Meet our Team
Nicole Rodriguez – Head Coach/Manager
Nicole Rodriguez, who goes by Niki or Coach Niki, has had a love of swimming since joining her first swim team at 9 years old. She has more than 20 years of coaching swim teams and a USA swimming certified coach.
She completed her swim career at the Vista Diablo Cabana Club in Concord, while swimming competitively on the varsity team at Clayton Valley High School.
When she aged out of swimming, she got hired to coach the Scottsdale Swim Team (the Squids) in Walnut Creek for four years under the legendary swim coach, Scott Herst.
After college she left coaching and began teaching private lessons. When her first child became of age for the swim team, she jumped at the chance to coach again.
She was also the head coach of the Bishop Estates Swim Team. Most recently she coached for the last 7 years at Forest Park.
She has five children and has taught each child to swim by 2 or 3 years old and then continued their training into competition levels.
Audrey Stanger – Learn to Swim Program Coordinator/Swim Instructor
Audrey has been with Solar Swim and Gym over four years and has worked her way up to Swim Lesson Program Coordinator. She started learning how to swim at 6 months old and ever since loved water. She graduate from Freedom high school in 2020 and finished her prerequisites done at LMC. She is currently a full-time student attending Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, where she was awarded multiple scholarships for outstanding work within the community. She is working on obtaining a degree in Kinesiology: Sports and Recreational Management and plans to work for Bay Area Team, the San Francisco 49ers, or become a sports agent for Bay Area players.
Her passion and specialty are teaching small children who are especially ready and want to learn to swim. She taught hundreds of children of all ages meet their swimming goals and wants to continue to do so. She is excited to help your child meet their swim goals.
Some of her absolute favorite things to do also include traveling, getting Dutch Bros, hanging out with friends and family, and going out to eat.
Paulette Perez – Swim Instructor
Valentine Jones – Swim Instructor
Coach Valentine started teaching swimming at Solar Swim & Gym for over 2 years now. He and his younger brother were taught to swim by former owner, Ingrid Gelhaus, when he was 7 years old. Now his little sister is taking lessons at Solar Swim and Gym too.
He has a lot of history here and says that coaching has been an awesome experience. Swimming opens the door to a lot of fun and he loves passing on his knowledge to others. He is also an avid weight lifter!
Michele Dear – Aquacise Instructor
Michele is the epitome of great health and an example of how exercise can keep you fit and prolong your life. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching Aquacise and fitness classes. Her credentials are stellar!
- Certified water aerobics instructor
- • Certified Pilates instructor
- • Certified Silver (Senior) fitness instructor
Michele is also well-known participant of the Antioch Senior Center and her picture resides on the wall outside advertising the facility and its programs.
Catharine Harrison – Aquacise Instructor
Catharine has been on a fitness journey since February 2017. Since that time she has lost more than 100 pounds! With her determination and can-do spirit, she inspires people to begin their own journey. Active in the water aerobics community for many years, she became a certified water aerobics instructor.
She is well-known within the local swim community. Both of her children were competitive swimmers. She is currently an announcer for various swim teams, including USA and recreational leagues.
Dakota Dillon – Basketball Instructor
Dakota Dillon, or Coach Dakota, has had a love for the game of basketball since he was 10 years old. He is currently a Pro Basketball Player for the Contra Costa County Delta Stars.
He was born and raised in Antioch, but throughout his youth, went to school in Martinez. He has more than 13 years of playing experience and 8 years of coaching and training experience. After receiving his Associates degree from DVC, he continued his education at Cal State East Bay, where he hopes to achieve his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Dakota’s basketball experience speaks for itself!
