May 4, 2002
Two-time Olympian Anna Kozlova leads the list of 12 synchronized swimmers named to the 2002 U.S. Senior National Team I, announced Saturday after three days of intense evaluation at Ohio State University.
Kozlova, 29, is no stranger to the top slot, having placed first in the 2000 Olympic Team Trials and 2001 World Championships Team Trials. The 2002 U.S. Senior National Team I will represent the United States against the world's best at the 2002 FINA World Cup, Sept. 12-15 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The twelve team members average 20 years old, more than 12 years competition experience and more than five appointments to the National Team program. Head Coach Chris Carver is excited with both the experience level and new blood in the 2002 crop.
"I've worked with the core of this team before," Carver said. "We had a really nice training last summer. They're a delightful group and I expect an even better training as we look forward to the World Cup."
New to Team I are Stephanie Nesbitt of Riverside, Calif., and Sara Lowe of Desoto, Texas, two up-and-comers who swam with the U.S. Junior National Team in 2000 and 2001. Also re-joining Team I, after a 12-year layoff, is 1989 World Champion Tracy Long.
Returnees from the 2001 Team include Bartosik, Crow, Jasontek, Kozlova, McFall, Norris, Pietras and Zanotto.
The Trials process began at the 2001 U.S. Nationals, and progresses over four phases throughout the year. The athletes are tested in eight technical elements, then evaluated by 13 judges during each of four pre-set routine swims. All scores throughout the trials process are confidential until the teams are announced.
The Trials conclude Sunday with the naming of U.S. Senior National Team II, and the U.S. Junior National Team. Team II is headed to the 27th Swiss Open in Basel, while the Junior National Team will compete in the VIII FINA Junior World Championships in Montreal.
Trials scores can be found at www.usasynchro.org.
2002 U.S. Senior National Team I / World Cup Team Name Height Age Experience Appts. Hometown Club Alison Bartosik 5' 8" 19 11 5 Santa Clara, Calif. Santa Clara Tammy Crow 5' 3" 25 18 6 St. Louis, Mo. Walnut Creek Erin Dobratz 5' 6" 19 11 6 Clayton, Calif. Stanford Becky Jasontek 5' 4" 27 20 12 Loveland, Ohio Walnut Creek Anna Kozlova 5' 10" 29 19 3* St. Petersburg, Russia Santa Clara Tracy Long 5' 4" 34 16 7 Richmond, Va. Walnut Creek Sara Lowe 5' 6" 18 8 3 Desoto, Texas Santa Clara Lauren McFall 5' 9" 22 12 6 Sunnyvale, Calif. Santa Clara Stephanie Nesbitt 5' 4" 16 9 3 Riverside, Calif. Riverside Katie Norris 5' 5" 20 9 5 Tallahassee, Fla. Stanford Gina Pietras 5' 8" 26 20 7 Tacoma, Wash. Walnut Creek Kendra Zanotto 5' 3" 20 10 5 Los Gatos, Calif. Santa Clara
Head Coach - Chris Carver, Saratoga, Calif.; Asst. Coach - Michelle Costanza, San Jose, Calif.; Manager - Nancy Hines, San Jose, Calif.