2007 Ohio State Synchronized Swimming Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
Jan. 19, 2007
It is nearly an entire new look for the 2007 Ohio State synchronized swimming team from one season ago. The roster is comprised of mostly young swimmers, which includes just four members from a Scarlet team that finished second at the 2006 U.S. Collegiate National Championships. Although there is a new appearance to the team, the expectations remain the same. Despite the youth that encompasses the Buckeyes, the host of freshmen will step into their roles immediately and will join forces with the veterans, vying for the program’s 25th collegiate national championship.
“The kids who have come into our program for this season really have a life of their own,” Linda Lichter-Witter, OSU head coach, said. “I’m very pleased because they have jumped in and are doing everything that needs to be done. They have surprised me and are quite a dynamic group.”
In addition to its four members from the Scarlet squad (formerly known as the `A’ squad), OSU also returns four swimmers to the Gray squad (formerly known as the `B’ squad), which finished third at the collegiate national championships behind the Scarlet team last season. In all, the 2007 roster is comprised of 11 freshmen, three sophomores, five juniors and one senior.
“When all is said and done, we could be the dark horse this season,” Witter, who earned her 400th-career victory last season, said. “Coming from a team that had to regroup, I think we could surprise a lot of people. Of all the national championships we have won, we can’t wait to get the 25th. It is a big one.”
SCARLET SQUAD
In 2006, the Scarlet team finished second, with 96.333 points, in the collegiate national championship and the trio of Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim and Carmen Moraes put up a first-place effort in the trio competition. This season, team Scarlet will seek its first win in the collegiate nationals since 2004 and its sixth title in eight seasons. “Ellen Hacker has been doing an outstanding job running the Scarlet squad,” Witter said. “She has been nurtured by all this tremendous Buckeye tradition and now she is our last senior left for 2007. She is doing a great job getting everything done and setting wonderful examples.”
Overall, Hacker, Kim and Moraes combined for eight wins last season, including winning the U.S. Collegiate National trio championship. This season, Hacker and Moraes, along with Caitlin Stewart will form the newest triple threat in collegiate synchronized swimming. In addition, with the departure of the dominant duo of Carly Grimshaw and Chelsea Luker, Hacker and Moraes will shape the latest OSU contingent in the duet competition.
“Although we have been in transition, everyone has been showing they are true Buckeyes by doing what is best for the team,” Witter said. “We were uncertain of who would step up and fill positions in the beginning, but everyone has been doing a great job.”
Kim will redshirt what would be her senior season while training for a spot on the U.S. roster for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Incoming freshman Barbara Nesbitt will fill the coveted soloist role. Nesbitt, from Riverside, Calif., is a member of a U.S. National Team I squad that recently performed a fourth-place effort at the 2006 FINA World Cup Championships in Yokohama, Japan, in September. As a member of the U.S. Team II roster, Nesbitt was the solo routine champion at the U.S. Open championships in 2005.
“Barb Nesbitt is going to be a real player,” Witter said. “She made the Olympic Team this year, but because of injuries, she decided school would be her first priority. She may be interested in another chance for the Olympics in 2012, but it is a wonderful thing to have her on the team.”
With Barb Nesbitt being here, Caitlin Stewart heading up the freshman class, Michelle Benzie and Julia Broadfoot stepping up to the post and giving a lot of help and Ellen Hacker our representing captain, our Scarlet team is very strong.”
GRAY SQUAD
A total of four members return to the Gray Squad lineup from last year, including juniors Erin DeMarco and Brooke Paul. This squad finished third at the 2006 U.S. Collegiate National Championships and then-freshman newcomer Kendra Sollars took home first-place honors in the `B’ figures competition. Sollars is expected to be a key-player on the Gray squad this year.
Also added to the Gray squad mix are Kaitlin Bolt, Diana Care, Liz Derr, Rita Gillan, Asia Luke, Jackie Mundy, Emilie Siemer and Marianna Suleymanova.
CLASS OF 2010
The freshman class makes up more than half the roster this season, but there is little doubt the 11 freshmen will have an immediate impact on a squad ready to return to the top of the synchronized swimming ranks.
“Our freshmen can truly be labeled as self-starters,” Witter said. “They are getting in there and making sure everything gets done. Our new athletes have embraced the program and we are expecting a lot from them.”
In all, the rookie class combined for nine junior and senior national finalist appearances, six individual and team junior national titles, four national age group championships and three zone championships. The group also put together an impressive resume of two individual state titles, Most Valuable Swimmer accolades and one team conference championship.
2007 SCHEDULE
Ohio State plays host to three meets during the 2007 season, including back-to-back meets Jan. 20 and Feb. 3 with the OSU Tri-Meet and the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet, respectively, at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Four consecutive meets on the road highlight the month of February, beginning with Richmond Feb. 10 in Richmond, Va., and concluding with the Walsh Invitational in Canton, Ohio, Feb. 24. In between those two meets, the Scarlet and Gray will travel to Williamsburg, Va., to face William & Mary Feb. 11 and Keuka Park, N.Y., to meet Keuka College Feb. 17.
The postseason follows with the Buckeyes hosting the North Regional championships March 3. The Top 12 routines and figures from the North Regional event will join the Top 12 finishers from the other three regional competitions at the 2007 U.S. Collegiate National Championships, hosted by Wheaton College, March 21-24. The U.S. Senior National championships April 26-28 in Indianapolis will conclude the season.
“More and more schools are getting club teams going and we are traveling to a lot of different places this year,” Witter said. “Our focus is really on getting to the national championships this year and taking care of business.”
