Boulder Aquateen Coaches

Traci Lunsford

Head Coach

Traci started swimming in Northeast Ohio. She continued synchro for four more years at The Ohio State University, three of which she was a member of the overall Collegiate National Championship Team. During that time Traci competed in the first Olympic Trials in 1984 and National Team Trials thereafter. Additionally she served as a Collegiate Athletes Representative and an Athletes Rep to the USSSI Board of Directors for two years. Upon graduation Traci stayed on with the Buckeyes as an Assistant Coach for two years while completing her Masters degree. During this time she also worked as Associate Director of the R & R Sports Synchronized Swimming Camps & Clinics. She then went on to be the Head Coach of Holland's National Team ('89) placing athletes in finals at all major international competition, including the first ever Jr. World Championships. She returned to the US and coached one more year with the Buckeyes, and also had the opportunity to coach the Venezuelan Soloist at the '91 World Aquatic Championships. Traci then decided to use her degrees and pursued a career in the world of Sports Marketing, Advertising, Event Management and PR. Traci graduated from Ohio State with a B.S. in Family Relations and Human Development, and a M.A. in Psychology and Sociology of Sport with a minor emphasis in Sports Marketing and Management. Traci lives with her husband Ed, two boys, Keegan and Aidan, and her dog Tera.

Amy Buss

Coach

Amy Buss began her synchro career at age eight, and swam for Tucson Synchro until age 17. She swam for the University of Colorado on their speed swimming team, while earning her BA in Kinesiology. Amy has competed in synchronized swimming at the Masters level since 2001, regularly placing in the top ten teams internationally. Formerly Head Coach for Aquateens, Amy returned to the team in the 2006-2007 season from a hiatus in her coaching during which she worked towards her Masters Degree in Guidance Counseling and, along with her husband, Aran, helped raise their now 3-year old son, Shane.

Kelly McPhillips

Coach

Kelly swam synchro for six years. Her first three years were with the Alpine Angelfish.  She then moved and completed her swimming career with the Rocky Mountain Splash. Kelly’s synchro accomplishments include competing at the National level and placing in finals at US National Age Group Championships and US Open Championships. In Kelly’s free time, she enjoys doing anything outdoors, especially cartwheels! Kelly is in her third year at CU after receiving an IB diploma completing three years of National Honor Society in high school. Kelly plans to major in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon one day.

Kip Knappet

Coach

Kip began her synchro career at age 8 with the Seattle Aqua Club. At 17 she moved to California and joined the Santa Clara Aquamaids for two more years. Kip's synchro accomplishments include being named Jr. National Team Champion in 1983, and placing second in duet twice. Kip also made Finals in both Team and Duet at U.S. Senior Nationals, and epresented the United States at the International Age Group Championships. Upon retiring from amateur swimming, Kip continued professionally by swimming synchro shows at Ocean World in Taiwan for six months. Kip is also a Grand Master Synchronized Swimming Champion. Kip started coaching with her original team, the Seattle Aqua Club (now Seattle Synchronized Swim Team) in 1994 and also coached with the Seattle Cascades Masters team through 1998. Kip works in Boulder as a client services coordinator for Raymond James Financial Services and occasionally at the Boulder Community Hospital in the Admissions Department.

Alanna O'Leary

Coach/Consultant

Alanna O'Leary was a member of the Santa Clara Aquamaids for 10 years. She was US National Champion in team in 1996 and 1997 and also placed fourth in duet and sixth in solo. She was a junior national champion from 1994-1996 in solo and duet. She has traveled all over the world to swim meets including the German Open, Scottish Open, French Open and Junior Worlds in Bonn, Germany. Alanna joined the Boulder Aquateens as a choreographer in 2003 and returned the next season to be an assistant coach. In the 2005-2006 season, she held the position of head coach for the Aquateens. In the 2008-2009 season, she will be helping with music selection and choreography.

Jenny Depper

Coach

Jenny has been coaching with Boulder for three years and loves helping the girls meet their synchro stardom with a fun and upbeat attitude. Jenny works with all age groups, and admits that she is a bit of a stickler for basic technique...meaning, those ballet legs and eggbeater better be perfect! She swam for five years for the Olympic renowned Walnut Creek Aquanuts in Walnut Creek, CA. Jenny says it was just lucky that I was a swimmer and a dancer and I had a twin sister for a duet partner- the perfect synchro mix! Her favorite coach Kim Probst (the 2008 Olympic captain) was her biggest synchro mentor, and she hopes to be a positive influence for the girls on BAT.

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