Christiana Butera invited some friends for a sleepover. But they didn't come from nearby parts of suburban El Cajon or La Mesa. They're from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, south of Boston. Teammates. All seven of them.

Butera, 20, is a junior co-captain of the Lyons' synchronized swim team—synchro for short. The team is camped out at her parents' home near Mount Helix. They're using cots, air mattresses and couches, she said.

But it's not all fun and winter-break games. They have work to do.

Tuesday afternoon, about 40 friends, family members and others gathered at the La Mesa Municipal Pool to watch a demonstration of the demanding Olympic sport.

The Wheaton coach—Rebecca Story—couldn't make it poolside. She was snowed in, waiting for a flight out of Boston. But team choreographer Nathalie Bartleson was present to do the honors.

Bartleson, who lives in Colorado Springs, is almost a bigger story than Story. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Bartleson helped Team USA to a perfect score—and gold in synchronized swimming. She's also an accomplished masters soloist in her early 40s.

She explained the work ethic, techniques and schedule for the team in La Mesa—8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. daily through Jan. 4. Even if it rains. (They just put a tarp over the speakers, Bartleson said.)

The team demonstrated part of a routine set to Bollywood music. (See our video clip.) And several did solo routines, critiqued by Bartleson.

Butera's parents—Michael and Teresa Butera—along with her brother Matt and longtime club coach, Julie Howell, watched from poolside with pride. Howell had coached Christiana since fifth grade as part of the old Sweetwater Dolphins club.

Becky Jackman, La Mesa's aquatics supervisor, also took time out to watch as well—even though her wedding to former La Mesa fire Capt. Jeff Beeler is today (Wednesday).

A graduate of Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego, Butera could soon be giving her family more reason for button-bursting. Next month she'll be in San Antonio, TX, for the national team trials, which picks two teams—one going to the 2012 London Olympics.

"I worked my butt off this year," Butera said after Tuesday's practice. She said she'd be thrilled and honored even to make the American "B" team that goes to the Pan American Games, set for October 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

At 5-feet-2 and 130 pounds, Butera is short for the sport, and muscular. But she considers herself midranked among the 100 athletes invited to vie for the 24 spots on the two national teams in mid-January.

She talks about going as far as she can in the sport—even if it means taking a break from college and delaying her planned 2012 graduation.

It's a long swim from her days of training at Spring Valley's Monte Vista and Mount Miguel high schools. She also was a lifeguard last summer at Mount Miguel.

For now, she's just happy to play host to her team's annual winter trip. Last year, a Puerto Rican teammate had the players train at her warm-weather home. This year, it's here.

"You don't have to pay for a hotel," Butera said of the savings involved. Home cooking is cool, too.