Leia Matern
Head Coach
[email protected]
I started my swim journey in Junction City, Oregon when I was 8 years old on their summer league. I continued swimming every summer until I got to high school and began swimming on club teams year round as well. After graduating, I swam 2 years at Central Washington University and then transferred to the University of Idaho where I swam my final two years under Olympian, Tom Jager. On summer breaks, I came home to coach the Summer JC swim team and helped coach the Pullman Swim Club up in Washington during the school year. I got my undergraduate degrees in biology and entomology and finished my schooling with a Masters in public health.

Post college, I continued to teach lessons at different pools and periodically coach. It wasn't until I moved back to the Eugene area with my family that I fell deep back into the swimming world. I joined the Emerald Aquatic masters team and it wasn't long before I was asked to start coaching again in addition to swimming with the team. I am also the head swim coach for Junction City High School in the winter. 

I live in South Eugene with my husband, two girls, two cats, two dogs and numerous chickens! Besides coaching, I also own a personal chef business and love to hike and kayak. I can't wait to share my enthusiasm and love for the sport with all of you!
 
Erin Skoubo
Assistant Coach
I'm glad to be joining with Coach Leia as assistant coach. I'm a former Otter. I competed in my first swim meet as an Otter at the age of 4. I continued swimming through college, competing for the Division 1 team at Oregon State University. Now I am a teacher for 4j, teaching 3rd grade at El Camino del Río/River Road Elementary school and I am an assistant coach for the Churchill High School team in the winter. I'm also a mom. My three kids, Maya, Nathaniel and Ollie, all swim for the team. I'm looking forward to getting to know your swimmers and continuing to watch them grow.
Amelia Steffe
Assistant Coach
I’m thrilled to be a part of River Road as an assistant coach. I’m from Montclair, New Jersey, and dove into the sport when I was seven swimming for the Montclair Dolphins Swim Club. I swam as a Dolphin until the age of 18, and simultaneously swam on the Montclair High School swim team starting my freshman year, becoming a captain my senior year. My journey continued at the University of Oregon Swim Club where I qualified for nationals all three years. At the UO, I’m pursuing an undergraduate degree in both sociology and crime, law and society. When I’m not swimming, I’m spending time with my cat, Remi, who is my pride and joy. I’m eager to share my love for this sport with aspiring swimmers and guide them towards their goals every step of the way!
Maddy Tomich
Assistant Coach

I’m so excited to join the River Road Team as a fellow assistant coach. I grew up in the Los Angeles area where I found my love for swimming at a young age. I began competing at 5 years old when my elementary/middle school competed against other schools in the San Fernando Valley. With my team at La Reina High School, I competed in the Tri-Valley League and eventually became the captain of my team. During my senior year of high school, I also joined my final club, Horizon, and competed around Southern California where I qualified for Junior Olympics and CIF.

 

Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed coaching as well. One of my coaches hired me as her assistant coach during my high school years. During the summers that followed, I worked for her as a swim instructor and assistant coach of the Southern California Swim Academy swim team.

 

Now, I’m currently swimming on the University of Oregon Club Swim Team where I have a blast every practice. As a student at the university, I am pursing bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science as well as Economics. I look forward to working with your athletes and helping them grow their love of swimming!