Affectionately dubbed "the little fish" by her family, Kayla learned to swim at the Greenknoll YMCA in Connecticut before she was old enough to form memories. She launched her competitive career at age eight with a lake team called "the Muskrats" before moving to year-round training with the YMCA Makos through high school. At the University of Pittsburgh, her academic path led her to molecular biology and anthropology, though her heart never truly left the water. Kayla loves watching her students build resilience and have fun, hoping they realize the water will always be a safe haven for them. Outside the pool, this former dancer of 13 years loves building intricate Lego sets and hanging out with her cat.