Synchronized Swimming Kicks Off 2003 Season – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
Jan. 18, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State synchronized swimming team opens the 2003 season Saturday when the Buckeyes play host to the OSU Tri-Meet against Miami (Ohio) and Walsh University. Routine competition will begin at approximately 1 p.m. at the Varisty Pool in the Mike Peppe Aquatic Center. The order of events will include solo, duet and trio.
2003 SEASON OUTLOOK
The Buckeyes kick off the 2003 season after winning three-consecutive national championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002. While a bulk of last year’s championship team has graduated, including Carolina Moraes, Isabela Moraes, Mary Hofer, Beth Kreimer and Kristin Price, the squad will focus on gaining more experience for its underclassmen.
The leadership of the 2003 Buckeye team will come from seniors Victoria Bowen, Suzanna Hyatt, Sharon Mejia, Katie Meyer and Kris Moyer. Bowen and Hyatt finished fourth in the trio event at the 2002 Collegiate National Championships with former teammate Beth Kreimer. Bowen recieved her third All-America nod while Hyatt earned her second.
Sophomores Laura Green, Valerie Jolibois, Mary Elliott and Isla Turner have quality experience in the figures event, among others. Classmates Heather Burdick, Stacey Coffman and Mejia have previous experience in the trio event, while Burdick also performed in the solo last season. Marjorie Ardito, Bethany Galla and Lauren Marsh also will look to contribute for the Buckeyes this season. The Buckeye squad also includes nine newcomers. Sophomore Brianne Pineiro, originally from Staten Island, N.Y., spent her freshman year as a member of the Miami (Fla.) swim team before transferring to Ohio State. The freshman class includes Jessica Beck, Lauren Byrom, Leslie Edgerton, Carly Grimshaw, Megan Mikulecky, Stephanie Raftery, Erin Schmidt and Chisako Ukai.
The Buckeyes begin the season by playing host to the OSU Tri-Meet with Miami (Ohio) and Walsh. The OSU Tri-Meet is one of four home events for the scarlet and gray. The home slate includes a dual meet against Michigan (Jan. 25), the OSU College Association Meet (Feb. 8) and the North Regional Championships (March 1). The 2003 Collegiate National Championships are scheduled for March 24-27 in Tuscon, Ariz.
DUO TO COMPETE IN QUALIFYING MEET FOR 2004 OLYMPICS
Ohio State senior Victoria Bowen and sophomore Lindsay Newbill will compete for a spot on the 2004 United States Olympic Team to be held in Athens, Greece. The duo will participate in the Olympic Team Trials in the synchronized swimming duet event Jan. 17 and 18 on the waters of the Weyerhaeser-King Country Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash. The winning duo will be the first two U.S. athletes selected for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The Trials are exactly 573 days before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2004 Games. The early date is necessary to prepare the team to compete in three major international events prior to the Games, including the 2003 FINA World Championships, 2003 Pan American Games and 2004 Olympic Qualifying Open.
2002 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Brazilian Olympians Carolina and Isabela Moraes ended their senior season in style by helping the Ohio State Buckeyes to the school’s 22nd overall title at the U.S. Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Championships in Norton, Mass.
The Buckeye twins utilized lengthy underwater hybrids to win duet gold with a final score of 96.333. Stanford’s Erin Dobratz and Lindsey Wigginton – both members of the U.S. National Team program – finished second at 95.000.
The Moraes sisters teamed up with Mary Hofer of Spring Valley, Calif. to win the trio’s fourth Collegiate gold with a score of 97.333. Stanford’s top trio of Dobratz, Wigginton and Norris finishd a point back at 96.333.
Carolina Moraes and Stanford’s Katie Norris created a first occurrence of their own in the sport of synchronized swimming. Moraes and Norris earned a perfect tie of 95.833 in the solo final to share the event’s gold medal.
There was no tie in the team event, however, with Ohio State capturing gold with a score of 98.167. Swimming for Ohio State were Hofer, Victoria Bowen, Suzanna Hyatt, Kim Lester, Isabela Moraes, Beth Kreimer, Lauren Marsh, and Kristin Price.
The overall title is Ohio State’s third consecutive, and 22nd overall title in the 26th year of the championships.
