West Coast Floats the Lead
Local clubs head to finals

Buffalo, NY – Local clubs head into the 12-13 finals, and get a jump-start on the 14-15 age group today at the 2005 esynchro Age Group Championships in Buffalo, New York.

The Flickinger Aquatic Center was packed as the day began with the final round of 12-13 age group competition: trio. The Walnut Creek Aquanuts will lead the 12-13 trios into Monday’s final competition in first place. Following in second is Riverside, and third place went to the Los Gatos Angelfish, taking the team’s first spot in 12-13 finals.

Local team, the Tonawanda Aquettes, will send their 12-13 team to finals tomorrow, although their 12-13 semifinal trio came in 13th place today—missing the top eight final spots by five. Tonawanda came back to secure a final spot in the 14-15 trios, which kicked off later in the afternoon. The Aquettes’ trio placed seventh with a score of 73.333.

The Santa Clara Aquamaids will lead the way for the 14-15 trios, while Riverside took second, and the New Canaan Y Aquianas secured their first top-three spot in the semifinal competition. Head Coach of the New Canaan Y Aquianas, Carol Valles, is also the owner of eSynchro, the Age Group Championship’s title sponsor. Host club, Buffalo Swimkins, took 33rd place, swimming locals Isabel Farhi, Maureen Vitali, and Tabatha McCabe with a score of 66.500.

Preliminary scores are weighted to 50 percent and combined with 50 percent of the athlete(s)'s figures score to determine the eight finalists in each event. In the final, the 50 percent free routine prelim score is replaced with 50 of the final routine score.

During 12-13 finals, Monday, June 27 th, Synchronized Swimming's World Championship Team will perform a special exhibition before traveling to Montreal to compete at the XI FINA World Championships. The finals run from 3:30-8:30p.m. Admission for the public is $6.00.

12-13 Trio Semifinals 1. Jane Homma, Emily Burkhart, Claire Rudder, Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 71.333; 2. Hope Clement, Lauren Nicholson, Shelby Nickel, Riverside Aquettes, 70.667; 3. Emily Dillon, Isabella Conrad, Courtney Christensen, Los Gatos Angelfish, 69.333; 4. Tori Hawes, Cindy Serrano, Christina Woods, Alt Alicia Bruce, Riverside Aquettes, 68.333; 5. Phoebe Jen, Savannah Seaman, Alexandra Sominsky, Santa Clara Aquamaids; 67.000; 6. Sarah Cooke, Kimberly Goyack, Shea Soulierre, Alt Marissa Foreit, Suncoast Waterworks; 65.833; 7. Anna Boyle, Kristin Hepner, Kathryn Spada, Alt Alyson Haylor, Las Vegas Synchronettes; 65.667; 8. Tara Porter, Anna Sheldon, Sarah Volpenhein, Cincinnati Synchrogators, 65.000.

14-15 Trio Semifinals 1. Morgan Fuller, Wendy Lu, Nadia Rais, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 78.000; 2. Ashley Bennet, Amanda Cook, Paige Ramsey, Alt Kristie Austin, Riverside Aquettes, 75.500; 3. Madison Crocker, Megan Hansley, Kelsey Smith, New Canaan Y Aquianas, 75.333; 3. Leigh Haldeman, Katie LaBounty, Jenna Lee, Seattle Synchro Swim Team, 75.333; 5. Kayley Colville, Camila Guevara, Cameron Hempstead, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 75.000; 6. Camille Driver, Claire Evans, Mary Killman, Alt Jillian Patton, Pirouettes of Texas, 74.167; 7. Trisha Melber, Abby Vollmer, Jessica Grogan, Tonawanda Aquettes, 73.333; 8. Elise Foreit, Chrissy Kaitchuck, Laurie Goyak, Alt Logan Worley, Suncoast Waterworks, 72.833.