STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford continued its run of success, adding yet another national championship podium finish to the long list of accolades. The Cardinal finished the 2024 season by earning a third consecutive MPSF title and with its second-straight Team event title at the Collegiate National Championships.
Stanford began the season with three wins, including a big victory in Columbus, Ohio over the reigning national champion, Ohio State. Stanford was dominant throughout, earning event titles in each event it swam in. In the duet, Yara Elian and Ella Rau scored 243.9916 points to pace the field and claim the event title. Close behind was the pair of Miko Begossi and Ivy Davis, only 10.7499 points behind the leaders.
The trio event saw two more Stanford teams claim the top spots of the podium. Miko Begossi, Emmanuella Tchakmakjian, and Ivy Davis earned gold, recording a 298.0959. In the final event of the meet, Stanford once again took the top two spots, with both of its team swims reaching the podium. The team of Begossi, Davis, Schroeder, Elian, Tchakmakjian, Rau, and Nicole Goot combined to score 379.3834.
CARD 🔛 🔝
— Stanford Artistic Swimming (@StanfordArtSwim) February 4, 2024
Wins in the duet, trio, and team events powered Stanford to first place at the Jessica Beck Invitational 🌲#GoStanford
📸 » Ohio State Athletics pic.twitter.com/GIglCuqKCc
The victory over Ohio State gave Stanford considerable momentum heading into the postseason, which began two weeks later with the MPSF Championships in San Antonio, Texas.
Stanford completed the three-peat of the MPSF crown, topping the field including Incarnate Word, Wheaton, and Texas Woman's University. Since the MPSF began sponsoring Artistic Swimming in 2022, Stanford has been the only conference champion.
Stanford tallied 95 points in the final scores, five points ahead of Incarnate Word in second with 90. Texas Woman's came in third with 72 and Wheaton finished fourth with 71.
The Cardinal had at least one representative on the podium in each event, claiming three event titles across the competition.Nicole Goot took the top spot in the Technical A Elements, claiming the first of Stanford's titles. Her 79.8082 points paced the field, followed closely by Yara Elian (79.4937) in second and Ivy Davis (77.3962) in third.
The second Stanford title came in the duet from Yara Elian and Ella Rau as they topped the field by more than four points with a score of 192.8708. Stanford's third event title came in the trio from Elian, Lindi Schroeder, and Elisa Brunel, who scored a 190.9667 to earn gold.
Introducing the three-time @MPSFSports champs 🏆#GoStanford
— Stanford Artistic Swimming (@StanfordArtSwim) February 19, 2024
📸 » Vashaun Newman pic.twitter.com/Bw999j0HvE
Following a senior day meet against California that saw Stanford recognize Natalie Greenfield and Emmanuella Tchakmakjian, the Cardinal set its sights on the U.S. Artistic Swimming Collegiate Nationals in Lewisville, Texas.
Felt all the love at Avery this weekend 🥰#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/moixH4GluK
— Stanford Artistic Swimming (@StanfordArtSwim) February 27, 2024
Stanford concluded its 2024 season with a national title in the team event and finished second overall with 92 points, behind champion Incarnate Word with 95.
Stanford began the weekend with the Technical A competition, solo, and duet events on Friday on a high note, including four swimmers in the top 10 of the Tech A event. Nicole Goot led the way, scoring 79.7862 points to earn silver. Yara Elian wasn't far behind, taking home the bronze medal with a score of 79.4843.
In the solo event, Lindi Schroeder earned her second consecutive medal, taking second place with a score of 192.7000. The medal marks Schroeder's third season in a row with a podium finish in the solo at the Collegiate Nationals.
On Saturday, Stanford added two podium finishes in the trio, taking home second and third place. Elian, Schroeder, and Elisa Brunel combined to take home the silver medal (202.0730), while Miko Begossi, Ivy Davis, and Emmanuella Tchakmakjian earned the bronze (196.3333).
The culminating event of the championships was the team event, where Stanford shone the brightest. The Cardinal took home a decisive gold (274.9354) topping second place Incarnate Word by over three points. Begossi, Brunel, Davis, Elian, Goot, Rau, Schroeder, and Tchakmakjian combined to earn the title.
Stanford has won the Collegiate Nationals team event title in back to back seasons, claiming gold in 2023 and 2024.
Introducing the 2024 Collegiate Nationals Team Event Champions! 🏆#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/4tPspizRYi
— Stanford Artistic Swimming (@StanfordArtSwim) March 24, 2024
Stanford picked up multiple awards at the conclusion of the season.
Yara Elian was named the meet's high point athlete after earning she took first in the team event, second in the trio, third in the duet, and third in the A figures at the 2024 Collegiate Championship. Emmanuella Tchakmakjian was also voted the USA Artistic Swimming Collegiate Athlete of the Year.
The epitome of a student-athlete 🌲
— Stanford Artistic Swimming (@StanfordArtSwim) March 29, 2024
USA Artistic Swimming's Collegiate Athlete of the Year is Emmanuella Tchakmakjian! 👏#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/mWWaNXqvke
Miko Begossi, Yujin Chang, Ivy Davis, Emily Ding, Yara Elian, Nicole Goot, Natalie Greenfield, Atira O'Neil, Lindi Schroeder, and Emmanuella Tchakmakjian all were lauded as MPSF All-Academic selections. Senior and captain Tchakmakjian owns the highest GPA among all artistic swimming athletes in the conference, with a 4.026.
Eight Cardinal swimmers were also named Collegiate All-Americans. Miko Begossi, Elisa Brunel, Ivy Davis, Yara Elian, Nicole Goot, Ella Rau, Lindi Schcroeder, and Emmanuella Tchakmakjian each earned the award.
In June, Stanford's two seniors, Greenfield and Tchakmakjian celebrated their graduation and officially received their diplomas.
Today is the day! 🙌
— Stanford Artistic Swimming (@StanfordArtSwim) June 16, 2024
So proud of our graduating seniors, Emma and Natalie! 🎓🌲❤️#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/hRDs9N7zHd