Meet some of our coaches:
Anna Montgomery :Head Coach
What is your "synchro" history?
It started by coming to a Heronettes water show in 1987, and my mom asked if I wanted to try it. Joined in the fall on the training team. Swam in the second Age Group National Championship in Virginia. Participated in the Age Group National Championships for the rest of my "synchro" career. Also swam in the Junior US National Championship in 1995 and 1996. A couple years after college my old head coach asked if I wanted to come back and help out. Have been coaching since then.
What are your coaching qualifications?
See above for number of years coaching. Previously was an instructor for children’s swimming lessons at the YMCA. USAAS Coaching Certification Program level 3. Level 3 (US Zone level) Judging Official. Certified Assessor for USAAS LTAD Grade Levels 1-3. Safe Sport and Heads Up Concussion training.
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
Can’t possibly choose one, or even two!! All have to do with team camaraderie and trying your best in difficult circumstances.
What is your all-time favorite song to swim to?
My favorite from being a swimmer is Rodeo by Copland or Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky. My favorite recent music was Jailbreak or the Bollywood-themed routine songs.
Anna Montgomery :Head Coach
What is your "synchro" history?
It started by coming to a Heronettes water show in 1987, and my mom asked if I wanted to try it. Joined in the fall on the training team. Swam in the second Age Group National Championship in Virginia. Participated in the Age Group National Championships for the rest of my "synchro" career. Also swam in the Junior US National Championship in 1995 and 1996. A couple years after college my old head coach asked if I wanted to come back and help out. Have been coaching since then.
What are your coaching qualifications?
See above for number of years coaching. Previously was an instructor for children’s swimming lessons at the YMCA. USAAS Coaching Certification Program level 3. Level 3 (US Zone level) Judging Official. Certified Assessor for USAAS LTAD Grade Levels 1-3. Safe Sport and Heads Up Concussion training.
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
Can’t possibly choose one, or even two!! All have to do with team camaraderie and trying your best in difficult circumstances.
What is your all-time favorite song to swim to?
My favorite from being a swimmer is Rodeo by Copland or Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky. My favorite recent music was Jailbreak or the Bollywood-themed routine songs.
Marisa D'Amico :Assistant Coach
How long have you been involved with artistic swimming and to what capacity?
8 years as a swimmer, 15 years as a coach
What is your "synchro" history?
I started swimming in elementary school and continued through my senior year of high school. I left the state for college and when I returned I started coaching. I have coached swimmers at the novice level through experienced Age
Group.
What are your coaching qualifications?
Level 3 Zone judge, CCP level 2, CPR & lifeguard certified.
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
Swimmer moment: not a specific moment or day, but just the memories of practice with girls who became some of my best friends. Laughing through even the toughest of practices.
Coach moment: Every time I watch a swimmer figure out how to perform a new skill she has been struggling with.
What is your all-time favorite song to swim to?
Too many to choose from.
How long have you been involved with artistic swimming and to what capacity?
8 years as a swimmer, 15 years as a coach
What is your "synchro" history?
I started swimming in elementary school and continued through my senior year of high school. I left the state for college and when I returned I started coaching. I have coached swimmers at the novice level through experienced Age
Group.
What are your coaching qualifications?
Level 3 Zone judge, CCP level 2, CPR & lifeguard certified.
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
Swimmer moment: not a specific moment or day, but just the memories of practice with girls who became some of my best friends. Laughing through even the toughest of practices.
Coach moment: Every time I watch a swimmer figure out how to perform a new skill she has been struggling with.
What is your all-time favorite song to swim to?
Too many to choose from.
Patty Simell :Team Manager
Patty has been involved with the Hamden Heronettes and artistic swimming since 2005. Prior to stepping into the position of Team Manager her daughter was a 10-year member on the team. During that time Patty was chairperson of the Watershow and was on the Heronettes parent board as treasurer and fundraising coordinator. Patty was never an artistic swimmer (but wishes she was) and is grateful to remain involved with a sport she loves. Patty is a Registered Nurse who graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a BSN. She has worked in neurosurgery, public health, and is presently the Assistant Director of Assisted Living at Whitney Center, a retirement community in Hamden. Patty loves to read, scrapbook, but most of all travel.
Patty has been involved with the Hamden Heronettes and artistic swimming since 2005. Prior to stepping into the position of Team Manager her daughter was a 10-year member on the team. During that time Patty was chairperson of the Watershow and was on the Heronettes parent board as treasurer and fundraising coordinator. Patty was never an artistic swimmer (but wishes she was) and is grateful to remain involved with a sport she loves. Patty is a Registered Nurse who graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a BSN. She has worked in neurosurgery, public health, and is presently the Assistant Director of Assisted Living at Whitney Center, a retirement community in Hamden. Patty loves to read, scrapbook, but most of all travel.
