Hi, my name is Sami and I am so excited to be returning to the Colusa Cyclones coaching staff. I grew up in Colusa and joined the swim team when I was 9 years old. I immediately fell in love with the sport. When I was 15 I obtained my lifeguard certification and became a lifeguard at the Colusa public pool. By my junior year of high school I was teaching private swim lessons and also lifeguarding at the Colusa Racquet Club.
In 2004, the summer I graduated from high school, I was hired on as assistant coach for the Colusa Swim Team. After that I moved to Santa Barbara for college where I worked as a lifeguard, swim instructor and swim team coach at the Montecito YMCA.
Now, I am a mother of 3 and have settled back here in my hometown where I am thrilled to be able to use my experience and expertise in the sport of competitive swimming to help a new generation of Colusa swimmers excel.
Hi! My name is Mia and I grew up here in Colusa. I swam on the swim team and also have experience teaching children how to be swim-safe and improve their skills in relation to swim team goals. I have loved being in the water since I was small and seized every opportunity to take a swim, whether it was the Sacramento river, in a pool, the lake, or the ocean.
I graduated high school in 2020, and received my swim teaching experience at Watersprites in Chico, where I lived for 5 years.
I’m so excited to be back in this community and for this opportunity to be a part of this swim team again. I can’t wait to bring my bubbly personality and encouraging coaching style to the team!
Hello! My name is Nicole, and I’m proud to be part of the Colusa Swim Team family. Born in San Francisco and raised in Alameda, my love for the water started early—at just four years old, I’d join my brother at his swim practices, diving to the bottom of the pool with him. Two years later, I began swimming competitively with the Alameda Alligators, sparking a lifelong passion for aquatic sports.
Over the years, I’ve developed a diverse coaching background in martial arts,
softball, basketball, volleyball, and swimming. I’ve had the privilege of
working with athletes across all ages and developmental stages—from teaching
four-year-olds to move kinesthetically to preparing senior athletes in their
70s for an advanced black belt test. One of my most rewarding experiences was
coaching a karate class for children with disabilities who had been excluded
from regular PE classes. By tailoring instruction to meet their unique needs we
saw remarkable results. Their teacher shared that since starting karate, their
attention and skill improved—a testament to their growth.
I am certified as an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor, Lifeguard
Instructor, and AID/CPR/AED Instructor. Though I moved to Colusa last June,
this community feels like home since my mom has lived here for 20 years. I’m
thrilled to bring my experience and enthusiasm to the Mini Cyclones program and
look forward to helping young swimmers build confidence and skills in the
water!
