Aquamaids dominate the podium with gold medals

   Federal Way, Washington (July 5, 2014) “” 27 members of the Santa Clara Aquamaids synchronized swimming team competed at the 2014 U.S. eSynchro Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships from June 27-July 5 in Federal Way, Washington, and earned gold medals in every event in 13-15 age group and gold medals for figures, solo, duet, and team in 11-12 age group.  The meet is the largest synchronized swimming meet in the US, and nearly 1,000 athletes ages 11 to 19 competed.

   Jacklyn Luu received the “Grand Slam” title for winning 4 gold medals in 13-15 solo, duet, team routines, and figure competition.  Rachel Lau received “Triple Crown” title for earning 3 gold medals in 13-15 duet, trio, and team routines.

   The team routine of Emily Anger, Camryn Carrasco, Nicole Dzurko, Hailee Heinrich, Rachel Lau, Jacklyn Luu, Rachel Ye, and Katherine Young took 1st place and the team routine of Anna Piskun, Kate Chow, Katrina Hoang, Georgia Wookey, Colleen Li, Audrey Nguyen, Sabrina Walsh, Celine Wang, Jenna Latchford, and Angelina Xu earned 3rd place in the 13-15 age group.

   The routine of Chesnie Cheung, Audrey Xie, Nicole Goot, Kaitlyn Hoang, Iris Marchant, Chiara Steele, Sophia Tong, Marilyn Weaver, and Reiya Das beat 31 teams from around the country to place first in the 12 and under age group.

Other successes of the team at the championships include :

·      13-15 solo: Jacklyn Luu, 1st place

·      13-15 duet: Rachel Lau and Jacklyn Luu, 1st place

·      13-15 trio: Camryn Carrasco, Rachel Lau, and Rachel Ye, 1st place; Emily Anger, Hailee Heinrich, and Katherine Young, 3rd place

·      12 and under solo: Kaitlyn Hoang, 1st place; Nicole Goot, 2nd place

·      12 and under duet: Chesnie Cheung and Kaitlyn Hoang, 1st place

·      12 and under trio: Iris Marchant, Chiara Steele, and Marilyn Weaver, 2nd place

For more information on U.S. Age Group Synchronized Swimming Championships results, please visit http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Synchronized-Swimming/Events/Results/2014-Results/2014-eSynchro-Age-Group-Championships. 

   Next up for the Aquamaids is the California State Games in San Diego on July 12, U.S. Open in Henderson, Nevada from July 15-19. 15 athletes will attend U.S. Open.  The Aquamaids 13-15 age group also earned a spot to compete internationally at Greece for the Comen Cup in September 4-7, 2014.

   Synchronized swimming requires a unique combination of strength, agility, endurance, flexibility, and speed.  Santa Clara Aquamaids practice at least 3 hours per day, 6 days per week at the Warburton Pool in Santa Clara and Gunderson Pool in San Jose. Elite-level synchronized swimmers typically practice eight hours per day, six days per week.