March 26, 2006
Palo Alto, Calif. - The 30th annual U.S. Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Championships concluded this weekend at Stanford University, where the Cardinal (96 points) claimed the 2006 Collegiate title in front of an energetic crowd at Avery Aquatic Center. Ohio State University scored 92 points en route to a second place finish. Third place went to the University of the Incarnate Word (69 points).
More than 200 of the top athletes from the collegiate scene made their way to Avery to vie for titles in the solo, duet, trio, and team events. The championships are an open-class meet, combining competition from NCAA Divisions I, II and III and NAIA colleges and universities.
The Cardinal squad dominated the individual technical element event on Friday morning, claiming 8 of the top 10 spots. Sunday featured the finals of the trio and duet in the morning and solo and team competition in the afternoon. Stanford's Elizabeth-Anne Markman, Courtenay Stewart, and Samantha Bongiovanni-Duclos claimed second in a tight trio competition with a score of 93.5, missing the gold by less than two tenths of a point. National Team members Poppy Carlig, Melissa Knight, and Erin Bell moved up from fourth place in the semi-finals to capture the bronze medal.
Stanford sophomore and 2004 Olympian Sara Lowe teamed up with 2004 Canadian Olympian Stewart to grab the duet title (95.833) with a powerful and technically superior performance. Stanford's Bongiovanni-Duclos and Carlig wowed the crowd with their energy and claimed the bronze with a score of 93.5.
In the solo event, Lowe captured her second gold medal of the competition with her highest marks of the season (95.333). Lowe's "Phantom of the Opera" routine inspired the home town fans to resounding cheers. Stanford's dominance continued into the team event where the Cardinal secured their 3rd gold of the day. Swimming to music inspired by an "Invention" theme, the Stanford squad of Bell, Bongiovanni-Duclos, Carlig, Hilary Homenko, Knight, Lowe, Markman, Katherine Norris, and Stewart impressed the judges to earn their highest score of the year with a 97.16.
In individual awards, Lowe received Highpoint Athlete recognition, and head coach Heather Olson was named Collegiate Coach of the Year.
Stanford will focus their last weeks of practice on preparing for the U.S. National Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, April 26-29.
Solo Finals1. Sara Lowe (Stanford University) 95.3332. Becky Kim (Ohio State University) 94.3333. Danielle Kramer (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.8334. Sara Petrov (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 90.3335. Dayli Sepulveda (University of Arizona) 89.6676. Rebecca Story (Keuka College) 87.0007. Maria Garcia (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 86.3338. Ashley LeRoy (Canisius College) 85.0009. Corenn Cookerly (Keuka College) 83.00010. Margarete Jakovac (Walsh University) 82.83311. Elise Cordo (Carleton College) 81.83312. Stephanie Joyce (University of Florida) 81.167
Duet Finals1. Sara Lowe, Courtenay Stewart (Stanford University) 95.8332. Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker (Ohio State University) 94.1673. Samantha Duclos, Poppy Carlig (Stanford University) 93.5004T. Natalie Chase, Rachael Simon (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.3334T. Emily Van Vleck, Lyssa Wallace (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.3336. Morgan Clarke, Sara Petrov (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 89.6677. Frances Halloran, Hallie Todd (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 88.0008. Alexandra Salas, Dayli Sepulveda (University of Arizona) 84.1679. Kristina Averell, Ashley LeRoy (Canisius College) 84.00010. Crystal Amsinger, Meredith Cooke (University of Florida) 83.66711. Jamee Paoloemilio, Beth Richie (Canisius College) 83.50012. Hannah McKenzie, Laura Winslow (Walsh University) 80.667
Trio Finals1. Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim, Carmen Moraes (Ohio State University), 93.6672. Samantha Duclos, Elizabeth-Anne Markman, Courtenay Stewart (Stanford University) 93.5003. Erin Bell, Poppy Carlig, Melissa Knight (Stanford University) 93.1674. Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker, Ashley Rule (Ohio State University) 92.5005. Danielle Kramer, Emily Van Vleck, Lyssa Wallace (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.1676. Natalie Chase, Aleksandra Lazovic, Rachael Simon (University of the Incarnate Word) 88.6677. Megan Kelly, Hallie Todd, Mariana Vigneron (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 87.1678. Andrea Natoli, Jamee Paoloemilio, Beth Richie (Canisius College) 85.3339. Kristina Averell, Alaina Hill, Katie Scanlon (Canisius College) 84.66710. Corenn Cookerly, Jenn Kaminska, Rebecca Story (Keuka College) 83.33311T. Megan Becker, Meredith Cooke, Stephanie Joyce (University of Florida) 82.50011T. Elizabeth Corman, Megan Kinney, Sarah Swinkin (Wheaton College) 82.500
Team Finals1. Stanford University - 97.1672. Ohio State University A - 96.3333. Ohio State University B - 94.6674. University of Alabama at Birmingham - 93.3335. University of the Incarnate Word - 92.8336. Canisius College - 89.5007. Keuka College - 85.3338. University of Florida - 84.0838. Wheaton College - 84.08310. William & Mary - 83.58311. University of Minnesota - 82.58312. University of Arizona - 82.250
"A" ELEMENTS RESULTS (Top 25)Place Swimmer - School - Score1 Courtenay Stewart - STANFORD - 82.6272 Sara Lowe - STANFORD - 80.8843 Elizabeth-Anne Markman - STANFORD - 80.8674 Samantha Bongiovanni-Duclos- STANFORD - 79.6525 Becky KIM - OSU - 79.5896 Melissa Knight - STANFORD - 79.1797 Poppy Carlig - STANFORD - 78.3288 Erin Bell - STANFORD - 78.1409 Hilary Homenko - STANFORD - 77.94010 Dayli SEPULVEDA - UAZ - 77.93511 Leah PINETTE - OSU - 77.76812 Ayne PINETTE - OSU - 77.75413 Morgan CLARKE - UAB - 77.49114 Danielle KRAMER - UIW - 77.45215 Lyssa WALLACE - UIW - 77.32916 Sara PETROV - UAB - 76.93717 Hallie TODD - UAB - 76.89118 Mariana VIGNERON - UAB - 76.69719 Zoe VILLARREAL - UIW - 76.61920 Frances HALLORAN - UAB - 76.61821 Emily VAN VLECK - UIW - 76.50222 Carly GRIMSHAW - OSU - 76.32723 Maria GARCIA - UAB - 76.21024 Chelsea LUKER - OSU - 76.21025 Katie Lynn NORRIS - STANFORD - 76.124