March 28, 2009
Meet Central and Results
Team Scores
San Antontio, Texas - After four consecutive national collegiate titles, Stanford synchronized swimming settled for second place on Saturday. The Cardinal had several strong swims, but it was not enough as Ohio State took the title with 98 points. The Cardinal finished as the national runner-up with 80 points.
Canisius College rounded out the top three with 76.5 points. The host school, the University of the Incarnate Word finished fourth with 66.5 points.
"Each of our swims had its best swims to date," said assistant coach Alison Bartosik. "As a coach I can't ask for anything more. I am so proud of the team and all their potential."
The Cardinal were led by a pair of third-place finishes in the duet and trio competitions. The duet of Taylor Durand and Debbie Chen scored 93.167 to earn the bronze medal. A duet from Ohio State took the national title with a score of 95.333.
Also faring well in the duet for Stanford was Maria Koroleva and Olivia Morgan. The pair of Stanford freshmen took fifth with a score of 92.000.
In the trio competition, the Stanford team of Durand, Koroleva and Morgan finished third with a score of 93.500. They were followed by their teammates Erin Bell, Chen and Michelle Moore in fourth with a score of 91.833. Two teams from Ohio State tied for the trio title with scores of 94.667.
In the team final Stanford had a great showing with a score of 96.333. Unfortunately it was not enough as Ohio State bested the Cardinal with a score of 97.333. The team of Bell, Alex Bollaidlaw, Chen, Durand, Koroleva, Moore, Morgan and Corinne Smith settled for the runner-up position.
Stanford did not have an athlete in the solo final, which was won by Natalia Tarasova of Canisius with a score of 95.000.
Saturday marks the completion of the collegiate season for Stanford, but they still have one big competition left. The Cardinal will host the U.S. Nationals from April 29 through May 2, at the Avery Aquatics Center. Last season Stanford tied for the U.S. National title, becoming the first college team to accomplish the feat.