Synchronized Swimming Welcomes Six Squads to Columbus for North Regional Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
March 1, 2007
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – While seeking its 16th North Regional championship title, the Ohio State synchronized swimming team will host the 2007 North Regional Championships at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
Carleton, Illinois, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio are scheduled to compete in Columbus.
The event is one of four regionals taking place to qualify teams for the U.S. Collegiate National championships. The Top 12 squads from each regional, as well as the Top 12 figures and routines, advance to collegiate nationals.
HISTORY LESSON
Ohio State synchronized swimming records became available in 1987 and since that time, the Buckeyes have finished first in the North Regional championships every year the event has been contested (15 championships).
THE BEST OF THE BEST
Six events into the 2007 season, soloist Barbara Nesbitt has posted a team-best 95.000. The team high in duet goes to the pair of Ellen Hacker and Caitlin Stewart, who has tallied a 91.833. In the trio competition, Hacker, Carmen Moraes and Stewart’s 93.500 has served as the team high thus far. All three of those 2007 bests came at the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet in the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Feb. 3. The Scarlet Team boasted a 96.000 the following weekend at William & Mary Feb. 11 to own the OSU season high in the team competition.
A NOTABLE PAIR
The duo of Jackie Mundy and Brooke Paul has participated in three meets so far in 2007, finishing second each time. In two competitions, the pair has competed as honorary contestants, which means their score does not count towards the overall team score. In each routine, including the honors competitions, the duo has outdistanced the third-place finisher by more than four points.
NORTH REGIONALS – 2006
Ohio State qualified for the 2006 U.S. Collegiate National Championships with its first-place effort at the North Regional Championships March 4 in the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes recorded 100 points to pace the eight-team field. Carleton College finished second with 79 points, while Minnesota scored 72 points to round out the Top 3.
Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim and Carmen Moraes continued their success in the trio event, winning their fourth routine of the season with a score of 92.833 as honors participants. Fellow honors entries, Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker and Ashley Rule were second with a mark of 90.667.
Grimshaw and Luker finished first in the duet routine for the sixth time this season after recording a 94.167 in honors competition. Hacker and Moraes’ 92.167 was good for a second-place finish. Leah Pinette and sister Leayn executed a third-place performance as honors participants with a score of 90.333, a personal best. Teammates Michelle Benzie and Julia Broadfoot were fourth, scoring a 90.167.
In the solo routine, Kim scored a 94.333 for first place and Moraes was second with a mark of 90.667.
Kim also finished first in technical elements (83.809) and then-freshman teammate Kendra Sollars was No. 1 in the B Figures competition (74.917).
Both the Ohio State `A’ and `B’ teams executed season bests with scores of 96.500 and 94.333, respectively.
SCARLET FEVER
Since the Scarlet Team debuted its team routines at the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet Feb. 3 in the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, they have dominated the event, winning each time they have competed by more than three points.
At the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet, team Scarlet scored a 95.000, 3.334 points more than its nearest competitor. The following weekend at Richmond (Feb. 10) and William & Mary (Feb. 11), the Buckeyes notched a 93.000 and a 96.000, respectively, to outdistance the competition by 12.75 and 11.75 points. In Keuka, N.Y., vs. Keuka and Canisius (Feb. 17), the Scarlet roster tallied a 93.167, 4.333 points better than the second-place finisher.
ECLIPSING THE CENTURY MARK
The Buckeyes scored 101 points at William & Mary Feb. 11, cracking the century mark for the first time this season.
GETTING BETTER EACH TIME
In their second meet of the season, the Buckeyes improved their scores in each of their routines by an average of 1.627 points. Soloist Barbara Nesbitt made the biggest jump, recording a 91.833 at the OSU Tri-Meet before notching a team-best 95.000 at the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet.
AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
The Ohio State Scarlet and Gray teams debuted their team routines at the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet Feb. 3 and finished first and second, respectively. The Scarlet squad finished first with a 95.500 and the Gray team was second, recording a 91.167.
UP NEXT
The Buckeyes will travel to Norton, Mass., for the 2007 U.S. Collegiate National Championships March 21-24. The event will be held at Balfour Natatorium in the Haas Athletic Center.
