Buffalo Heads to Final Round
16-17, 18-19 age groups underway through Saturday

Buffalo, NY – The top contenders make themselves known today at the 2005 esynchro Age Group Championships in Buffalo, NY, bringing host club, Buffalo Swimkins into the spotlight.

The Buffalo Swimkins took third place in today’s 16-17 duet semifinal, sending them to Saturday’s final round. Local athletes swimming for the Swimkins are Nicole Cardinale and Carrie Roehner. This duet semifinal marks the Swinkins’ first time in the top three during the 2005 esynchro Age Group Championship.

Riverside pulls out ahead in the 16-17 duet semifinals, besting their second place 14-15 final duet finish, as they head into Saturday’s finals. In second place, the 16-17 Nevada Desert Mermaids’ duet scores an 81.000. The team won the duet championship for the 14-15 age group yesterday at the Flickinger Aquatic Center.

The Sacramento Synchronized Swimming team led the 16-17 trio semifinals, with the Cincinnati Synchrogators coming in second and eighth. Riverside held strong to its top three placement during the 2005 esynchro Age Groups Championships, and took third. Host club, the Buffalo Swimkins, placed sixth with a score of 77.833.

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.

Competition continues Thursday, and through Saturday, at the Flickinger Aquatic Center in Buffalo. Admission for finals events is $6.00.

16-17 Duet Semifinals
1. Riverside Aquettes, Alison Williams, Michelle Moore, 82.500; 2. Nevada Desert Mermaids, Katrina Brandhagen, Karli Farris, 81.000; 3. Buffalo Swimkins, Nicole Cardinale, Carrie Roehner, 80.167; 4. Juneau Aurora Knights, bKimiko Urata, Sarah Felix, 79.667; 5. Sacramento S.S. Team, Abigail Freer, Jessi Stein, 79.500; 6. Indy Synchro, Brynn Hollingsworth, Mikayla Francese, 79.333; 6. Tallahassee Serinas, Tyler Rolling, Caitlin Dunn(TAL), 79.333; 8. Arizona Aqua Stars, Kari Pett, Katie Wenzel, 79.167.

16-17 Trio Semifinals

1. Sacramento S.S. Team, Andrea Valoppi, Caitlin Loper, Jessi Stein, 79.333; 2. Cincinnati Synchrogators, Abby Donselman, Lydia Sieber, Iliana Torres, 79.167; 3. Riverside Aquettes, Kristie Austin, Jenni Beckwith, Brittney Miller, 79.000; 3. MAC Synchro, Derya Arac, Hanna Mittemeyer, Asumi Ohgushi, 79.000; 5. S. D. Sweetwater Dolphins, Christiana Butera, Stephanie Gac, Rochelle Mattern, Alt SaraRose Gumataotao, 78.167; 6. Buffalo Swimkins, Nicole Cardinale, Carrie Roehner, Louise Schmidt, 77.833; 7. Northern Virginia Nereids, Allison Baker, Alex Bollaidlaw, Katie Suarez, 77.500; 8. Cincinnati Synchrogators, Lisa Piacitelli, Meaghan Suhich, Monica Finnigan, Alt Sarah Beekman, 77.333.

18-19 Trio Semifinals

1. Indy Synchro, Helen Lerums, Katherine Green, Mikayla Francese, 82.000; 2. St. Paul Stars, Elizabeth Derr, Lisa Hinnerichs, Laura Winslow, Alt Elizabeth Norton, 81.167; 3. Cerritos Synchronettes, Angela Chen, Jennifer Chiang, Cady Chen, 80.333; 4. Tonawanda Aquettes, Susan Prinzbach, Courtney Christman, Laurie Wakelam, 79.833 ; 5. Kansas City Sea Sprites, Katie Adams, Heidi Fogle, Kelly Gilliam, 77.833; 5. West Metro Synchronettes, Michele Rushfeldt, Elise Cordo, Talbot Starr, 77.833; 7. Arizona Aqua Stars, Alexandra Beckett, Haleigh Martinez, Kendra Sollars, 76.833; 7. Tonawanda Aquettes, Jackie Gramlich, Claire Lowes, 76.833.