Coach Heather Wartanyan
Head Coach
Coach Heather has been involved with Sac Synchro since 1987, when she began synchronized swimming as a young child. She was a Sac Synchro team member until 2004, and has been a Sac Synchro coach since 2001. In 2004, Heather trained with Franco Dragone in Belgium for Le Reve. She has also been a Master’s level swimmer for over 15 years. Coach Heather is a second generation Sac Synchro athlete — her mother, Coach Kathryn, started the team in 1985.
Words from Coach Heather:
“It is truly a blessing to be a teacher of what you love. To share the experience and the passion makes me grateful for this great sport, the athletes, and for Sac Synchro.”
“The water is my stage, the music is my orchestra, and synchro is the story I share with the audience.”
Coach Mackenzie Schoel
Assistant Coach
Mackenzie Schoel has been involved with synchro most of her life. She started swimming for Sac Synchro in 2009 when she was six years old. She then began coaching for Sac Synchro in 2018, while she was still competing as an athlete. She has experience competing at the national level all over the United States. She loves to see young swimmers blossom into strong, well-rounded athletes who thrive in a positive team environment.
Coach Kara Rex
Assistant Coach
Kara Rex swam on Fulton El Camino (FEC) Synchronized Swim Team from 1987-97. She competed with Sac Synchro Masters in 2006 at the XI FINA World Masters Championships, as well as the Masters National Championships in 2005, 2008 and 2011. She has been the assistant coach and a volunteer for FEC Synchronized swim team, helping swimmers with figures, routines and choreography. Synchro has always been a huge part of her life.
Coach Katie Roth
Assistant Coach
Coach Katie has been involved in artistic swimming since the age of eight, and swam for the Serinas in Tallahassee Florida. She continued her artistic swimming career at Stanford University from 2000-2005. She was a member of the US Junior National Team for 2 years, and the US Senior National team for 4 years. Coach Katie competed at multiple FINA World Championships alongside her teammate and fellow SAS member, Coach Lauren!
Although Coach Katie is new to SAS, she is excited to work with the athletes and help them achieve their goals. She believes hard work and passion for the sport is a winning combination.
Coach Sara Hui-Shan Naqvi
Assistant Coach
Sara has been swimming synchro since 2011. She swam for Northern Colorado Orcas before moving to Rocky Mountain Splash. She also spent a short time at Synchro Storm and eventually rejoined the YMCA Orcas. She has been coaching since 2021 while still competing as an athlete. She is currently studying Cognitive Science at UC Davis. Although she is a new coach, Sara is excited to learn and grow with the athletes and share her love for synchro.