In her career with the Aquianas, she was a National Age Group Champion, Junior National finialist, and swam abroad with the club. Laura received the Ann Degnan award in 2000 and Aquiana of the Year in 2001, she served as team captain from 1999-2001. After leaving New Canaan, Laura went on to swim at the University of Richmond from 2001-2005. She was collegiate all-academic, served as team captain and was team MVP from 2003-2005.

From 2005-2007, Laura worked as the Education Director for United States Synchronized Swimming. In her position, she coordinated all of the educational efforts for athletes, coaches and officials throughout the United States. She is now living back in New Canaan and is attending graduate school at New York University for Speech and Language Pathology. She currently serves as the East Zone Education Chair.
Laura began her coaching career during her college years coaching for the Aquianas and Dolpholinas of Richmond, an age group team in VA; she coached Indy Synchro in Indianapolis, IN while working for the national synchro office from 2005-2007. Since returning to New Canaan, Laura has been a volunteer assistant coach to all of the age groups and co-coached the athletes that swam in the Peru Open and the UANA Pan American Age Group Championships this past summer. Laura loves working with swimmers at all ages and ability levels and hopes to continue coaching for many years to come.

 

MANAGER

Carol Valles ,  Bedford, NY

BA, Fine Arts, Michigan State University, 57 

Carol has been involved with the Aquianas since 1977. She is the founder and backbone of the club. She was the primary coordinator from 1980-1995.Carol has been nationally certified since 1981 for synchronized swimming and liaison director for staff and swimmers, as well as organizer for competitive programs. She is an advocate for the promotion of synchronized swimming throughout the US, developing and organizing numerous coach and athlete clinics as well as events showcasing synchronized swimming. 

Carol has served as CT Association Chair, East Zone Treasurer, Chairman and Secretary and Hudson Valley Regional Director for synchronized swimming in The Empire State Games (NY). She has also served nationally, having held a seat on the US Synchronized Swimming Board of Directors. She currently serves on the US Synchronized Swimming Foundation.

Some of her honors and awards include: The Dorothy J. Sowers Award for Volunteer Support Staff, July 2005; The Carlton S. Raymond Award for Philanthropy and Mission from the New Canaan YMCA, June 2005; the Joy of Living Award from the New Canaan YMCA, September 2003; the Girl Scout Humanitarian Award, March 2003; USSS New Age Group Coach of the Year, June 1994; New Canaan YMCA Volunteer of the Year, 1994; and East Zone Contributor Award, 1993. And this past October, Carol received the highest award in US Synchronized Swimming, The Lillian MacKellar Distinguished Service Award.