2024 Youth National Team Coaches Announced

USAAS is proud to announce Ludi Stsepaniuk, Laura Mase, and Marivi Escalona as coaching staff for the 2024 youth national team. This combination of coaches brings a wealth of experience and innovation to the young team. With their proven track record of success in developing young talent and nurturing athletes to reach their full potential, they are poised to inspire and shape the youth of artistic swimming.

Born in France, Head Coach Ludi Stsepaniuk served as a member of the national team for 10 years and counts many national titles. At 20, she moved to the US to pursue a performing career and created Le Reve-the Dream aquatic show, One Drop Cirque du Soleil and was part of the “Avatar, the way of water" stunt team.

When Stsepaniuk decided to transition her career on to coaching, she was served as the head coach of the USA 12 and Under National Team in 2018, 2019; head coach of the Youth National Team in 2021,2022 & 2023 and head coach of the Junior Pan Am National Team in 2021. 

Assistant Coach Laura Mase has been involved in USA Artistic Swimming since 1993. As a swimmer, Mase swam for the New Canaan YMCA Aquianas from 1993-2001, then for the University of Richmond from 2001-2005 where she received her BS in Communication and Elementary Education. She began her coaching career during college, coaching for the Dolphilinas of Richmond. From 2005-2008, Mase worked as the Education Director for USA Artistic Swimming in Indianapolis, IN where she also coached Indy Synchro. She then went on to attend graduate school at New York University and earned a MS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from 2008-2011. While in graduate school, Mase re-joined the Aquianas as an assistant coach, where she kick-started her coaching career. 

Mase works full-time as a Speech-Language Pathologist in a middle school with students with special needs. Although, her passion for coaching has kept her coaching for the Aquianas since 2008. She has developed athletes who have made national teams, as well earned numerous medals in all events at national championships. Laura was named the head coach of the 12 and Under National Team in 2020, East Zone Coach of the Year in 2022, and was the 2023 Youth National Team Assistant Coach. 

Born and raised in Venezuela, Assistant coach Marivi Escalona swam for the Venezuelan National Team from 2009 to 2014 and represented Venezuela in South America, Central American and Pan American competitions where she collected five international medals. In 2015, Escalona came to the US to swim at the Collegiate level with Lindenwood University until 2019.  

After graduating, Escalona coached in Arizona for Scottsdale Synchro for two years. The young coach then transitioned to the Houston Synchro Stars serving as Head Coach in 2021 and 2022. Escalona is currently based in Dallas, Texas and is walking into her first season with the Pirouettes of Texas.