Photo By John Migliore/Migz Media Group
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Stanford performed gamely but couldn't prevent host Ohio State from winning its 30th U.S. Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Championship on Saturday.
Boosted by a large, boisterous crowd, the Buckeyes accumulated 100 points in the three-day competition at the Ohio State University Aquatics Center. The defending champion Cardinal finished second with 88, followed by Lindenwood with 71.
"We knew it was going to be a fight," said head coach Sara Lowe. "Our girls did all they could. I was beyond proud of them."
Stanford got off a strong start, as Clare McGovern, Sandra Ortellado and Erica Slavin repeated as national champs in trio, scoring 84.1667. Teammates Rachel Hyon, Isabella Park and Marisa Tashima claimed third with 82.5000 to give the Cardinal the early team lead.
In duet, Ortellado and Slavin combined for a score of 83.6000 to earn third. Ohio State finished first (84.4333) and second (84.0000). The Buckeyes scored highly in artistic improvisation, tallying 34.13 and 34.00, respectively, compared to 33.20 for Stanford.
For the second consecutive year, McGovern produced a second place showing in solo, receiving 83.1333. Emma Baranksi of Ohio State successfully defended her title.
In the team free routine, the Cardinal contingent of Rachel Hyon, Karen Li, McGovern, Ortellado, Park, Slavin, Tashima and Amanda Urke scored 84.4333 points to place second. Ohio State won with a total of 85.1333, and also claimed third with 83.000.
Stanford's second group of Elle Billman, Gillian Brassil, Natalie Fletcher, Dylan Harding and Lily Randhawa received 79.2100 points to finish sixth.
After the competition, Billman was honored for finishing first in Division B Figures, while Hyon took third in Elements.
Fletcher, Li and Slavin were recognized for academic excellence.
Final Results
Team Standings
1. Ohio State 100
2. Stanford 88
3. Lindenwood 71
Solo
1. Baranski (Ohio State) 85.2667
2. McGovern (Stanford) 83.1333
3. Haylor (Lindenwood) 81.9333
Duet
1. Baranski, Davidson (Ohio State) 84.4333
2. Hoying, Velasquez (Ohio State) 84.000
3. Ortellado, Slavin (Stanford) 83.6000
Trio
1. Ortellado, Slavin, McGovern (Stanford) 84.1667
2. Hack, Hoying,Velasquez (Ohio State) 83.6667
3. Hyon, Park, Tashima (Stanford) 82.5000
Team
1. Ohio State 85.1333
2. Stanford 84.4333
3. Ohio State 83.0000