Synchronized Swimming: Ohio State Travels to Face Richmond, William & Mary on the Road – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
COLUMBUS, Ohio After beginning the 2008 season with two victories at home in the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, the Ohio State synchronized swimming team takes its routines on the road against Richmond and William & Mary in back-to-back dual meets. The Buckeyes travel to Richmond, Va., Saturday to take on the Richmond Spiders and Williamsburg, Va., Sunday to matchup against the William & Mary Tribe.
A WIN IN HONOR OF JESSICA
Ohio State continued its domination in the pool last Saturday, in honor of former teammate Jessica Beck. The Buckeyes swept the solo, duet, trio and team competition at the memorial meet to record a team total of 93 points to top Ball State, Miami, Ohio and William & Mary. The Jessica Beck Memorial meet marks the second time this season the Scarlet and Gray has swept all categories of competition.
The second home meet of the season also gave the Buckeyes their first opportunity to show their team routines. Both the Scarlet squad score and the Gray squad score excelled in their performances, claiming first and second place, respectively.
ON A ROLL
In their first meet of the 2008 season, the Buckeyes outperformed their nearest opponent by 26 points to win the OSU Tri-Meet Jan. 20. Ohio State swept the solo, duet and trio competitions to score a team total of 96 points, putting them atop Keuka and Michigan.
GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME
With just two meets under their belt, the Buckeyes are already showing improvement in many categories. Sophomore Barbara Nesbitt recorded her season-high solo score last Saturday at the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet, earning a 93.167. Nesbitt’s performance was good enough to garner more than four points more than it did in the season opener.
Finding further synchronization in the duet competition were Caitlin Stewart and Michelle Theriault. The pair, who opened the season with a duet score of 92.000, earned marks of 92.833 last Saturday.
Finally, Nesbitt, Stewart and Theriault came together to also garner season-high marks in the trio competition. The three improved their routine by .200 points, moving up from a 91.667 to a 93.667 at the Jessica Beck Memorial Meet.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
The Ohio State University will have the privilege of welcoming the best synchronized swimmers in the nation in March when it hosts the 2008 U.S. Collegiate Nationals. 2008 will mark the first year Ohio State has hosted the event since 2000 and the team’s first chance to show off the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
The Buckeyes may be preparing to host talent from around the nation, but they too are some of the best. In the 31-year history of collegiate nationals, Ohio State has taken the crown 24 times, including five-consecutive years from 2000-2004. Falling short to Stanford for three-consecutive years beginning in 2004, the squad is eager to take back the title this season and record its 25th Collegiate National title at home.
BEIJING BOUND
The Buckeyes will be missing a key contributor, not only this weekend, but for the remainder of the 2008 season. Soon-to-be senior Becky Kim, who competed for Ohio State in 2005 and 2006, has traded in her Scarlet and Gray for the Red, White and Blue. Kim is currently training with the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Team in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Kim will once again compete for Ohio State when she returns for her senior season in 2008-09.
UP NEXT
Upon their return from Virginia, the Buckeyes will head to New York for another weekend of back-to-back dual meets. Ohio State will take on Keuka Feb. 16 and Canisius Feb. 17. Both events will take place in Keuka Park, N.Y.