Jee Wong :Coach
Share a photo from when you swam->
What is your "synchro" history?
I started synchro in the HHC clinic when I was 10, and immediately after the clinic joined the intermediate team. I left the team briefly and came back to finish what I started in high school. I've competed in solos, duets, trios, teams, and combos all, and had to do levels my senior year of high school when they first implemented them. I was a Coach-In-Training in high school, and came back to the sport after college to continue coaching since I could never stay away for long!
How long have you been involved with the sport?
Since 2008
What is your favorite thing about coaching?
Seeing athletes achieve a skill or overcome a difficulty they didn't foresee being able to is so rewarding. I love seeing them have that breakthrough moment where they realize they're capable of more than they thought, and I enjoy being the coach who encourages them and pushes them to fulfill their potential, because I believe in them even if they don't always!
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
There was one year that we rented an entire house for the team to stay at during Junior Olympics. It was like a weeklong sleepover with some of my favorite people and a vacation all wrapped in one! We had a spa night, every morning we had team breakfast, I tried to teach salsa to my teammates, and we all got in trouble every night for staying up too late talking and giggling. It was such a fun bonding moment for all of us outside of our practices and competitions, and one I wish we could repeat or that swimmers now could repeat.
What was your all-time favorite song to swim to or if your could choose one now what would it be?
My favorite routine was when Maggie and I swam a duet to Assassin's Creed. We were both CITs that year, and were able to fully cut the music and choreograph our routine ourselves. I have such fond memories of how fun this routine was, and because of the amount of agency and creative energy we put into it, we were so dedicated to make it amazing and enjoyable both as a creative endeavor and as a competitive routine. I still remember the whole thing.
Share a photo from when you swam->
What is your "synchro" history?
I started synchro in the HHC clinic when I was 10, and immediately after the clinic joined the intermediate team. I left the team briefly and came back to finish what I started in high school. I've competed in solos, duets, trios, teams, and combos all, and had to do levels my senior year of high school when they first implemented them. I was a Coach-In-Training in high school, and came back to the sport after college to continue coaching since I could never stay away for long!
How long have you been involved with the sport?
Since 2008
What is your favorite thing about coaching?
Seeing athletes achieve a skill or overcome a difficulty they didn't foresee being able to is so rewarding. I love seeing them have that breakthrough moment where they realize they're capable of more than they thought, and I enjoy being the coach who encourages them and pushes them to fulfill their potential, because I believe in them even if they don't always!
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
There was one year that we rented an entire house for the team to stay at during Junior Olympics. It was like a weeklong sleepover with some of my favorite people and a vacation all wrapped in one! We had a spa night, every morning we had team breakfast, I tried to teach salsa to my teammates, and we all got in trouble every night for staying up too late talking and giggling. It was such a fun bonding moment for all of us outside of our practices and competitions, and one I wish we could repeat or that swimmers now could repeat.
What was your all-time favorite song to swim to or if your could choose one now what would it be?
My favorite routine was when Maggie and I swam a duet to Assassin's Creed. We were both CITs that year, and were able to fully cut the music and choreograph our routine ourselves. I have such fond memories of how fun this routine was, and because of the amount of agency and creative energy we put into it, we were so dedicated to make it amazing and enjoyable both as a creative endeavor and as a competitive routine. I still remember the whole thing.
Jen Muzyk :Coach
Share a photo from when you swam->
What is your "synchro" history?
Club swimmer, collegiate swimmer, coach, head coach/director, judge, skills assessor; East Zone Coach of the Year, USA Synchronized Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year
How long have you been involved with the sport?
Since 1983
What is your favorite thing about coaching?
Watching the athletes improve in the water and having it positively affect their confidence out of the water
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
As an athlete, competing in Greece. As a coach, spending time with 4 high school seniors to create a show routine that was performed at backyard parties.
What was your all-time favorite song to swim to or if your could choose one now what would it be?
Edvard Grieg’s Op. 55
Share a photo from when you swam->
What is your "synchro" history?
Club swimmer, collegiate swimmer, coach, head coach/director, judge, skills assessor; East Zone Coach of the Year, USA Synchronized Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year
How long have you been involved with the sport?
Since 1983
What is your favorite thing about coaching?
Watching the athletes improve in the water and having it positively affect their confidence out of the water
What is your favorite "synchro" memory?
As an athlete, competing in Greece. As a coach, spending time with 4 high school seniors to create a show routine that was performed at backyard parties.
What was your all-time favorite song to swim to or if your could choose one now what would it be?
Edvard Grieg’s Op. 55
COME LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTISTIC SWIMMING
Contact the Heronettes
Contact the Webmaster
