Synchronized Swimming Shoots For Another Title – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/23/2003 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
April 23, 2003
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State synchronized swimming team (33-1) will cap off an already spectacular season at the 2003 U.S. National Championships April 24-27 in Long Island, N.Y. The event will be held at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow. More than 75 athletes will vie for national titles in the solo, duet and team events in the nation’s most prestigious domestic competition. There is no trio competition slated at the U.S. Nationals. The championships are hosted by Long Island Synchro in conjunction with the Long Island Sports Commission. Competition is set to begin Thursday with technical routines in all events followed by free routine preliminaries Friday. Finals in every event will begin at 9:45 a.m. Saturday. The 2003 U.S. National Championships marks the 58th year of national competition in the duet and team events, and the 54th year of solo competition.
A LOOK AT THE COMPETITION
The competition at the U.S. Nationals will feature not only collegiate programs, but many club teams who practice 10-14 hours a day. The Santa Clara Aquamaids enter the event tied with cross-bay rival Walnut Creek Aquanuts who own 11 consecutive titles. Walnut Creek has previously claimed the title from 1980-89 but Santa Clara has been the champion since 1993.
Santa Clara is led by synchronized swimming’s lone male athlete, Bill May. May is the top contender for the solo and duet competition (Along with partner Kristina Lum). The Aquamaids, however, are without seven top athletes, who are also members of the Olympic Traning squad presently preparing for the FINA World Championships and Pan American Games. USASYNCHRO.ORG
A complete schedule of events, results, photos and additional information regarding the U.S. National Championships will be available on the official website for United State synchronized swimming at www.usasynchro.org.
COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
The Buckeyes claimed first place honors at the 2003 Collegiate National Championships March 22 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 has won.
OSU recorded 94.5 points to take home the title. 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 of 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 earned her first collegiate solo title with a mark of 95.167. Senior Suzanna Hyatt and freshman Chelsea Luker 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 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.
SENIORS TAKE HOME TOP HONORS
Senior co-captain Victoria Bowen was named the high-point champion for the 2003 Collegiate National Championships. Fellow team captain Suzanna Hyatt was voted the Collegiate Athlete of the Year by her peers. In addition, Buckeye head coach Linda Witter was named Coach of the Year for the sixth time.
MORE HARDWARE
Six Buckeyes were awarded All-America honors after the completion of the 2003 Collegiate National Championships. Seniors Victoria Bowen and Suzanna Hyatt, and sophomores Lindsay Newbill, Lauren Marsh, Emiko Takyu and Heather Burdick 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 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).
SUCCESS AWAY FROM THE POOL
In addition to success in the pool, nine Buckeyes were honored as 2003 Academic All-Americans. Bowen, Hyatt, Newbill, Carly Grimshaw, Jessica Beck, Katie Meyer, Sharon Mejia, Stephanie Raftery and Valerie Jolibois 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.
SEASON BESTS
Victoria Bowen recorded a season-high 95.167 at the Collegiate National Championships. Suzanna Hyatt and freshman Chelsea Luker joined forces to earn a mark of 94.167 at the OSU College Association Meet held Feb. 8. The high trio score was earned by Bowen, Hyatt and sophomore Lindsay Newbill at the same event, recording a score of 94.000. The trio also tied the score at the Wheaton Invitational Feb. 22. The Buckeye team of Bowen, Heather Burdick, Hyatt, Carly Grimshaw, Luker, Lauren Marsh, Newbill and Emiko Takyu tallied a score of 97.833 during the North Regional Championships at Larkins Hall.
