Perrin-Stsepaniuk & Abarca Named Head Coaches for 2023

Ludi most recently coached the 2022 USA Artistic Swimming Youth National Team to the Overall High Point award at the FINA Youth World Championships hosted in Charlotte. Team USA collected four medals across seven categories, including the gold in mixed duet. Uniquely, the USA assembles the best youth athletes for an eight-week training camp before competing at the championship where many other countries have athletes together full time or send their best club representatives. Ludi has proven her ability to prepare her athletes for success even in a brief time period. Prior to the 2022 Championship, Ludi stepped up to the plate to take the junior team to Colombia for the first-ever Junior Pan American Games where the athletes secured one gold and three silver medals. Also in 2022, she prepared the 13-15 team for the Pan Am Aquatics International Open. She has also served as 12&U assistant coach (2016), 12&U head coach (2018) and Olympic development head coach (2020). Her swimmers thrive under her warm and passionate coaching style.  

Ludi hails from France where she was a part of the national team program herself. After moving to the United States, she began performing in the Las Vegas hit production Le Reve – the Dream as a performer and captain from 2004-2016. She owns her own production company, Ovia Entertainment, and is the head coach of the Nevada Desert Mermaids. As a result of her hard work, Ludi has received numerous awards related to artistic swimming coaching including 2018 West Zone Coach of the Year, 2018 UANA High Score and 2020 Developmental Coach of the Year. Ludi has also been praised for her business ventures, having been named to the 40 Under 40 Business list from Vegas, Inc. (2018) and Top 100 Women of Influence by MyVegas (2019). 

Ludi resides in Nevada with her husband, Roman, and their twin daughters.  

Abarca has been the head coach of the Stanford artistic swimming team since 2018. Prior to her head coaching role, she was the assistant coach from 2012-2018. While with the Cardinal program, Abarca helped the team claim Collegiate National Championships in 2013, 2016 and 2021, runner-up finishes in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 and third place finishes in 2014 and 2015. In 2021, her team achieved a total collegiate sweep winning the solo, duet, trio and team categories and capturing the Overall Institution Award. Abarca was awarded Collegiate Coach of the Year honors for her efforts. With the holistic care of her student-athletes in mind, Megan’s collegiate student-athletes also thrive in the classroom.  

Abarca began her own artistic swimming career with the Santa Clara Aquamaids at eleven years old. She transitioned to overseeing summer camps and working with novice, intermediate, recreational and age group programs. Her youth teams saw success under her guidance, and it was clear she was destined for an impactful career in coaching. As no stranger to the national team programs, Abarca brings a wealth of knowledge to her new position having served as head coach of the 13-15 national team in 2018 and 2019. Prior to that experience, she served as assistant coach for the 13-15 national team for two years and assistant coach for the 12 & under national team in 2014 and 2015. She also served as the 2013 World University Games assistant coach.  

A graduate of Santa Clara University, Abarca holds a degree in psychology with a minor in economics. Born and raised in California, she currently resides in San Jose with her husband, dog and son.