Buckeyes Prepare To Host U.S. Collegiate National Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
March 9, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five senior members of the Ohio State Synchronized Swimming Team will be competing in the North Zone Meet Saturday in St. Louis, Mo. The meet will be fierce with competitors vying for one of three finishes and an invite to the U.S. Nationals in Washington, D.C.
Preparing For Collegiate Nationals
It’s getting down to crunch time with the Collegiate National Championship just a week away (March 16-18), this year however, the competition unfolds in the Buckeyes’ home pool at the Mike Peppe Aquatic Center in Larkins Hall. For the last two years, the Buckeyes have been the National Runners-up to Stanford but over the last 23 years have claimed 19 titles, including 13 consecutive from 1985-1997. Admission to the championship will be free Thursday and Friday. An admission fee of $5 will be charged for the final round Saturday.
Alumni To Attend Collegiate Nationals
Nearly 100 OSU synchronized swimming team alumna will be attending the Collegiate National Championship next weekend. Alumna who competed in the ’30s as the OSU Swan Club are also expected to attend.
Practice Schedule
The Buckeyes practice on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3-6 p.m., and Tuesday from 6-9 a.m. Practices are held in the varsity pool of the Mike Peppe Aquatic Center in Larkins Hall.
Last Year At Collegiate Nationals
This year head coach Linda Lichter-Witter is optimistic about her squad’s success in the national championship. The Buckeyes have mounted a 21-0 season so far and are focused on regaining the national title which has eluded them for the past two years. Last year, Ohio State was edged by Stanford 92.2 to 91.3 but its young talent and veteran leadership could just be the combination its takes to come out victorious. Brazil Olympians Carolina and Isabela Moraes (So., Sao Paulo, Brazil) are the defending champions in the duet, and along with Mary Hofer (So., Spring Valley, Calif.), teamed up to capture the trio competition. Seniors Heather Moore (Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Tarin Forbes (Los Gatos, Calif.) will anchor this year’s “A” team.
Success In The North Regional Championship
The Buckeyes came out on top in The North Regional Championships last weekend, posting a score of 93 to defeat Minnesota (72), Carleton College (68.5), Iowa (59), Miami (O.) (55.5), Michigan (34), Illinois (33.5), and Penn State (4). Tarin Forbes (Sr., Los Gatos, Calif.) took first place in the solo event usually dominated by her teammate Victoria Bowen (Fr., Plano, Texas) with the score of 91.933. Mary Hofer (So., Spring Valley, Calif.) along with twins Carolina and Isabela Moraes (So., Sao, Paulo, Brazil) broke this season’s record in the trio with a score of 96.133.
Head Coach Linda Lichter-Witter
Head Coach Lichter-Witter has nearly three decades of coaching experience. She is in her fifth year of coaching the OSU synchronized swimming team and maintains an outstanding record of 168-3 overall and 66-3 as a Buckeye. She is 21-0 this season so far. Under Lichter-Witter, the Buckeyes have won two national championships (1996-97) and finished as national runners-up for the last two years (1998-99). She has also earned four regional titles for the Scarlet &Gray. Lichter-Witter has coached 26 All-Americans, one USSSI Collegiate Swimmer of the Year, Ana Cukic, and three Olympians.
Moraes Twins Prepare For Summer Games
All-America twins Carolina and Isabela Moraes (So., Sao, Paulo, Brazil) will be competing in the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. The twins will represent their native country of Brazil in the duet competition. Following Collegiate Nationals they will take Spring Quarter off in order to prepare for and compete in pre-Olympic competition in Australia in April.
The `A’ Team
Head Coach Lichter-Witter has a prospective `A’ team in mind for competition at Collegiate Nationals. The talented eight will include Mary Hofer, Kristin Price, Isabela and Carolina Moraes, Tarin Forbes, Alia Arbas, Beth Kreimer, and Heather Moore. Lichter-Witter has high hopes that this team will deliver a first-place finish at the Collegiate Nationals. The routine is to Egyptian music. “I think we can score a 10 with this one,” Lichter-Witter said. The choreography for this routine is different than the typical choreography for OSU. “It’s the new look for the new millenium,” assistant coach, Holly Vargo-Brown said.
2000 Season’s Bests
| Event | Score | Athlete(s) | Date |
| Solo | 92.667 | Victoria Bowen | Feb. 12 |
Duet 96.200Carolina Moraes/Isabela Moraes Feb. 19 Trio96.133Carolina Moraes/Isabela Moraes/ Mary HoferMarch 5 SeniorFigures 84.703Carolina Moraes Feb. 19 Junior Figures 79.241AlishaHendren Feb. 26
