Spring Cypress Stingrays Swim Team

Emily Laurel - Head Coach:

I am Emily Laurel, your head coach for the 2024 season! I am so excited to be on the team again this year.

Swimming began at 10 years old for me; I started at Team YES, and then moved to Lone Star Swim Team a few years later. I also competed for Coles Crossing Crocs for several years, and swam at Cy Fair High School before moving to Cy Woods. I took a small break from competitive swimming when I went to Oklahoma State University, but still found time to do my own workouts.

I started coaching at FLEET in 2016 and was able to experience almost every skill level. Cy Creek became my home in 2017, where I currently am the assistant coach. I also coached with Champions Park Stars for 3 years before joining Stingrays in 2022.

In my spare time, I enjoy being outside, spending time with my two cats, calligraphy, working in my flower garden, and remodeling my house! I’m a big fan of leopard print, Starbucks, and watching movies.

See you soon in the pool!

Elise Selz - Assistant Coach:

Hello Stingrays!

I am Coach Elise and my favorite things about summer are coaching summer league swimming and going to the beach in California after the Stingray season is over. When I grew up in Virginia, I was a Stingray, and I loved spending all my free time at the pool. I taught my 3-year-old brother to swim one summer, and that was when I discovered how much I loved to teach swimming and train the next generation of swimmers. I have been coaching swimming for 33 years now. It makes me happy to help kids with their starts, turns, strokes and finishes. I feel like the biggest thing we can learn from swimming is that we are better together. It is such a privilege to belong to a team and to be part of something bigger than ourselves. I also teach first grade at Ault Elementary in Fairfield and am mom to swimmers Evelyn and Bethany Selz, who both spent most of their growing up years on Stingrays. My husband Scott is my biggest hero and supporter. You have to have an eagle eye to catch him on deck, but he is a die-hard swimmer too. Cheers for another great Stingrays season!

Carson Kaufmann - Jr Assistant:

Hi!! I am SO excited to be back with the Stingrays this summer. Europe was fun, but I missed all the amazing things summer league has to offer! This is my 3rd season with the Stingrays and I’m happy to be back. I started swimming with Fleet at the age of 5, where I also spent some summers here on the SCST team. I was on the varsity team at Cy-Fair for 4 years, where I qualified for state each year & was team captain my senior year. Once I graduated, I moved on to swim for Florida State University for a year, where I decided to hang up the cap and goggles and come back home. I’m currently a senior at Texas State & am set to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Human Development & Family Sciences this May (YAY)!! I am also assistant coaching at Fleet this summer as well, where I am fortunate enough to work with every age & skill.

I have such a passion for this sport and these kids, and I can’t wait to have the best time this summer. I am looking forward to meeting lots of new faces, and seeing all the returning ones that I haven’t seen in a while! See y’all on deck!

Cassie Castañeda - Jr Assistant:

Coach Cassie has been in aquatics for over 10 years, swimming for Fleet Swim Club and Champions Eagles Swim Team. While attending high school she was on the basketball team and water polo team. When she graduated high school she became an assistant coach for swim and water polo at royal aquatics.

Rosie Lafferty - Jr Assistant:

Hello!

My name is Rosie Lafferty and I am so excited for this year’s swim season! I have been swimming since I was 4 years old and have been on the Cy Creek swim and water polo teams for the last 4 years, and I am part of the Cy Creek Class of 2023.

I was an assistant with Stingrays last year, helping the younger kids learn to swim and have fun!

I am really looking forward to this upcoming season, seeing returning swimmers, and getting to know new swimmers!

Ryan Sharar - Jr Assistant:

I began swimming at 4 years old, swam on year round teams as well as Cy Creek. While on the team, I served as swim and water polo Captain, qualified for Regionals, and the State water polo tournament. I have experience giving swim lessons, and I look forward to teaching Stingrays about swim technique.

Hazel Hixon - Jr Assistant:

Hi y’all!

I am Hazel Hixon and I am super excited for this season! I have been swimming since I was 4 years old, and I swam with FLEET for 2 years. Currently I am a senior at Cy Creek where I am a part of the swim and water polo teams. I have also volunteered in years past with the younger age groups. I loved helping the kids learn how to swim, and grow in their strokes. I am looking forward to getting to know all of the swimmers and parents this season!

If you need help with meet entries or have questions about practice, email Coach Emily at: [email protected]