CES' 2019/20 Coaching Team

JAN DEBNEY
Club Founder, High Performance Advisor, Coach Mentor
 Jan has coached Synchronized Swimming since 1972 when she learned her trade under the watchful eye of Mary Ann Reeves and later Debbie Muir. Through these two powerful women in the sport of Canadian Synchronized Swimming she learned valuable tools that have assisted her in being one of Alberta’s top coaches in the area of developmental swimmers. When Jan coached teams, she taught girls to love the sport, to set achievable goals and how to achieve their full potential as a synchronized swimmer. Jan believes in the potential of each girl and strives to offer a program where young girls can learn to love this sport while reaching their full potential as an athlete. Jan has coached at the developmental and National Age Group level. In her role as High Performance Advisor of Calgary Elite, Jan will work to produce well rounded coaches and athletes.
KIM HURTIG
​Head Coach, U12 & 13-15 Provincial Coach
Kim was introduced to the sport of synchro when she started as a pre-competitive swimmer with the Edmonton Auroras in 1990. After one session, Kim was hooked and has been involved in the sport in some capacity ever since. As a swimmer, Kim competed with the Edmonton Auroras, Nova Synchro and Killarney Synchro. She then transitioned into the word of Masters where she  won a silver medal in the World Masters Games Championship and three (3) gold medals at the US Masters Nationals, most recently in October 2016. Kim began her coaching career with the Calgary Aquabelles in 2001 and has had an opportunity to coach pre-competitive, provincial competitive, national stream, collegiate and masters athletes over the past 18 years. The sport of synchro has provided Kim with life-long friendships, a 'sport for life', and a skill-set that has transferred beyond the pool into her career. In her fourth year as Head Coach of Calgary Elite, Kim is excited to work with the athletes, coaches and families to ensure that they all have the wonderful experience in this sport that she has experienced. ​
KRISTIN JOHNSON
Technical Director & 13-15 National Coach
Kristin was a Synchronized Swimmer for 9 years before she retired due to injury. To carry on her love of the sport Kristin decided to coach young athletes. She has consistently had first place finishes at all Provincial and Western Canadian Meets (MASYS) where she has coached girls at the Wildrose Level. As well, Kristin has coached girls to first place finishes in solo and duet. Kristin has always managed to produce well rounded young athletes since her coaching career began. ​
ELISE MARCOTTE
​13-15 National Coach
Two-time Olympian Élise Marcotte made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 with a fourth place finish in the team event. She recorded two more near-podium results at London 2012, finishing fourth in both the duet competition with partner Marie-Pier Boudreau Gagnon, as well as in the team event. Marcotte announced her retirement after London 2012 following seven years on the National Team.
Marcotte was a double gold medallist at the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games, in team and in duet with Boudreau Gagnon, qualifying Olympic spots in both events for Canada at London 2012. Marcotte previously competed at the Rio 2007 Pan Am Games, winning silver in the team event.
Marcotte was part of fourth place finishes in both the duet and team events at the 2011 FINA World Aquatic Championships, maintaining the team placement from 2009 while improving upon her sixth place finish in duet. She helped the team win bronze medals in the combo event at both the 2009 and 2011 FINA Worlds.
At the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Marcotte was the alternate for the gold medal-winning duet. Earlier that year she had won bronze in the team event at the FINA World Cup. In 2005, Marcotte won gold and two silver at the Junior Pan American Championships in the team, duet and solo events, respectively.
Fluently bilingual, Marcotte holds an undergraduate degree in marketing from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and a Masters in Marketing from HEC Montréal. Upon retirement from the National Team, she launched Synchro Academy. It was there that Marcotte started an initiative that allowed Olympians to give back through a series of seminars for athletes ranging from provincial to international level, in a summer camp formula where only Olympians are coaching. She coached the National Team of Hong Kong in preparation for Asian Games and the Brasil Olympic team.  She was the Head Coach for Team Saskatchewan for Canada Games in 2019 and is currently running the Artistic Swim Academy, an online platform for synchronized swimmers. Elise also works for Game Plan, Canada’s athlete wellness program as the Program and Marketing Manager and initiative co-led by the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Sport Canada.
