Coaches
Hi! I am Ava Soltesz, and I am 23 years old. I was a swimmer for my entire childhood, and the Fair Oaks Dolphins have been a supporting and caring environment for so many years! I have a huge love for swimming, but an even bigger love for teaching. My happiest moments come from all the swimmers on our team, watching them meet their own goals, make friends, and have fun every day! I have been coaching for this team for ten years, and I have so much pride in everyone here, including the amazing coaches that I also get to call my best friends (I am also enormously proud of my sisters, who are great swimmers and coaches!). I swam for the Dolphins, Bella Vista, and American River College, and it always kept me excited and motivated to challenge myself and encourage others as well. My goal as a coach is to create confidence for all swimmers and help them build important life skills by being a part of a team. I am always looking forward to another wonderful season of celebrating the amazing Dolphins!
Hey everyone! My name is Cassidy(she/her/hers), and being a swim coach is the greatest honor and joy in my life. Swimming has provided me with so many life lessons, happy memories, and amazing opportunities over the years. When I was younger, I tried so many different sports, but none of them really stuck. The only place that brought me happiness was a pool. That was when my parents decided to sign me up for synchronized swimming at age eight knowing I had a love for the water, and even though I loved doing synchro, I decided to switch over to competitive swimming and joined the Fair Oaks Dolphins when I was twelve. Even though I did not join the team until I was older, I was instantly a part of the FOD family and my competitive swimming career took off! And within just a few years of joining, I began junior coaching, helping out in the watering and learning the ropes of what it takes to be a swim coach. I worked my way up in order to have my own practice group, and have been a lead coach for primarily the Sea Turtle group now for approximately ten years! My goal as a swim coach is to provide lifelong memories that can only be formed while being on a swim team or any sport program for that matter. I strive to create a safe space that is inclusive and welcoming to all athletes. I hope to create enjoyable times and happy memories that ensure a lifelong love for the water. Being in a pool or even just around one is my happy place, and I want to provide that for your children!
Hey everybody! My name is Dom and I’ve been a coach for the Fair Oaks Dolphins for the past 9 years. I primarily coach the Water Buffalo, which is our high school group and have done so since I started coaching. My journey with swim began when I joined the Dolphins at 10 years old. I swam with the Dolphins until I was 18, also swimming and playing water polo for Del Campo High School. After, I went and swam at Sierra College for two years before finishing my athletic career swimming for Chapman University. Currently in addition to coaching the Water Buffalo, I am the head coach for Bella Vista High School’s swim and dive team, and I am also a coach at Wolverine Aquatics Club (WAC), where I have been coaching the Pre-Senior group for the past three years. The Dolphins have been a huge part of my life ever since I was a little kid and it is an incredible honor to be a part of this coaching staff year after year. I firmly believe that sports are a wonderful opportunity through which to teach life lessons, and my philosophy has always been that the growth of your child both as an athlete and a person is the most important part of what I do. Looking forward to another great season, Go Dolphins!!!
G’day Dolphins! My name is Charlotte. I am 17 years old, a senior at Bella Vista High School, and this is my fourth year coaching. Growing up, I watched my brothers and sisters swim, and when I was finally able to join them, I knew I wanted to be a coach. Now, I’m living out my childhood dreams coaching alongside my two sisters and friends. My house always had a young child or baby in it, so I’ve naturally adapted to children and their imaginative minds. Watching people improve and grow in something they’re passionate about has always been a great joy. The kids’ energy always radiates throughout the team and encourages their team spirit. Each year I am more excited for the promising future that awaits our team. Let’s have a fantastic, fun, and enthusiastic season! Go Dolphins!
Hi everyone, my name is Sarah Silagi! I am 18 years old and a freshman at Sierra College; majoring in Deaf Studies/American Sign Language, and competing on the Swim and Water Polo Teams. I grew up playing water polo since I was ten years old and shortly after found myself a part of swim teams. I swam for the Carmichael Beavers, DART, and Glen Oaks while growing up. I went to Bella Vista HS and was on the Swim Team and played Varsity Water Polo for all four years. In high school, I coached youth water polo, teaching children ages 5-14 the fundamentals of water polo. I am so excited to now teach children the fundamentals of swimming! Swimming has been, and will always be, a huge part of my life; I can't wait to share that passion with the Fair Oaks Dolphins Community!
My goal is to support athletes in a way that grows their love for the sport, by helping them feel confident in their abilities and skills. I strive to cultivate a safe and supportive learning environment.
I'm excited to see you on the pool deck!
Hello, Dolphins! My name is Candace, and I’m a 17 year old senior at Bella Vista High School. I joined a recreational swim team when I was 7 and have been in the pool nearly year-round ever since. I’ve done a few fall seasons with competitive swim teams and joined the Dolphins in 2021. My freshman year of high school, I joined the water polo team and found another water sport to love. Throughout high school, I’ve competed in both swim and water polo all four years, along with three years of competitive water polo.
I started junior coaching for the Dolphins three years ago and quickly discovered my passion for coaching. Last year, I stepped up to a practice group coach position, and this winter, I helped coach a 10U coed water polo team. While I loved that experience, I’m so happy to be back on deck coaching swim again this season! My favorite strokes are backstroke and butterfly, and I’m so excited to help our younger swimmers dive back in after the long winter and find their happy place in the water.
I am looking forward to a great season with the Dolphins!
Hello! My name is Violet, and I am fifteen years old. I have been a dolphin for eleven years, and have been coaching for two years. I have grown up on the pool deck, watching my older sisters race and coach, and joining them has been such a joy! Helping kids grow in the sport of swimming makes me so happy, and each year I am more excited to come back and coach. This season will be so much fun! Forward!!
Hello Dolphins, my name is Nykyta, I am a college student who studies and swims at Sierra College. Currently, I am studying Administrative justice. This will be my first year becoming a full-time coach. Last year, I was a junior coach that helped out the Junior Dolphins. I enjoyed it and decided to help out and become a full-on coach. Swimming has become a huge part of my life. I have been part of the Dolphins for about ten years and I can't wait to be part of another year. Let's have a good year Dolphins!