USA DOWN SYNDROME NATIONAL SWIMMING TEAM

About the Team

The USA Down Syndrome National Swimming Team is a combination of both competitive and artistic swimmers who have met qualifying standards. The 2022 team will compete at the 10th DSISO World Down Syndrome Swimming and Artistic Championship to be held in Albufeira, Portugal in October of 2022. This team will be held to the highest standard of excellence in and out of the pool. Athletes may qualify for a maximum of 8 events. Relay teams will be picked at the competition and based on athlete performance and times.


Team Management

Team Manager Paris Jacobs serves as CEO of Machine Brands overseeing the business operation and development of all divisions. After a long volunteer career within USA Swimming and USA Swimming Foundation, Paris served as a business development consultant for The American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) from 2015-2017 and the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the American Swim Coaches Association from 2018-2020.  Paris also served as Senior Management Advisor for the Inaugural Season of the International Swimming League in 2019 & 2020 where one of many her duties included overseeing the event operations all of the competitions in the United States.

Tech Advisor Rick Klatt has 40 years of experience in all aspects of competitive swimming. He was the Aquatics Director of Special Olympics International for 4 years, a member of USA Swimming’s Disability Committee for ~5 years, he swam on 2 USA Swimming National Teams including the 1st World Championship in 1973, is an ASCA Level 4 Certified Coach, and runs the Fresno Dolphins swim team out of Fresno, CA.

Artistic Tech Advisor and Team Manager Grasy Noriega brings tremendous experience in Artistic swimming, marketing and fundraising. She is a Team Administrator/Manager/Coach of an artistic swimming team,  The Miramar Mermaids. She is a National USA Artistic Swimming  Judge, a Trustee of USA Artistic Swimming Foundation, and a Board Member of Synchronized Swimming Southeast Florida Association.


Coaches

Head Artistic Coach Isis Sanchez is a Venezuelan journalist and Artistic Swimming Coach. She works for the Miramar Mermaids Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) Team. She was an athlete from an early age, excelling at both gymnastics and swimming before she specialized in synchronized swimming. Coach Sanchez was part of the Venezuelan National Team between 1997 and 200, and during that time she earned different international awards for her country.


Head Coach Colin Vidas has a passion for swimming and working with individuals with developmental disabilities that has led to over a decade of experience in swim instruction. He has helped develop numerous swim programs around the state of Maine. He is a Special Olympics Maine National Team Swim Coach, was the 2021 Maine USA Swimming Assistant Coach of the Year Mid-Maine, and was the 2017 Captain of the Husson University Men’s Swim Team. 

Asst. Coach Marye Carter has over 40 years in the Aquatics business, including coaching, management, and leadership experience. She has been intentional in her support and inclusion of swimmers who have developmental disabilities. Currently, she is an Assistant Age Group Coach for Nation’s Capital Swim Club/J&MSwim, LLC, Alexandria, Virgina. Coach Marye is eager to be joining the coaching staff for the National Training Camp and for the USA Down Syndrome National Swimming Team. Here are just a few highlights from her comprehensive career.


Asst. Coach Theresa “T” Sorensen has found success as athlete, coach, and educator. Shewas a High school All-American with two school records that are still unbroken (1983), and was a competitor on the national level in 1984. She earned varsity swimming letters at Iowa State University, and was named All-Conference for 3 years. She went on to swim at a highest level within U.S. Masters, setting a national record 4 x 200 meter free relay in 2010. She also made the U.S. Masters’ Swimming National Top 10 for free (2009-2012, 2020), back (2011), breast (2011), individual medley (2009-2011, 2020), and fly (2012). Coach T led a combination of high school, age group, and Masters’ swimmers for 19 years, and was named the Prior Lake High School Coach of the Year in 2005.