Two New Directors Bring Fresh Perspectives to the USAAS Board of Directors

Two new members of the community were voted onto the USA Artistic Swimming Board of Directors at convention this month. Rebecca Phillips replaces Chris Leahy as the VP of Competitive Programs and Anna Montgomery replaces Jenny Jarboe as Treasurer. Phillips and Montgomery both begin terms that run through 2025 when they will be eligible to run for their positions for second consecutive terms if they wish. Both Leahy and Jarboe completed two terms on the Board and USAAS is appreciative for their contributions and time spent volunteering to move the organization forward.  
 
Anna Montgomery started her involvement in artistic swimming as an athlete on the Heronettes in her hometown of Hamden, Conn. After nine years as a competitive athlete, she went on to college to obtain her bachelor’s degree in biology from Franklin & Marshall College. Returning to her home state, Anna began her career in water quality monitoring and analysis, joining her laboratory skills with her passion for environmental causes. Within a few years she had also found herself back in the world of the sport she had loved as a youth, but this time as an assistant coach on the Heronettes and as a judge. As the head coach of the Heronettes transitioned into her retirement, Anna stepped up her responsibilities on the club, eventually taking on the head coach role. She currently also holds the Vice Chair position on the East Zone executive board, is the 2019 recipient of the East Zone Coach of the Year award. Additionally, Anna has volunteered on the USAAS Competition & Innovation Committee. She looks forward to bringing her passion for grassroots artistic swimming to her new position. 
 
Rebecca Phillips was first introduced to the sport of artistic swimming when her two young daughters decided to join the Orlando Loreleis artistic swimming club. The rest is history, and she has now been involved with the sport for over ten years. Rebecca has served many roles during her time including judging at local meets, coaching all levels of the sport and serving as the scoring chair for the south zone. Outside of artistic swimming, Rebecca owns a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a masters degree in Biology from the University of Central Florida.  When Rebecca is not poolside, she leads a team of professionals caring for large African mammals. Rebecca currently resides in central Florida and continues to coach for the Orlando Loreleis.  She hopes to bring her passion for leadership development into her new role on the USA Artistic Swimming Board of Directors.