lorette

Lorette Haynes

Head Coach

Lorette Haynes is passionate about Synchro! She has been involved in the sport as a swimmer, coach, judge, and administrator for over 25 years.

As an athlete, Lorette competed for 15 years, where she was a gold medalist at many National Competitions, including National Age Groups, Junior Nationals and U.S. Senior Opens. She also competed several years at Senior Nationals, where she qualified to the second phase of Olympic Trials.

Lorette’s coaching experience spans over 15 years, with swimmers of all ages and abilities. She has always had a special talent for helping swimmers exceed even their own expectations. She has instructed Age Group, Junior and Senior National Level swimmers, including this past season when Lorette’s swimmers qualified for National Age Group Championship, in their very first year as a team.

In 2001, Lorette was voted by her peers as The USA Synchro - West Zone “Coach of the Year.” Lorette is currently a USA Synchro Level 5 Judge and is in her third term as the Arizona Synchronized Swimming Administrative Chairperson, a post she has held for 6 years.

 

becky

Becky Thompson

Head Coach

Becky Thompson has been involved in synchronized swimming for over 20 years. She began at the age of five as a participant in the City of Mesa Summer Recreation programs. A love and passion for Synchro quickly followed and led her to numerous athletic accomplishments. "I believe my greatest accomplishment was winning the National Age Group Duet Championship at the age of 14. The best part of all was watching my coach, Lisa Becker, run across the bulkhead to congratulate us. Winning and representing my team was the best feeling in the world." Throughout her 13 year swimming career, Becky also was Arizona's 1999 and 2000 figure champion, Arizona's state athlete representative and a finalist at U.S. Opens, U.S. Nationals, and U.S. Junior Nationals.

Becky has been coaching for 11 years. Prior to coaching on the Desert Dolphins, she started the City of Tempe Aqua Angels team, was the Head Coach of Scottsdale Synchro, and the 12-13 and 14 & Over coach on the Arizona Aqua Stars.

Currently Becky sits on the Arizona State Synchro Board as the Technical Chair. She also is a U.S. Zone level judge.

Becky's years in the sport have helped her adapt a very special philosophy and approach to working with athletes. "Athletes must want to succeed. You can't force them to work, or drive them to the success you want for them. Instilling a passion and love for Synchro is my passion, once that happens, success will follow."

Most recently Becky was the recipient of the first ever Desert Dolphin "Go With the Flo" award. In honor of Florence Driggs, aka, Grandma Flo.  A former coach and inspirational model for both Desert Dolphin Head Coaches.

Becky was also awarded with the 2008 Grand Canyon State Games Commissioner of the Year and the 2009 United States Synchronized Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year.

Becky's family consists of her husband Mac, and two children Logan and Molly.



rachel

Rachel Beecroft

Assistant Coach

Rachel started synchro at the age of 8 in the Mesa Parks and Recreation summer program. She swam for 8 years and then became a lifeguard and coach. She coached and taught swim lessons for 4 years, then took a break to have a family. Rachel has always loved synchro and always wanted to be more involved with it. Over the years she has taught synchro to small groups and individuals, as well as teaching swim lessons privately.

When her oldest daughter  signed up for the Mesa Summer Parks and Recreation program a couple of years ago, Rachel's passion for synchro was reignighted! She quietly watched practices and helped out when her daughter started swimming for the Desert Dolphins last year and then she really caught synchro fever! Rachel coached at the Desert Dolphin summer camps and was then asked to be the head coach for the Desert Diva's team. Rachel is thrilled to help these young girls find their inner grace and beauty, and help it shine through synchronized swimming. She loves coaching and getting to know and love the girls.

Rachel recently attended a National Coaching College at the Olympic Training Center, and now has a better idea of what it takes to be an Olympian. Her coaching style is fresh and fun.

When she is not coaching synchro, Rachel  teaches private cello lessons and plays cello for the Tempe symphony orchestra. She is married and has 5 children.

kara

 

Kara Bowman

Assistant Coach

Kara Bowman has been involved with swimming, dancing and summer synchro from a very young age. She has worked as a swim coach and synchro coach for the City of Mesa Parks and Recreation program. She has also taught private swim lessons for 18 years. In addition to coaching swimming, she has taught dance and gymnastics for several years.

