Ryan YMCA Tidal Waves

Coach Sara was a NCAA Division I swimmer at Loyola University in Maryland, where she held university records in the 100 breast and as the freestyle leg of the 200 medley relay. She also held university top 5 times in the 200 breast, 200 IM, and multiple relays. She has eight years experience as an age group swim coach, including as the head coach of a struggling team that she led to division champions within four years. 

Sara’s BA and MS are both in speech-language pathology, and her five years as a pediatric speech therapist helped her hone her skills with behavior management, communication with children and parents, and supporting kids with a variety of needs. She believes in the power of a growth mindset and the fundamental importance of efficient technique. She has a passion for creating a physically and emotionally safe environment to nurture swimmers' innate desire to be their best self in and out of the pool. As the Ryan Tidal Waves head coach, her vision is to create a cohesive, supportive team that inspires all swimmers to strive for their goals. 

Sara and her husband live in OB with their five kids, ranging in age from 11 to 15. When she has free time, Sara enjoys running, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and camping with her family.

Lizette began her swimming career at age 9 with Canyons Aquatic Club in the Los Angeles area. She quickly fell in love with the sport and found early success, earning her Junior National cut in the 200m breaststroke at just 13 years old.

At Saugus High School, Lizette was a four-year letter-winner and helped lead the Centurions to their first Foothill League title in school history. She was a High School All-American in the 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, and 200 IM, a three-time Foothill League Swimmer of the Year, and set league records in three different events. Lizette was a three-year CIF Division I finalist in both the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM and was named to the Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Team all four years. During her junior and senior years, she also gave back to the sport by teaching lessons and coaching with Canyons Aquatic Club.

Lizette earned a full athletic scholarship to San Diego State University, where she competed for three years. After college, she served as Head Age Group Coach for South Bay Aquatics for four years, developing young swimmers and fostering a love for the sport.

Lizette now lives in Point Loma with her husband, Tim, and their four boys (ages 7, 5, and 3-year-old twins). She is excited return to the swimming community and looks forward to helping Tidal Wave swimmers grow, achieve their goals, and build confidence in and out of the pool.

With 13 years of competitive swimming experience, MJ brings a strong background in both high-level competition and coaching to the pool. She competed for nationally recognized swim clubs in New York under Metro Swimming and qualified for City Championships twice during her junior and senior years of high school in the 100 Butterfly, 100 Breaststroke, and 200 Individual Medley. She also qualified for CIF Championships twice in the 100 Breaststroke and 200 Individual Medley.

She has three years of coaching experience with the Tidal Waves, where she has developed a passion for helping swimmers grow both in and out of the pool. Now a third-year student at San Diego State University, she continues to combine her experience as a competitive swimmer with her enthusiasm for coaching.

What she enjoys most about coaching is seeing the improvement and confidence that comes with each swimmer’s hard work. She strives to create an environment where athletes can challenge themselves, work toward their goals, and have fun along the way. Her goal is to provide every swimmer with a positive space that encourages dedication, growth, and a genuine love for the sport.