STANFORD, Calif. – The defending national collegiate champion Stanford synchronized swimming team starts its season Saturday and Sunday in Massachusetts against Wheaton College.
Head coach Sara Lowe boasts a deep, steady and experienced squad, losing only Evelyna Wang to graduation. She remains with the program as a graduate assistant.
"We only have two seniors, so our team is going to stay pretty consistent," Lowe said, referring to captains Isabella Park and Marisa Tashima. "We've just kind of built on our strengths from last year."
Once again, the Cardinal will field two squads. The first group includes Clare McGovern in solo, Sandra Ortellado and Erica Slavin in duo, McGovern, Ortellado and Eric Slavin in trio, and Rachel Hyon, Joanna Langner, McGovern, Ortellado, Park, Slavin, Tashima and Amanda Urke in team. Langer competed with the second unit last season.
As sophomores in 2016, McGovern, Ortellado and Slavin claimed the trio crown at the National Collegiate Championships in Florida, while Ortellado and Slavin captured the duo title. Stanford finished first and fourth in the team routine, led by the winning contingent of Hyon, McGovern, Ortellado, Park, Slavin, Tashima, Urke and Wang.
McGovern, Ortellado, Slavin, Tashima and Urke are returning All-Americans. Ortellado has been training with the U.S. National Team and will swim for Stanford, then take a leave in the spring.
This year's second unit in team competition will be comprised of Elle Billman, Gillian Brassil, Natalie Fletcher, Dylan Harding, Karen Li and Lily Randhawa.
"We picked apart what we can improve on and what we did really well, and we have worked on those things," said Lowe, the 2016 USA Synchro Coach of the Year. "Our routine is even faster and more dynamic. There's a lot going on and it's really intricate and complicated, so I'm hoping that it's well received."
Specifically, the Cardinal has been concentrating on lifts and the technical aspects of each routine.
"There was a lot of buzz about us after nationals last year, so we're trying to set the bar even higher," Lowe said. "Just trying to push the limits even more."
Lowe is also working on her MBA at St. Mary's College, which she hopes to finish in June.
"I really don't sleep," she said.
Lowe credits assistant coach Megan Azebu for helping her keep the program on track.
"She's done an amazing job," said Lowe.
Stanford will host perennial power Ohio State and Lindenwood on Feb. 18-20. The Cardinal will compete against Lindenwood, which did not field a team last year, on the 18th and 19th at the Avery Aquatic Center, and the Buckeyes on the 19th and 20th, which should be a good barometer for the National Collegiate Championships, March 24-25 at Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.
"This could be the biggest home weekend in program history," Lowe said.
Lowe thinks her team is more than capable of repeating as national champion, but understands what it will take.
"We have to go in like we're chasing someone else," she said. "We're the underdog and have to be that much better."