Kara has four children, three boys and one girl, a synchronized swimmer. She has enjoyed getting involved with US Synchro and the Desert Dolphins. Kara is currently a USA Synchronized Swimming Level One Judge.

Kara loves working with the girls and watching them learn and grow. When they "get it" they just light up! It is great to see all the girls set goals and accomplish them, and through that, they learn about themselves.

 

katelyn

Katelyn Meyer

Assistant Coach

Katelyn Meyer began coaching the Arizona Desert Dolphins in the Spring of 2007, and coached for the City of Mesa during the summer of 2007.

Katelyn began the sport of synchronized swimming at the age of seven, in the City of Mesa Parks and Recreation Program. She then went on to swim for the Arizona Aqua Stars, Chandler Synchrocats, Scottsdale Synchro, and most recently the Arizona Desert Dolphins.

Placing in the top ten at National Age Groups in 2006, is Katelyn’s accomplishment she is most proud of. Katelyn also takes pride in receiving the “Athlete of the Year” award in 2007 for the Arizona Desert Dolphins.

kendra

 

Kendra Sollars

Assistant Coach

Fresh out of college as a graduate of The Ohio State University, Kendra Sollars returned to her home state with a bachelors degree in Art, an Overall Collegiate National Championship, and the Overall United States National Champion Title in 2009. As a senior in 2009, she served as a captain of her team. She also holds the 2006 United States Figure Champion Title, earning this as a freshman. Kendra has qualified for and competed in the Junior National Team Trials in the past as well as National Team 1 trials this past year.  She has been a competitive synchronized swimmer since the age of 8 swimming for Scottsdale Synchro and the Arizona Aqua Stars.

In the past she has been coached by three of the Arizona Desert Dolphins coaches. Sarah Williams was one of her first coaches at age 10, and Becky Thompson and Lorette Haynes coached her for a number of years in her 12-13 and 14-15 age group years. She is really excited to work alongside her former coaches and hopes that she has made them all proud.

Kendra's artistic background brings creative and innovative ideas to her choreography. Synchronized swimming inspires her art and art inspires her synchronized swimming. As a collegiate athlete, the entire team must succeed in order for any one individual to succeed, thus her mindset is extremely team oriented. Kendra has learned so much from her OSU teammates and coach, Holly Vargo Brown, and is thrilled to bring everything she knows to the Desert Dolphins.

 

Kimberly Yanez

Assistant Coach


Kimberly began synchronized swimming with the City of Mesa summer synchro program at the age of 11. After two summers of the program she began swimming year round for the Arizona Aqua Stars and later, the Chandler Synchrocats.
Not too long after "retiring" from the sport, she decided to return to coach for Scottsdale Synchro. During that time she also worked for the City of Mesa as a lifeguard/swim instructor and head synchro coach.
Since then Kimberly has lived in Los Angeles pursuing a career in make-up for film and television with a focus on special effects make-up. Working with the YMCA as an aquatics supervisor was another focus during her time in LA.  Six years later she returns to Mesa to get an education in nursing.
This is the first year that Kimberly will be coaching with the Arizona Desert Dolpins and is very excited for the upcoming season.


sarah

Sarah Williams

Strength, Flexibility and Crossfit Coach

Sarah started Synchro at the age of 10 and swam competetively for 8 years in Tucson and Mesa. She competed and placed at many National competitions. She was Head Coach for Scottsdale Synchro for 3 years before taking a break to go to college and start a family.

Over the last 7 years she has become a registered Yoga instructor, Pilates instructor and fitness trainer, teaching at various resorts and health clubs across the valley. She has recently gone through intensive training to be a Crossfit and Crossfit Kids Trainer.

Sarah is also the coach of our Masters Synchro Program and  Synchro Ladies bootcamps. She also teaches over 50 children a week swimming lessons through her home based business each summer.