Six OSU Synchronized Swimmers Earn All-America Honors – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
March 23, 2003
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six Buckeyes earned All-America honors this past weekend as the Ohio State synchronized swimming team upset Stanford to win its fourth consecutive and 23rd overall national title. The event was held Saturday at the University of Arizona Recreational Pool in Tucson, Ariz.
Seniors Victoria Bowen (Plano, Texas) and Suzanna Hyatt (Indianapolis, Ind.), and sophomores Lindsay Newbill (Laguana, Calif.), Lauren Marsh (Spring Valley, Calif.), Emiko Takyu (San Jose, Calif.) and Heather Burdick (Walnut Creek, Calif.) were named 2003 All-Americans. The honor is awarded to the Top 14 individual finishers, including ties, who are United States citizens. Bowen and Hyatt earned their third such honor. It was the first for the four sophomores.
Bowen and freshman Chelsea Luker (Montreal, Quebec) were two of three athletes to earn All-Collegiate honors in Division I. Stanford’s Ashley McHugh joined the Buckeye duo in sharing the award. All-Collegiate status is awarded to the Top 3 individuals in each division (Division I, II and NAIA, III and club).
Hyatt was named the 2003 Collegiate Athlete of the Year and Bowen earned the U.S. Collegiate Championships High Point Scorer title at the event.
Ohio State head coach Linda Witter also earned Collegiate Coach of the Year accolades.
In addition to success in the pool, nine Buckeyes were honored as 2003 Academic All-Americans. Bowen, Hyatt, Newbill, Carly Grimshaw (Fr./Markham, Ontario), Jessica Beck (Fr./Richmond, Va.), Katie Meyer (Jr./Cincinnati, Ohio), Sharon Mejia (Sr./Vallejo, Calif.), Stephanie Raftery (Fr./Cincinnati, Ohio) and Valerie Jolibois (So./Fircrest, Va.) earned the honor for Ohio State. A record 126 student-athletes earned Academic All-America status. The honorees, from 23 universities, must earn at least a 3.25 grade point average. The Buckeyes will close out their season at the 2003 U.S. National Championships April 24-27 in Long Island, N.Y. The U.S. Nationals include the top synchronized swimming programs from all levels of competition.
OHIO STATE AWARDS 2003 COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ALL-AMERICANS Victoria Bowen, Suzanna Hyatt, Lindsay Newbill, Lauren Marsh, Emiko Takyu, Heather Burdick
ALL-COLLEGIATE Victoria Bowen, Chelsea Luker
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS Carly grimshaw, Jessica Beck, Katie Meyer, Lindsay Newbill, Sharon Mejia, Stephanie Raftery,Suzanna Hyatt, Valerie Jolibois, Victoria Bowen
COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HIGH-POINT SCORER Victoria Bowen
COLLEGIATE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Suzanna Hyatt
COLLEGIATE COACH OF THE YEAR Linda Witter
