Santa Clara Aquamaids Challenge the Best at 2015 Junior China Open in Beijing

   Beijing, China (August 16, 2015) – Ten Santa Clara Aquamaids swimmers ages 16-18 competed in the 2015 China Synchronized Swimming Junior Open Championships in Beijing August 13-16 and ended on a high note on all fronts. The meet included over 300 athletes from several Asia countries and territories including Singapore, Macau, and many province teams from across China. The Aquamaids represented the United States at the event and performed admirably at Ying Tung Natatorium located in the Olympic Sports Centre where it hosted many water sports events at the 2008 Olympic Games. 

   The Aquamaids earned a gold medal for the United States with a score of 81.7333 in the Free Combination routine. This event includes ten swimmers, and the routine is showy for its acrobatic moves and choreography. The Combo team was coached by Aquamaids’ coaches Jenny Ekhilevsky, Ou Liu, and Patti Andresen. The team members were Emily Anger, Celine Joo, Rachel Lau, Karen Li, Jacklyn Luu, Alexandra Meridith-LeRoux, Nicola Schmidt, Stephanie Thielemann, Natalia Vega, and Rachel Ye.      

   In the Team routine (eight swimmers), Santa Clara had an amazing performance and again earned the gold medal with a total score of 149.5532. Team members included Emily Anger, Celine Joo, Rachel Lau, Karen Li, Jacklyn Luu, Alexandra Meridith-LeRoux, Stephanie Thielemann, and Natalia Vega. The team routine was coached by Patti Andresen and Ou Liu.

   In Duet competition, the team of Jacklyn Luu, Celine Joo, and alternate Rachel Lau, coached by Jenny Ekhilevsky, earned a gold medal; and the team of Natalia Vega and Emily Anger, coached by Ou Liu, got silver.  In the solo event, Jacklyn Luu won the gold medal with an outstanding performance and Celine Joo took silver.  In figures, Rachal Lau (Gold), Jacklyn Luu (Silver), and Celine Joo (bronze) swept the medals. 

   The event marked the conclusion of a very successful season for the SCA Junior Team. The team will begin training soon for next season, and the future is bright as eight out of ten swimmers will return to this strong team. 

   This China Open signified the beginning of a great relationship Aquamaids and USA Synchro will build with the Chinese synchronized swimming team and association, currently one of the top three strongest synchronized swimming countries in the world.  This competition was also special because it was a homecoming for newly joined Aquamaids Coach, Ou Liu, a China native and Olympic bronze and silver medalist for China at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Coach Liu has been working with the Aquamaids since April of this year.  She enjoyed the Aquamaids performance and her return to China. 

   Santa Clara Aquamaids was founded in 1964.  Through generations of exceptional athletes and coaches, SCA has become the most decorated synchronized swimming club in the world.  Head Coach Chris Carver, who is a former coach of three U.S. Olympic teams, which won gold and bronze medals from Atlanta to Athens, leads Santa Clara’s accomplished coaching staff. Chris Carver has been named United States Synchronized Swimming Coach of the Year for an unprecedented 14 years.  Please visit Aquamaids.org for more details of our club and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SantaClaraAquamaids

   Santa Clara Aquamaids is a non-profit organization funded primarily through a parent-volunteer bingo organization in Santa Clara, which is one of the biggest bingo centers in South Bay Area.  Those who are interested in helping to support these Aquamaids can learn more by visiting Aquamaidsbingo.com for more information.