Our teams

CSA offers teams for all levels!

Fish/Mermaid (beginner, non-competitive): All ages practice one time each week (weekend daytime)

Novice (beginner competitive) team: All ages practice two times each week (one weeknight and one weekend daytime)

Intermediate (beginner competitive) team: All ages practice three times each week (two weeknights and one weekend daytime)

Age group 12 and under (experienced competitive) team: Practice three times each week (two weeknights and one weekend daytime)

Youth, girls aged 13-15 and boys aged 13-16 (experienced competitive) team: Practice three times each week (two weeknights and one weekend daytime)

Junior, girls aged 16-19 and boys aged 16-20 (experienced competitive) team: Practice three times each week (two weeknights and one weekend daytime)

Our Coaches

Rachel Sutch

Team Manager

Rachel grew up in Spokane, WA swimming on the Spokane Silver Mermaids from ages 8-18. In 2001 she received the Spokane Silver Mermaid award and The Bess Carlson Inspirational swimmer award. After graduating high school she moved to San Antonio to perform at SeaWorld in a show called VIVA. She swam in VIVA for four years. After VIVA, Rachel attended Palo Alto and Spokane Falls Community college where she earned an associates degree. She earned a Studio Art Degree from Eastern Washington University, and a yoga teacher certification from The Union. Rachel coached the Aquarelles Synchro Club in San Antonio from 2016-2020. She was awarded the 2018 Aquarelles Coach of the Year. When the Aquarelles disbanded their youth program Rachel started coaching with the Cygnets. She swam and competed with the Aquarelles Masters team for the 2021-2022 season. She has taught swim lessons for more than 10 years and managed an aquatic facility. She has three children, one of which is currently a Cygnets athlete. She has a passion for teaching and loves helping and watching people learn and grow. She has been a synchronized swimming coach for 7 years now.

Salma Escamilla

Assistant Coach

Salma has been swimming since she was nine years old. After doing sports like dance, gymnastics and speed swimming she joined the Cygnets when she was in the third grade. She swam on the junior group in 2016 at the age of 13 or 14, up until her family moved to Virginia. In Virginia she swam for the Northern Virgina Nereids (NVN) where she trained under Hayan Kim, Elena Radkova, and Kalina Yordanova. Coach Salma has completed at both Nationals and the Junior Olympics many times, making finals for every routine she has performed in for NVN. At the 2021 Junior Olympics she placed 10th in both Tech and Free solo routines. Most recently, her NVN team placed 2nd and 4th in the Tech and Free team routines, and 4th and 7th for her Tech and Free duet for the 2022 Nationals. In 2022, they placed 6th and 12th for team, and 8th and 7th for duet at her final Junior Olympics. She has taught Intermediate and Novice groups over the years with swimmers ranging in age from 5-11 years old. Coach Salma strongly believes that a healthy competitive atmosphere is crucial to allow athletes to push themselves and work towards their goals together. Structured practices are essential in maximizing progress, facilitating learning, and seeing results. As an athlete she understands the value of determination, focus, and teamwork. As a coach she understands the importance of time management, perspective, and patience. The merging of those two mindsets will help build a great season. We are excited to have Salma back with the Cygnets coaching the next generation of athletes.

Claire Emmer

Assistant Coach

Claire is originally from Buffalo, New York and grew up swimming for the Tonawanda Aquaettes. She graduated with a Bachelor in Rehabilitation Sciences from the is University of the Incarnate Word in May 2023 and swam on their Artistic Swimming team. This is her 15th year in the sport of of synchronized swimming. The last three summers Claire has organized and coached a summer program for Novice swimmers age 7-13 years old teaching the basics of the sport. She has also given private lessons for girls in her alumni club. Coach Claire is excited to start the year and watch your athletes improve every day.

Abby Remmers (Assistant Coach) is from Sugar Land, TX. She grew up in Texas for 14 years, but then moved to California to chase her Olympic dreams at age 15. She has been doing synchro for 12 years now. Abby was 10 years old when she started swimming with the Houston Synchro Stars. She did not make a National team for three years, but finally at age 15 she was on the 13/15B National Team. She went on to swim in the Juniors A National team and has been swimming on the US Senior National Team for five years since 2018 competing around the world. She currently swims for the University of the Incarnate Word and is in her third year majoring in Elementary Education with minors in both Literacy and Special Education. She is excited to create strong bonds with each swimmer and push their limits.

Leah Wallace (Head Coach) is from Houston, TX. She started synchronized swimming at only 5 years old for the Aquanauts of Clearlake. She moved to San Antonio at 8 years old where she swam with the Cygnets while her mother was the Head Coach. She swam for the Cygnets until she graduated High School. As a Cygnet she was was a South Zone Champion, age group National finalist, and served as a South Texas association athlete representative. After High School, she attended the University of the Incarnate Word and was a member of their nationally ranked synchronized swimming team for four years, even serving as the team captain. Leah has volunteered and coached for the Cygnets while attending college and became a full time coach in 2013. She has coached Novice up to Junior age group and was the Cygnets Head Coach 2016-2019. During her two year hiatus she was a teacher and swim team coach at Luther Burbank High School. We are happy to have Coach Leah return to the Cygnets. Her athletes have achieved being regional champions, south zone finalists and Junior Olympics finalists.