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 Finals 1. Sara Lowe (Stanford University) 95.333 2. Becky Kim (Ohio State University) 94.333 3. Danielle Kramer (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.833 4. Sara Petrov (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 90.333 5. Dayli Sepulveda (University of Arizona) 89.667 6. Rebecca Story (Keuka College) 87.000 7. Maria Garcia (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 86.333 8. Ashley LeRoy (Canisius College) 85.000 9. Corenn Cookerly (Keuka College) 83.000 10. Margarete Jakovac (Walsh University) 82.833 11. Elise Cordo (Carleton College) 81.833 12. Stephanie Joyce (University of Florida) 81.167
Duet Finals 1. Sara Lowe, Courtenay Stewart (Stanford University) 95.833 2. Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker (Ohio State University) 94.167 3. Samantha Duclos, Poppy Carlig (Stanford University) 93.500 4T. Natalie Chase, Rachael Simon (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.333 4T. Emily Van Vleck, Lyssa Wallace (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.333 6. Morgan Clarke, Sara Petrov (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 89.667 7. Frances Halloran, Hallie Todd (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 88.000 8. Alexandra Salas, Dayli Sepulveda (University of Arizona) 84.167 9. Kristina Averell, Ashley LeRoy (Canisius College) 84.000 10. Crystal Amsinger, Meredith Cooke (University of Florida) 83.667 11. Jamee Paoloemilio, Beth Richie (Canisius College) 83.500 12. Hannah McKenzie, Laura Winslow (Walsh University) 80.667
Trio Finals 1. Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim, Carmen Moraes (Ohio State University), 93.667 2. Samantha Duclos, Elizabeth-Anne Markman, Courtenay Stewart (Stanford University) 93.500 3. Erin Bell, Poppy Carlig, Melissa Knight (Stanford University) 93.167 4. Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker, Ashley Rule (Ohio State University) 92.500 5. Danielle Kramer, Emily Van Vleck, Lyssa Wallace (University of the Incarnate Word) 90.167 6. Natalie Chase, Aleksandra Lazovic, Rachael Simon (University of the Incarnate Word) 88.667 7. Megan Kelly, Hallie Todd, Mariana Vigneron (University of Alabama at Birmingham) 87.167 8. Andrea Natoli, Jamee Paoloemilio, Beth Richie (Canisius College) 85.333 9. Kristina Averell, Alaina Hill, Katie Scanlon (Canisius College) 84.667 10. Corenn Cookerly, Jenn Kaminska, Rebecca Story (Keuka College) 83.333 11T. Megan Becker, Meredith Cooke, Stephanie Joyce (University of Florida) 82.500 11T. Elizabeth Corman, Megan Kinney, Sarah Swinkin (Wheaton College) 82.500
Team Finals 1. Stanford University - 97.167 2. Ohio State University A - 96.333 3. Ohio State University B - 94.667 4. University of Alabama at Birmingham - 93.333 5. University of the Incarnate Word - 92.833 6. Canisius College - 89.500 7. Keuka College - 85.333 8. University of Florida - 84.083 8. Wheaton College - 84.083 10. William & Mary - 83.583 11. University of Minnesota - 82.583 12. University of Arizona - 82.250
"A" ELEMENTS RESULTS (Top 25) Place Swimmer - School - Score 1 Courtenay Stewart - STANFORD - 82.627 2 Sara Lowe - STANFORD - 80.884 3 Elizabeth-Anne Markman - STANFORD - 80.867 4 Samantha Bongiovanni-Duclos- STANFORD - 79.652 5 Becky KIM - OSU - 79.589 6 Melissa Knight - STANFORD - 79.179 7 Poppy Carlig - STANFORD - 78.328 8 Erin Bell - STANFORD - 78.140 9 Hilary Homenko - STANFORD - 77.940 10 Dayli SEPULVEDA - UAZ - 77.935 11 Leah PINETTE - OSU - 77.768 12 Ayne PINETTE - OSU - 77.754 13 Morgan CLARKE - UAB - 77.491 14 Danielle KRAMER - UIW - 77.452 15 Lyssa WALLACE - UIW - 77.329 16 Sara PETROV - UAB - 76.937 17 Hallie TODD - UAB - 76.891 18 Mariana VIGNERON - UAB - 76.697 19 Zoe VILLARREAL - UIW - 76.619 20 Frances HALLORAN - UAB - 76.618 21 Emily VAN VLECK - UIW - 76.502 22 Carly GRIMSHAW - OSU - 76.327 23 Maria GARCIA - UAB - 76.210 24 Chelsea LUKER - OSU - 76.210 25 Katie Lynn NORRIS - STANFORD - 76.124