Artistic Swimming

Head Synchro Coach

LSvrcinova@themac.com

503-517-7513

Full-time Head Coach, Lucie Svrcinova, began her synchro career in 1980 as a swimmer, coach, and judge, is a native of Brno, Czech Republic. She came to MAC in late August 2005. Lucie dominated Czech synchro from 1988 - 2000 as an undefeated national champion and represented the national team in many international competitions, placing as high as 9th in solo in the European Championships.

She participated in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and was selected again as a member of the Czech Olympic Team in 1996, although the team did not ultimately qualify for the event. She and her duet partner trained in hopes of securing the 2000 Olympic duet spot. Even though they were beat out by another Czech pair, she was named as the duet "alternate" for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She earned many national and international titles with MAC Synchro Masters including, 2006 World Champion in Trio, 2014 World Champion in Solo and Duet, 2017 Silver medal in Solo at Worlds, 2019 World Champion in Mixed Duet, and 2022 Gold and Silver at Pan American Games.

As a coach, she worked with the Czech National Team and the Czech 8-12 age group squad. She also helped coach a Czech open water swimmer to a 4th place finish at Worlds. Besides Czech, Lucie speaks German, Russian, and English. She earned her degree in physiotherapy.

Lucie is a Level 3 Certified Coach and a Level 2F Judge and works with all levels of the Junior and Masters programs.

Assistant Synchro Coach

Full-time Assistant Coach, Bethany Baber, born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, began her synchro career in 2002 as a swimmer. In 2003, Bethany and her family were part of a small group that created Gardens Synchro, where Bethany competed in five US Age Group Nationals. In her junior year of high school, she joined the Coral Springs Aquacades and competed in US National Championships and US Opens before graduating and attending the University of Central Florida. During her four years at UCF, determined to keep swimming, Bethany banded with a group of women to create the University’s first synchro club and competed in two USA Synchro Collegiate Nationals with them.

Since moving to Oregon in 2018, Bethany has joined and competed with MAC Synchro’s Masters program and won gold with her trio partners and silver with her team at the 2019 US Masters Nationals Championship. Bethany started as a Part-Time Assistant Coach and in the fall of 2019, she transitioned into the Full-Time Assistant Coach position. Bethany is a certified Level 3 Coach and a Level 2 Judge and mainly coaches the Novice and 13-15 Age Group Squads along with the Masters.

Part-Time Assistant Coach

Andrea Valoppi, began her synchro with Sac Synchro in Sacramento, California where she earned multiple titles and awards at Age Group, Junior and Senior Nationals, and numerous U.S. Opens. Deciding she wanted to further her knowledge and proficiency in synchro, Andrea moved to Santa Clara, California to train with the Santa Clara Aquamaids in 2005. While there, she earned multiple national titles and placed in the top 8 at US national team trials. After retiring from synchro as an athlete, she began coaching in 2009 with Sac Synchro. From there she has continued to coach with the Santa Clara Aquamaids, 5280 Synchro, and Rocky Mountain Splash. Andrea has coached many young athletes to various national championship titles and national team appointments as well as earned top placement at regional and zone meets. In 2021 Andrea joined the MAC Synchro family and mainly coaches the Intermediate and16 & Over Age Group Squads as well as the Masters. Outside of coaching, Andrea has performed with the artistic swimming group ‘Aqualillies’ and has appeared in music videos, commercials, and TV shows.