Hi! I'm Latasha "Tasha" Sheppard. I am a Colusa Swim Team alum where I swam for 13 years. I coached the Colusa Swim Team for one year after high school and this is my third consecutive year coaching the Otters. I enjoyed swimming at the Jr College level for 2 years and my favorite stroke is breaststroke. I am also a part-time hair dresser, and work in elementary special education. I love spending time outdoors, from the mountains to the ocean and all the family time that I can get. I have an awesome husband and a handful of kiddos, three of which are Orland Otters. I love sour candy, watermelon, and Diet Coke. Looking forward to another season alongside the pool with your kiddos and families!
My name is Alexander Richardson, or Coach Alex, and I have been with the Otters five years now. My favorite stroke is breaststroke but my favorite race is 200 back. I am excited to have this opportunity to stay with the team as well as the ability to coach our athletes to the best of their abilities. My favorite thing to do is umpire baseball and officiate football. I now do both full time at the high school and collegiate level. The best color is blue, my favorite food is steak with mac and cheese and my favorite drink is lemonade. My favorite people are my family and my sister, Mila, is from France. I cannot wait to see what the team brings together this year and look forward to seeing the athletes perform with the same tried and true Otter Spirit. Let’s get after it this year Otters.
Everyday is a good day to be great!
Hi! My name is Brynn, I have been a lifelong swimmer with a deep passion for both the sport and the community it creates. From years of competitive swimming through my college career, swimming has always been a major part of my life and continues to inspire me today as a stroke interventionist helping athletes grow in skill and confidence. I love sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm for the water while building strong relationships within the swim community. Outside of swimming, I am a proud mom to my son, Mason - a fellow Otter and I enjoy spending time camping, hunting, and vacationing with my family. My favorite strokes are freestyle and butterfly! I love purple and my guilty snack is sour gummy worms. I’m always down for sushi and my favorite drink is water, I always have my bottle filled.
Hello, my name is Henry Schmies, I am 18 years old and graduated from Providence Christian High School this May. This fall I plan to move to Southern California to attend The Master’s University and study Kinesiology. I have been swimming with the Otters since 2020 and have two brothers who also swim. My favorite stroke is Breaststroke, my favorite food is chicken tenders, and my favorite drink is lemonade. Along with swimming, I also play baseball, basketball, and run cross country. I also help umpire local Little League games. I am excited to Junior Coach again this summer and hope we have a lot of fun!
Hi Otters! My name is Norah Reimers, I am 17 years old and currently attend Orland High School. I have swam for 11 years and my favorite stroke is Butterfly. Along with swimming, I also play volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball, and run track. I am also involved in FFA and raise dairy heifers. My favorite color is blue and I love to travel. My favorite food sushi and my favorite drink is dr. pepper! I can't wait to be a junior coach again this year and am excited for a great season.
Hi Otters, my name is Ayden Champagne-Meredyk. I am 16 years old and attend Orland High School and I have been swimming with the otters for 13 years. My favorite color is blue and I don't have a favorite stroke so I am going with the IM. My favorite food is tri tip and favorite drink is Dr. Pepper. Along with swimming I also play basketball. I also raise steers through FFA. I’m excited to Jr. Coach this year and hope to have a lot of fun.
Hi Otters, my name is Emma Lepp and I have been swimming since I was 4 years old. I swim year-round and my favorite stroke is Butterfly, especially the 200 Butterfly. I’m also a lifeguard at the Orland pool. I love participating in FFA activities and raising hogs for the fair. I like the beach, camping and hiking. My favorite color is light blue, my favorite food is pizza, and y favorite drink is peach iced tea. I’m excited to be a Jr. Coach and I’m excited for this swim season.
Hi my name is Stella Reimers, I am 16 years old and finishing my sophomore year. I have swam for 11 years and my favorite stroke is backstroke. Along with swimming, I also play basketball, volleyball, and I run track. My favorite color is pastel yellow and I like to clean my room and travel. My favorite food is tacos and favorite drink is frescas. I am excited to Junior Coach and can’t wait for this season.
Hello, my name is Ty Vlach, I am 16 years old and currently attend Orland High School. I began swimming for the Otters when I was 4. My favorite stroke is freestyle. In my free time, I love to play basketball and football. I love camping, hanging out with friends and eating good food. My favorite color is blue, and my favorite food is steak. I am looking forward to a fun season Jr Coaching with the Otters.
Hello, my name is Judah Crizon. I'm 15 years old and I go to Hamilton High School. This is my fifth year as an Otter and I've loved every season. My favorite stroke is butterfly and my favorite race is the 100 fly. I love swimming, football, basketball and track. My favorite color is green, favorite drink is mango juice, and my favorite food is sushi, but I especially enjoy the crunchy roll. I can't wait to be junior coaching with the Otters this summer!
Hi Otters, my name is Owen Schmies. I am fifteen years old and am a freshman attending Providence Christian High School. I have been an Otter for six years now and have swam one year at the high school level. Both of my brothers swim on the team as well. My favorite stroke is breaststroke, and my favorite race is the 200 breaststroke. Things besides swimming that I like to do include being a member of Civil Air Patrol, hanging out with friends, and umpiring baseball. My favorite color is green, my favorite food is a good burger, and my favorite drink is Pepsi. Overall, I am really excited for this season!
Hi Otters! My name is Makalyn Stidham, I currently attend Orland High School. I have been swimming on the Otters since 2020. My favorite stroke is backstroke. I also do basketball, track, and participate in many school clubs including FFA and raise hogs for the fair. My favorite color is teal, and I love hiking and camping. My favorite food is French dip and favorite drink is anything from Dutch Bros! I am very excited for this season and to be a Jr Coach for the Otters!
Hi, my name is Olivia Testerman! I’m 16 years old and I attend Orland High School. I have been swimming for 6 years and my favorite stroke is breaststroke. Along with swimming, I run track. Some other things about me is that my favorite color is blue, my favorite food is cheeseburgers, and my favorite drink is lemonade. I also like to do crafts and make things. I’m really excited to meet you all this year and have fun!