The Northwest's Premier Artistic Swimming Team

Coaches and Directors

Coaches and Directors

 

Coaching Staff
Daniela Garmendia Head Coach & Club Owner

Daniela is the Club's Head Coach and new owner. She coaches a variety of programs and leads the 12U team. Daniela is orginally from Venezuela and has competed internationally as part of the Venezuelan national team. In 2016 had her last appearance representing her country at the Olympic Qualifiers in Rio 2016. She also swam collegiate synchro at Lindenwood University where her team took home the title in 2014 and in 2015 won Senior Nationals. In 2017, she graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Athletic training and moved to the Northwest. Daniela also served as the Assistant Coach for the Junior National Team 2019 and again in 2022 for Junior Worlds. In addition to coaching, Daniela is a personal trainer. She enjoys choreographing, dancing, and has a particular interest in the developing of emotional intelligence through sports. Her hobbies are practicing BJJ, hiking, and dancing. 

Daniela is a Level 3 USA Artistic Swimming Coach. Level 2 Assessor. NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Stretching& Flexibility Coach and Group Personal Training Specialist. 

Maria Romero Assistant Coach

Maria Fernanda Romero Ochoa, a former member of the Venezuelan National artistic swimming team, has achieved excellence both as an athlete and a coach. She secured multiple medals in international competitions, including the Central American and South American championships. Served as head coach for the Elite Club for a year, focusing on enhancing athletes' basic skills.

In 2021, Maria earned her bachelor's degree in physical therapy and worked with pediatric and geriatric patients for three years. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys quality time with family, and loves CrossFit and dance. Maria's journey is a fusion of dedication and passion for artistry and physical vitality.

Maria is the club's assistant coach and is the lead coach for the 12U team.

Lacey Ethier Novice Coach

Lacey Ethier has been an ahtlete, owner, and current coach for Seattle Synchro. Lacey has been coaching since 2007. She swam for Seattle Synchro from 1998-2002 and competed both nationally and internationally as well as at the 2003 Olympic Trials. Lacey owned the club from 2011 to 2022 and has been the foundation of our success. Ethier has served as assistant coach to the 12& U National team in 2012. Lacey is also the current Pacific Northwest Association Administrative Chair. She lives in Redmond with her husband Vincent, children Vivienne and Archer.

Lacey is a USA Artistic Swimming skill assessor, Level 3 USA Artistic Swimming Coach, and Level 3F USA Artistic Swimming Judge.

Jocilyn Sayler Age Group Coach

Jocilyn will be lead coach for the 2023-2024 junior team squad and assist with youth squad I. She has coached for Seattle since 2010.

Jocilyn competed for the majority of her synchro career at Seattle where she swam at several national level meets and US Opens.  She also swam for WAVE Aquatics and high school swim teams, where she competed at WIAA State Championships in medley and backstroke events.  She has enjoyed working with athletes both at home and abroad develop their talents and qualify for national teams. Her athletes consistently place in finals at Junior Olympics. Jocilyn is part of the USA Synchro national team coaching staff, has served as the 12&U national team coach, US National Team Program Manager and has a Master's degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University. Jocilyn also serves as the Officials Chair for the Pacific Northwest Association and Vice President of Member Development for USA Artisitic Swimming as part of the Board of Directors.

Jocilyn is a Level 3 USA Artistic Swimming Coach and Level 3 Judge.

Yuki Maekawa Age Group Coach

Yuki Maekawa is Seattle Synchro's longest serving coach, having coached for the club since 1991. She will continue to assist a variety of teams throughout the year. 

She brings a vast wealth of knowledge to Seattle.  Yuki was a member of the Japanese National team during the 1970s and in 2006 was awarded the United States Age Group Coach of the Year award.   During her time at Seattle Synchro she has consistently placed swimmers in finals in both national, and international competition.   Her daughters also swam for Seattle and went on to train at Stanford University, the University of Incarnate Word and Team USA.  In addition to working with Seattle Synchro age groupers, Yuki also coaches a masters synchro program based on the eastside.  She currently lives in Tukwila with her husband Zen and she enjoys traveling to Japan to visit her family. 

Yuki is currently a Level 3 USA Artistic Swimming Coach.

Ivana Radovanovic Age Group Coach
Ivana  is an age group coach assisting our junior duets and 13-15 teams and has been coaching since 2018. She competed as an age group swimmer as part of the Coral Springs Aquacades and then swam collegiate synchro for the University of Florida. In 2018, Ivana graduated with her Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering and is currently pursuing her Masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. 
 
Ivana is a level 3 USA Artistic Swimming coach and a Level 2 USA Artistic Swimming judge. 
Katleen Snedeker Seastars Coach

Katleen "Katee" is currently the Seastars Program coach for Seattle Synchro. She has been coached a variety of age groups and skill levels at Seattle Synchro since 2012. She also swam for Seattle Synchro for eight years. During her time as a swimmer she competed at Age Group and Junior Nationals, as well as US Opens. Katee is the education chair of the Pacific Northwest Association.  She currently resides in Mill Creek with her husband Kyle, son Duke and newborn Georgia. 

Katee is currently a  Skill Assessor,  Level 3 USA Artistic Swimming Coach and Level 2 USA Artistic Swimming judge.

Carlie Vasquez Swimming & Strengthening

Coach Carlie is our age group swimming and strengthening coach.

Carlie has been coaching for over 10 years. In the 11 years, she has helped a number of athletes achieve great feats and get them at elite levels. Carlie started swimming herself as a child living in Florida. She swam competitively there until she moved to Washington and continued her swimming career. While being on this swim journey as an adult, she has managed to make her passion into a job. She has a degree as an exercise specialist and uses that to create dryland workouts for teams and individuals. She currently coaches for Wave aquatics swimming. She is the head coach for the High School team. She also works helping clients with aquatic therapeutic exercises addressing different types of chronic injuries as well as teaching kids on the spectrum how to swim. In the last few years, she has coached at Washington Special Olympics. She has travelled to China while coaching a team of Washington State’s elite athletes that competed overseas at an international meet.

 

During her free time, she loves to spend time with her 3 kids. They like to travel and hike all over.

Kaitlyn Han 12U Assistant Coach

Kaitlyn has competed in synchro for six years: four years in China and two years at Seattle Synchro. She is now in her second year of coaching for the 12U team at Seattle Synchro.

Claire Evans Age Group Coach

Claire is joining the team for her first year as a coach, primarily helping out with the age group teams.

Claire swam for the Pirouettes of Texas in Dallas for her entire age group career, and as a Pirouette was a South Zone champion in team, duet, and solo. Claire recently moved to Seattle from Nashville, TN, where she pursued a PhD in Political Science. Claire now works in Seattle at King County Metro Transit as a social science researcher.

Claire and her partner Bryce live in South Seattle, and in their free time - they enjoy spending time out in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Hana Ito-Ibrahim Novice Coach
Board of Directors