National Team Head Coaches
The USADSS National Team coaching staff will motivate a new generation of competitive swimmers in the USA. This cohesive team of coaches have all made inclusion and team building cornerstones of their careers. They care about developing the self-esteem of each athlete while challenging them to high standards as swimmers and as people. We are so proud that they will select and coach USA’s Down Syndrome National Swimming Team.

USA Down Syndrome Competitive Swimming Team Leadership

Coach Aaron Helander is an experienced Swim and Triathlon Coach with a demonstrated history of working with successful athletes across multiple sports and ages. He thrives on knowing his athletes so that he can help them reach their individual goals while also building a group into a TEAM.

Coach Helander has coached Kona World Championship Qualifiers, National Champions for both Swim and Triathlon, State Champions, Division 1, 2, & 3 college swimmers, and he coached at a MySwimPro International swim camp in Thailand (2022). He is currently the Head Swim Coach for Rochester High School and Heart of the Hills club team. He is also the Head Swim Coach for BK Training Systems Masters Swim Team. 

Coach Helander has received several awards including: Human Relations Award 2017, Sparkle Award 2023, 10 within 10 Award 2023, Coach of the Year 2021, USAT National Qualifier 2021, Michigan Masters Distance Swimmer of the Year 2019, and Masters Swimming National Champion in 2018. He also has multiple coaching/safety certifications including MISCA registered coach, NISCA registered coach, American Red Cross Lifeguarding with CPR/AED Certified, American Red Cross Lifeguard Certified, and he is USA Swimming Safe Sport Trained.

Aaron’s personal swimming experience is impressive. He is Triathlete with 21 years of Competitive Swimming. He was a Former D1 Scholarship Swimmer & Team Captain, IronMan Triathlete (2022), USMS National Swim Champion, USMS National Record Holder, MI Masters State Record Holder, USMS Top 10s, USAT National Qualifier Olympic Triathlon, USAT Nationals Open Water Swim 3rd place overall, 3 Disciplines Michigan Triathlon State Championship 2nd Overall, and Mighty Mac Open Water Swim 2nd overall in 2019.

 

Welcome Back Coach Carter! Coach Marye Carter returns as a USADSS National Team Assistant Coach. She has over 40 years in the Aquatics business, including coaching, management, and leadership experience. She is intentional in her support and inclusion of swimmers who have developmental disabilities and has a gift for teaching storke mechanics. Currently, she is an Assistant Age Group Coach for Nation’s Capital Swim Club/J&MSwim, LLC, Alexandria, Virginia.

Here are just a few highlights from her comprehensive career.

  • Named Nadar Por Vida Coach of the Year 2019

  • Invited by the Ministry of Education for Bermuda to provide In-service training to physical education teachers, raising educational standards and expectations

  • National Diversity Swim Camp Assistant manager; USA Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO; 2018

  • Eastern Zones Diversity Camp Manager, University of Maryland; 2015

  • Fitter and Faster (Olympian) Tour: Deck Coach (PVS); 2015, 2016, 2018 2019

  • Nadar Por Vida (“Swim for Life”) Volunteer Coach; 2003-2014

  • ASCA World Clinic, San Diego, CA (Presenter) 2002: Las Vegas, NV; 2006, 2017 Washington DC; 2021 Orlando Fl

  • Assistant Deck Coach for Potomac Valley Swimming (PVS) Long Course Championships; 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015

  • Diversity Select Camp Assistant Coach-USA Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO; 2006

  • Head Developmental Summer/Winter Swim Coach, Mansion House Swim Club (Northern Virginia Swim League-NVSL), Alexandria, VA; 1992-1999:

  • Head Coach, Mount Vernon Park Swim Club, Alexandria, VA; 1995-1999

 

Coach Ruthe Zimmerman has been coaching for over 25 years in Wisconsin. She swam in college at UW=Green Bay and he went on to swim at UWGB and UW-Milwaukee where she earned her degree in Psychology and went on to get her Masters in Counseling.

Coach Ruthe has been coaching for the Fox Valley Wave since 2012 and have also been the Head JV Swim Coach for Appleton North High School for 4 years.

Coach Ruthe has a heart for swimmers of all abilities coaching them to reach their goals both in and out of the pool.

USA Down Syndrome Artistic Swimming Team Leadership

Coach Grasy Noriega brings tremendous experience in Artistic swimming, marketing and fundraising. She is a Team Administrator/Manager/Coach of an Artistic Swimming Team (@miramarmermaids), a National Level Judge, a Trustee of USA Artistic Swimming Foundation, and a Board Member of Synchronized Swimming Southeast Florida Association.

Grasy is passionate about artistic swimming and inclusion. Grasy knows how to get things done, and she is already creatively including T21 Swim Warriors in artistic swimming practices and competitions. She is working USADSS Partner, USA Artistic Swimming to improve opportunities for the AWD (Athletes With Disabilities) category in the United States. She is also working with the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation to further the sport of Artistic Swimming on an international scale.

Grasy provides support to the Artistic National Coaching staff, and provides technical assistance to the Board.

 

Head Artistic Coach Isis Sanchez is from Miami, Florida. She returns as the Artistic National Team Head Coach. In Miami, she leads the Miramar Mermaids Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) Team and owns Splash Magic Miami.

Sanchez is a Certified Artistic Swimming Coach with more than 5 years of experience with athletes with cognitive disabilities. She started the first AWD team with the Down Syndrome Association of Miami and Miramar Mermaids Synchro Team.

Her experience as an artistic swimmer and coach have allowed her athletes to obtain gold medals and be in the first places in the United States and International Championships.

 

Welcome back Coach Trinity Noriega! She stepped in at last year’s World Championship to help lead the USADSS Artistic National Team in Portugal. Trinity is an accomplished artistic swimmer. She has been involved in the sport for 12 years, consistently placing in the top 10 in national competition. Coach Trinity is a wonderful mentor and is dedicated to the girls and their success.