- Pro Basketball Player for CCC Delta Stars 2021-Current
- Las Juntas Elementary Basketball Coach 2012-2017
- Alhambra High School Varsity Basketball 2013-2015
- Bullpup Basketball Camp Staff member 2013-2015
Alumni
Paul Carter – Club Program Director
Paul is a seasoned Program Director, Swim Coach, and Athlete. He was a Division 1 All American and member of the University of Tennessee NCAA Championship Team in 1978. A Pro-Triathlete, he has set more than 50 national and world masters records in 20 years. Paul recently retired as the Aquatics Director, Head Age Group, and Masters Coach from The Olympic Club in San Francisco. During his tenure, he developed numerous nationally ranked USA Swimming age group athletes. His masters’ program won 6 national titles and more than a dozen athletes in his post grad program participated at the Olympic Trials. He has worked with many Olympic athletes and coaches in his career.
Carla Baker Marymee – Aquacise Instructor
Carla learned how to swim at Solar Swim & Gym. She loves water and teaching Aquacise. Her class focuses on building core and muscle strength and boosting cardio endurance.
An Antioch native, the legendary Sister Martha at Holy Rosary School taught her how to compete and play volleyball. She played Varsity volleyball for three years at Antioch High School and one year at LMC. She was also an avid tennis player. She played Varsity tennis in high school, becoming the number one player in her Senior year. She won many local tennis tournaments in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also the Director of Sales and Marketing for Solar Swim & Gym.
Zayd Othman – Aquatics Director
An Antioch native, I’ve been swimming at Solar Swim & Gym as long as I can remember. Now I’m happy to be passing my love of the water on to my students. I went to Davis and Elkins College and swam for the college in the Blue Grass Mountain D2 Conference. I graduated college in 2017 and upon returning to Antioch, I coached at Antioch Delta Skimmers from 2017 to 2018 and also started working at Solar Swim & Gym. My years of competitive swimming have culminated in coaching high schoolers, and I’m proud to say that a new generation is headed toward success.
- Antioch High School Swimming and Water Polo Head Coach, 2018-present
- Davis and Elkins College Lacrosse Team 2017
- Davis and Elkins College Swim Team, 2013-17
- Academic All American 2013-17
- 200 Free Relay All American 2013
- Tri-Sport Athlete Award 2013
- Heritage High School Varsity Swim Team, 2009-13
- Heritage High School Varsity Water Polo Team, 2009-12
Jessica Bronken – Swim Instructor
Naji Othman – Swim Instructor & Water Polo Coach
Hi, my name is Naji. I am an accomplished swimmer of 17 years and learned how to swim here. I love the ocean and going fishing. I have currently finished an EMT course and have hopes of going to the Fire Academy in the Fall.
- Heritage Tri-Sport Athlete Award 2018
- Heritage Swim, 2015-2018
- Heritage Varsity Water Polo, 2014-2017
- 14-year Veteran Swimmer
- Coach, Brentwood Dolphins Youth Water Polo Team, 3 years
Ahiza Avalos – Swim Instructor
Hello, my name is Ahiza Avalos. I’ve loved water at a young age. I’m a senior at Pittsburg High School. I’ve been on the swim team from 2018 to 2020 and on the water polo team from 2018 to 2019. At a young age, I received my Water Polo coaches’ award in 2018 and 2019. After high school, my plan is to graduate from UCSF with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I can’t wait to meet you!
Julian Rocha – Swim Instructor
Mariana Longoria – Swim Coordinator & Instructor
My motto is, “It’s always the right time to learn to swim!” With experience teaching all ages, from 6 months to 70 years old, I think that people always benefit from time spent in the water.
• Pittsburg High School Varsity Swim Team, 2010-12
Michelle Dominge – Aquacise Instructor
I love to show people how easy and fun it can be to begin your very own wellness journey! Aquacise is a safe, effective way to achieve each and every one of your fitness goals, including core strength, cardio health, and outstanding endurance and stamina!
- Pacific Athletic Club, Water Aerobics Instructor, 10 years
- Oshman Jewish Community Center Lead Instructor, Water Aerobics, 6 years
- Brentwood Aquatic Park, Water Aerobics Instructor, 2 years
Call Us for a Tour
(925) 757-7412
Mon., Wed., & Fri. 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tue. and Thur. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.