Ohio State Synchronized Swimming Travels to U.S. Collegiate National Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
March 20, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State synchronized swimming team (21-0) will try to win its sixth national championship title in seven years when it travels to Stanford, Calif., for the U.S. Collegiate National Championships at the Avery Aquatic Center. Overall, OSU has captured 24 national titles since the championships’ inception in 1977.
Prior to the Buckeyes’ recent titles run, Ohio State held a streak of 13 consecutive national championship crowns won between 1985-1997.
U.S. COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
What: 2006 U.S. Collegiate National Championships
When: March 23-25
Where: Avery Aquatic Center; Stanford, Calif.
The 2006 U.S. Collegiate National Championships is an open-class meet, featuring programs from NCAA Divisions I, II and III and NAIA colleges and universities.
March 23: solo, duet and trio semifinals
March 24: technical competition (D, C, B and A) and team semifinal
March 25: trio, duet, solo and team finals
For more information log on to usasynchro.org.
HOW TO GET THERE
All-session passes are available for $20 for adults. Students, children between two and 17 years of age and adults over 62 can purchase discounted all-session tickets for $12. Single tickets also can be purchased with prices ranging from $4-$10. Children under two do not require a ticket.
HISTORY LESSON
Ohio State has won 24 titles in 29 years of the collegiate national championships. The Buckeyes claimed the first four titles from 1977-1980 before Arizona captured its first of two titles in 1981. Ohio State won the competition in 1982 and 1983. Arizona the earned its second first-place finish in 1984.
The Buckeyes won 13 consecutive titles between 1985-1997 before rival Stanford claimed back-to-back wins in 1998 and 1999. Ohio State reclaimed the title in 2000 in the Scarlet and Gray’s home pool for its first of five consecutive national title crowns. Stanford ended the Buckeye streak last season.
LAST TIME OUT – NORTH REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Buckeyes qualified all their routines to the 2006 U.S. Collegiate National Championships after recording 100 points to finish first at the North Regional championships in Columbus, Ohio, March 4. Most notably, the Ohio State `A’ team performed a first-place and season-best 96.500 to gear up for the national meet. For the fifth time this season, OSU swept the solo, duet, trio and team routines. Becky Kim scored a 94.333 for first place in solo and the duo of Carly Grimshaw and Chelsea Luker notched a first-place 94.167. In the trio competition, Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim and Carmen Moraes earned a 92.833 for the top spot.
SENIOR SALUTE
Prior to the North Regional championships, seven Buckeye seniors were 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 was honored.
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 414-7 ledger after entering her 11th season as the OSU coach with a 393-7 record.
THE CENTURY MARK
For the second time this season, Ohio State cracked the century mark when it compiled 100 points at the North Regional championships March 4. The Buckeyes previously scored at least 100 points (105) vs. William & Mary Feb. 12.
DYNAMIC DUOS
The duo of Carly Grimshaw and Chelsea Luker won six duet routines out of seven meets in 2006. The two did not compete at the Walsh Invitational Feb. 18. Grimshaw and Luker own a team-best 95.833, recorded vs. William & Mary Feb. 12.
THREE’S COMPANY
Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim and Carmen Moraes won their fifth trio event of the season at the North Regional championships March 4. Previously, the group recorded a team-high 94.833 vs. William & Mary Feb. 12.
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
The Ohio State `A’ team scored a team-best 96.500 at the North Regional championships March 4. The Buckeyes topped their previous high of 95.833 scored against Richmond Feb. 11.
U.S. COLLEGIATE CHAMPS. – 2005
Ohio State finished second at the 2005 Collegiate National Championships at the O’Connell Aquatic Center in Gainesville, Fla., March 26. Stanford, who edged the Buckeyes by eight points to win its first national title since 1999, finished with 98 points, while the Buckeyes tallied 90.
Ohio State sophomore Becky Kim finished second behind Stanford’s Katie Norris in the solo event. Kim, Ohio State’s only representative in the event, recorded a score of 96.100. The duet of Kim and Lindsay Newbill also earned second with a score of 97.200, behind first-place Stanford’s routine that earned a 97.300 mark.
Kim and Newbill joined forces with Ellen Hacker to take second in the trio event, recording a score of 96.200. Teammates Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker and Lauren Marsh placed fourth with a score of 94.900.
The two Buckeye groups that participated in the team event finished second and third, respectively, again behind the Cardinal. The `A’ team recorded a score of 98.000 while the `B’ team finished with a 97.500.
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 championships, as well as many more shows and demonstrations. In 1969, the Ohio State synchronized swimming team captured its first Midwest championships title under the leadership of head coach Hollis Matson.
Since the Collegiate National championships began in 1977, the Buckeye program has been supreme in its success.
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Ohio State junior Becky Kim was named to the 2006 U.S. Senior National Team I Synchronized Swimming squad, U.S. Synchronized Swimming announced Nov. 21. Kim was named to the 12-member group after competing in the Senior National team trials Nov. 18-20 in Portland, Ore.
Serving as a member of the 2005 Team I squad, Kim is one of seven swimmers returning to the 2006 team, including former Buckeye Kate Hooven (2004). Team I will represent the United States at the FINA World Cup Sept. 14-17, 2006, in Yokohama, Japan.
Twin sisters Leah and Leayn Pinette qualified to compete for a chance to remain on the Team II squad at the competition, following a stint on the 2005 team. The Team II members will be announced at the U.S. Senior National Championships April 27-29, 2006 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and will represent the United States at the U.S. Open July 16-22 in Orlando, Fla.
FROM ALL OVER
The Buckeyes boast three swimmers who hail from Canada and Brazil. Seniors Carly Grimshaw and Chelsea Luker are natives of Markham, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec, respectively.
Buckeye newcomer Carmen Moraes is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In addition to recruiting outside the United States, OSU has student-athletes from Arizona (1), California (5), Connecticut (3), Florida (1), as well as Ohio (7).
UP NEXT
The 2006 U.S. Senior National Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., are up next for Ohio State.
