Top Contenders Advance to Finals
Tonawanda places third in 16-17 team semifinals

Buffalo, NY – The Riverside Aquettes and the Santa Clara Aquamaids step back into the lead today at the Flickinger Aquatic Center in Buffalo, New York.

The 16-17 team semifinals kicked off the day with Riverside leading the way, and Nevada Desert Mermaids (winners of the 14-15 duet) taking second. Local club, the Tonawanda Aquettes, took third place, mirroring the third place 18-19 semifinal team swim Thursday.

Host club, the Buffalo Swimkins, placed ninth in the 16-17 team competition.

18-19 semifinals followed the team routines with the west coast back in the lead. Santa Clara’s Ashley Strayer took first place with the New Canaan Y Aquainas placing second. First place 18-19 team, the Cincinnati Synchrogators’ soloist, Emilie Siemer, placed third.

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. Friday evening’s figure competition will determine which team’s advance to Saturday’s finals.

In the final, the 50 percent free routine prelim score is replaced with 50 percent of the final routine score. The final round for 16-17, 18-19 age groups continues Saturday at the Flickinger Aquatic Center in Buffalo. Admission for final events is $6.00.

16-17 Team Semifinals
1. Riverside Aquettes, 83.500; 2. Nevada Desert Mermaids, 82.500; 3. Tonawanda Aquettes, 82.167; 4. Cincinnati Synchrogators, 80.667; 4. Tallahassee Serinas, 80.667; 6. Scottsdale Synchro, 80.333; 7. ANA Synchers, 80.000; 7. MAC Synchro, 80.000.

18-19 Solo Semifinals
1. Santa Clara Aquamaids, Ashley Strayer, 84.167; 2. New Canaan Y Aquianas, Jayme DeLancy, 82.667; 3. Cincinnati Synchrogators, Emilie Siemer, 82.333; 4. West Metro Synchronettes, Elise Cordo, 79.500; 5. Arizona Aqua Stars, Kendra Sollars, 79.333; 6. Suncoast Waterworks, Andrea Patterson, 79.000; 7. St. Paul Stars, Elizabeth Derr, 78.667; 8. Aqua Divas, Natasha Snegour, 78.333.