Synchronized Swimming Hosts North Regional Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
March 1, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State synchronized swimming team returns to action at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio, when it hosts the North Regional championship at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The Buckeyes, who are returning from a bye week, finished first at the Walsh Invitational out of four teams Feb. 18 to remain undefeated (14-0) on the season.
SCARLET AND GRAY “GAME”
The North Regional championship is the Buckeyes’ Scarlet and Gray “game.” Student-athletes from all 36 varsity sports, along with faculty and staff of the Department of Athletics can come out to support the OSU synchronized swimming team in its quest for its 25th national championship.
NORTH REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Several club and varsity synchronized swimming squads from around the country will compete in the North Regional championship for a chance to qualify for the 2006 U.S. Collegiate National Championship March 23-25 at the Avery Aquatic Center on the campus of Stanford University.
SENIOR SALUTE
Prior to the North Regional championship, seven Buckeye seniors will be honored, as they soon will conclude their OSU synchronized swimming careers.
The 2006 senior class includes Lauren Byrom, Leslie Edgerton, Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker, Megan Mikulecky, Stephanie Raftery and Erin Schmidt. In memoriam, Jessica Beck, who would have been a senior in 2006, also will be honored.
LICHTER-WITTER RECOGNITION
Head coach Linda Lichter-Witter will be recognized during the first half of the Ohio State men’s basketball game vs. Purdue Sunday. Lichter-Witter recently recorded her 400th victory when the Buckeyes finished first at the OSU College Association Meet Feb. 4.
400-CLUB
Buckeye head coach Linda Lichter-Witter collected her 400th win at the OSU College Association Meet Feb. 4.
After guiding OSU to a first-place finish out of five teams, Witter improved her Ohio State and career record to 402-7.
Witter now owns a 407-7 ledger after entering her 11th season as the OSU coach with a 393-7 record.
GEARING UP FOR THE FUTURE
At the Walsh Invitational, Ohio State featured an Ohio State `B’ team that outpaced four other squads in the team competition to finish first with a mark of 93.334. It was the team’s second highest mark of the year. The Buckeye `B’ team’s season best is 94.333, scored against Richmond Feb. 11.
SEASON FIRSTS
The trio of Leah and Leayn Pinette and Erin Schmidt teamed up for the first time this season at the Walsh Invitational and posted a second-place 90.167.
Freshman Jayme DeLancy also saw her first action in the solo routine and finished second with a score of 87.166.
THE CENTURY MARK
The Buckeyes cracked the century mark for the first time this season vs. William & Mary, scoring 105 points. The last time Ohio State surpassed 100 points was last season at the North Regional championship at the Varsity Pool in Larkins Hall. The Buckeyes won the event with 104 points.
DYNAMIC DUOS
The duo of Carly Grimshaw and Chelsea Luker won their fifth-consecutive duet routine vs. William & Mary Feb. 12 with a team high 95.833. Their previous best was a 94.500, scored twice this season at the OSU College Association Meet and vs. Richmond.
THREE’S COMPANY Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim and Carmen Moraes won their fourth trio event of the season against William & Mary Feb. 12 and recorded a team-best 94.833.
UP AND UP
Freshman Carmen Moraes recorded a personal-best 91.500 in the solo routine at the OSU College Association Meet Feb. 4. Moraes bettered her mark of 86.667 compiled at the OSU Tri-Meet Jan. 21.
PLAN A AND PLAN B
The Ohio State `A’ and `B’ teams scored season bests vs. Richmond Feb. 11. The `A’ squad recorded a 95.833 to better its previous high of 95.167 scored at the OSU College Association Meet Feb. 4. The `B’ team notched a 94.333 to top its 92.167, also scored at the OSU College Association Meet.
NORTH REGIONAL CHAMPS. – 2005
Ohio State finished first at the North Regional championship March 8 in the Varsity Pool at Larkins Hall.
The Buckeyes scored 104 points, while Minnesota took second (74) and Carleton College finished third (70.5). Numerous Ohio State performances in four routine events qualified for the 2005 Collegiate National Championship.
Juniors Chelsea Luker and Carly Grimshaw teamed up to win the duet event with a score of 93.800. The freshman pair of Michelle Benzie and Julia Broadfoot finished second in duet with a mark of 81.500.
Luker, Grimshaw and senior Lauren Marsh earned first-place honors in the trio event, recording a score of 93.100. Teammates Becky Kim, Ellen Hacker and Lindsay Newbill finished second with a mark of 93.100.
Swimming for the first-place Ohio State `A’ team was Heather Burdick, Lauren Byrom, Grimshaw, Hacker, Luker, Marsh, Newbill and Ashley Rule. The Buckeyes earned a season-high score of 97.800.
The Ohio State `B’ team also qualified for collegiate nationals with a second-place finish (95.100). Swimming for the Buckeyes was Jessica Beck, Stacey Coffman, Leslie Edgerton, Megan Mikulecky, Leayn Pinette, Leah Pinette, Stephanie Raftery and Erin Schmidt.
In addition, Kim qualified for collegiate nationals after recording a mark of 94.700 while competing as an honor swimmer. Kim and Newbill also qualified for nationals in the duet event with a 95.100 while swimming as honors. Freshman sisters Leayn and Leah also earned a bid to nationals in the duet, posting a score of 89.100 as honors competitors.
LAST TIME OUT – WALSH INVITE
Ohio State finished first at the Walsh Invitational Feb. 18 at the Northwest Community Center in Canton, Ohio. The Buckeyes recorded 86 points to outdistance second-place finisher Canisius, which posted 72 points. Keuka and Walsh were third and fourth with 67 and 54 points, respectively.
In the trio event, the group of Michelle Benzie, Julia Broadfoot and Jayme DeLancy executed a first-place performance with a score of 90.333. Teammates Leayn Pinette, Leah Pinette and Erin Schmidt were second with a mark of 90.167.
Leayn and Leah also won the duet competition, scoring an 89.666. The duo of Megan Mikulecky and Brooke Paul were third, notching an 87.000.
DeLancy was the Buckeyes’ lone soloist and she finished second with a mark of 87.166.
In the team event, the OSU `B’ team recorded a 93.334 to finish first.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Ohio State synchronized swimming team began as the Ohio State Swan Club in 1928. The program was established by a group of university students interested in form swimming and diving.
The team started with open swimming, but by the 1930s, it developed into a production team that put on water shows. The 1940s brought about the first judged competitions between schools.
In the early 1950s, the squad gained support through coverage in Ohio State’s Makio Yearbook. As the program expanded, the schedule grew to about five or six competitions a year in the 1960s.
The late 1960s saw the introduction of the Midwest championship, as well as many more shows and demonstrations. In 1969, the Ohio State synchronized swimming team captured its first Midwest championship title under the leadership of head coach Hollis Matson.
Since the Collegiate National championship began in 1977, the Buckeye program has been supreme in its success.
UP NEXT
The 2006 Collegiate National Championship is slated for March 23-25 in Stanford, Calif. The event will be held at the Avery Aquatic Center on the campus of Stanford University.
Tickets are $6 at the door on March 23 and March 24 ($4 for students) and $10 March 25 ($5 for students). All-event passes will be $20 ($12 for students).
For more information log on to usasynchro.org.
