Ohio State Synchronized Swimming Wins 2003 Collegiate National Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
March 22, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State synchronized swimming team claimed first place honors at the 2003 Collegiate National Championships Saturday at the University of Arizona Recreational Pool in Tuscon, Ariz. It marks the fourth consecutive crown for the Buckeyes and 23rd title in the 27-year history of the event.
Ohio State recorded 94.5 points to take home the title as Stanford placed second (89.0) and Alabama-Birmingham finished third (65.5).
The Buckeyes, who came into the event as the underdog to Stanford, won three out of the four events.
“The best thing about winning a national championships is that we can enjoy it all year,” Linda Witter, OSU head coach, said. “This is the sweetest win I have had in eight years of coaching (at Ohio State). This is a new team and they are just so mentally tough. We like to call it the ‘second dual in the desert.’ First it was our football team and now synchronized swimming. Arizona has been good to the Buckeyes twice. It wasn’t supposed to happen but the whole thing is just absolutely amazing.”
Ohio State senior Victoria Bowen (Plano, Texas) earned her first collegiate solo title with a mark of 95.167. Senior Suzanna Hyatt (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Chelsea Luker (Montreal, Quebec) teamed up to win the duet event with a score of 93.834. It was the first title for both Buckeyes in the event.
The Cardinal won the trio event, but both Buckeye trios earned second and third place, respectively. Carly Grimshaw (Fr./Markham, Ontario), Luker and Lauren Marsh (So./Spring Valley, Calif.) posted a score of 93.833 for second while Bowen, Hyatt and Lindsay Newbill (So./Laguana Hills, Calif.)received a 91.833 for third.
The Buckeyes finished in the top spot of the team competition. The ‘A’ team garnered first place with a score of 97.833. The ‘B’ team also had a nice showing, earning a respectable fourth-place finish with a mark of 93.667.
Bowen was named the high-point champion for the 2003 Collegiate National Championships. Hyatt was voted the USSI Collegiate Athlete of the Year by her peers while Witter was named USSI Coach of the Year.
All of the Buckeye routines qualified for the U.S. National Championships held April 24-27 in Long Island, N.Y. The U.S. Nationals represent the top synchronized swimming programs from all levels of competition.
FINAL RESULTS (Top 3 in each event) SOLO 1. Victoria Bowen, Ohio State 95.167 2. Ashley McHugh, Stanford 92.834 3. Bogdana Zareva, UAB 90.833
DUET 1. Suzanna Hyatt and Chelsea Luker, Ohio State 93.834 2. Stephanie Joukoff and Jennifer Kibler, Stanford 91.500 2. Cassidy Ramage and Shella Sadovnik, Stanford 91.500
TRIO 1. Stephanie Joukoff, Jennifer Kibler and Ashley McHugh, Stanford 94.166 2. Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker and Lauren Marsh, Ohio State 93.833 3. Victoria Bowen, Suzanna Hyatt and Lindsay Newbill, Ohio State 91.833
TEAM 1. Ohio State ‘A’ 97.500 2. Stanford 96.500 3. UAB 94.833