PAM LAROSE
13-15 National Coach
Pam's Coaching Profile COMING SOON!!!!!
MOIRA MCAVOY
U12 & 13-15 Provincial Coach
Moira tried synchronized swimming in a pre-competitive program, fell in love with the sport, and spent for 9 years as an athlete with the Calgary Aquabelles. She began in at the provincial level (Kristin Johnston was her coach!) and after one year she moved to national level. The highlight of Moira’s synchro career was finishing her last Canadian National Championships (2010) with two podium finishes; Senior Solo (bronze) and Combo (silver). Moira also spent a few summers on Team Alberta, where she attended competitions in the United States. 
While completing her undergraduate degree, Moira competed as a university athlete with the University of Victoria ‘VIKES’ Synchronized Swimming Team. During her four years with the university team, she served various roles; athlete, team coach, club president and team captain. In 2014, Moira was a member of the first UVIC VIKES team to win a gold medal at the CUSSL National Championships.  
Moira’s coaching career began during her years as a junior/senior athlete, when she began coaching pre-competitive programs and summer camps. During her undergrad, Moira coached full-time for Victoria Synchro, working with both provincial and national athletes. Since 2015, Moira has coached with Calgary Elite Synchro. Moira obtained her NCCP Level 3 Certification in 2015.  
Moira is very grateful for all the skills she learned while participating in sport, including hard work, dedication, and teamwork. She credits her athletic and academic successes to the discipline she learned as an athlete. As a coach, Moira strives to teach her athletes these skills and works to educate them with the tools to apply the skills to all areas of their lives. Her goal is to foster well-balanced, accountable athletes. Moira’s favorite part about coaching is watching her athletes realize their potential, work hard, and strive to reach their goals. 
Outside of the pool, Moira works in the legal field. She enjoys balancing her full-time job with the artistic fun of coaching. 
AVA ETHESHAM
​U10 Team Coach
Ava's Coaching Profile COMING SOON!!! 
KIM STRACHAN
Provincial Stream Advisor, Coach Mentor
Kim's Coaching Profile COMING SOON!!!
BETH BOLD
Figure Coach, Athlete Testing Facilitator
Beth was a Synchronized Swimmer for 10 years before she retired and decided that she wanted to coach. She has a passion for her swimmers and this sport and has had great success over the years. Beth is a level 3 NCCP coach and has coached her teams to 5 & 6th place finishes at Nationals for 2 consecutive years. She was proud to coach a young swimmer for 6 years and watch her make a National Team in 2008. In addition, Beth coached a duet and solo to their best place finishes ever when they were awarded silver medals at the Espoir Nationals in Edmonton in 2008. Beth was awarded the Terry Hambrook award for Canada's Most Promising Coach in 2009. ​
JOCELYN SMITH
Precompetitive, Stroke Improvement Specialist, Figure & Extra Routine Coach
Jocelyn started swimming competitively with Cascade Swim Club when she was 4 years old, and moved to Synchronized Swimming when she was 10. Jocelyn swam with the Calgary Aquabelles, beginning at the provincial level and finishing as a national level athlete. 
Jocelyn began coaching with Calgary Synchro Elite in 2010. She took some time away from our Club when she completed her degree at the University of Lethbridge, and recently rejoined our coaching staff. Jocelyn has also coached for Cascade Swim Club, and has specialist knowledge of swimming endurance and stroke technique.  
Jocelyn believes that sport had a huge part in the development of her life skills. She looks forward to influencing our swimmers’ growth and development, by providing support in and out of the pool. 
Jocelyn currently works in Wealth Management, she enjoys cooking and golfing. She is also an avid traveler, recently travelling to India, Asia and Chile. 
ELENA SPRONK
Support Coach
Elena's Coaching Profile COMING SOON!!!!
DREW MALINOWSKI
Flexibility, Dance & Cheer Coach
Drew's Coaching Profile COMING SOON!!!!!
Ash Allen - Strength Coach

Sue Raffin - Flexibility Specialist










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