Stanford’s Inferno Too Hot for Bucks
Stanford sweeps all four events at 29 th annual Collegiates—wins.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Stanford University wins the 29 th annual U.S. Synchronized Swimming Championship with a score of 99.200 Saturday at the O’Connell Center on the University of Florida campus, Gainesville, leaving The Ohio State Buckeyes to miss their 6 th consecutive (25 th overall) title.

Saturday’s competition began with the final trio competition in which Stanford captured first and third place while The Ohio State swam to second and fourth. 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Sara Lowe, 2004 Canadian Olympian Courtenay Stewart, and renown Sam Bongiovani-Duclos led Stanford University’s trio to victory with a score of 97.000.

The final duet competition followed trio with Stanford snagging first and third once more, with OSU swimming to second and fourth. 2004 Olympians led Stanford’s duet. Stanford’s team captain Katie Rose Norris, a Tallahassee native, won the final solo competition, beating OSU’s Becky Kim by 1.2 points, and placing Stanford in the lead.

Stanford swept the team finals earning gold in all four events. The team that boasts seven National teamers, two of which are Olympians, swam its team routine to “Dante’s Inferno.” The “Stanford Inferno,” as it was written on the coaches’ shirts, was too hot for the Bucks who placed second after 5 years of consecutive victory.

Top finishers will qualify and advance to the U.S. National Championships in Federal Way, Washington April 28-30. Placing third was The Ohio State’s B Team with a score of 97.500. Host, University of Florida Gainesville Gators, placed sixth behind Florida natives Stacey and Stephanie Jackson (University of Alabama, Birmingham, 97.000).

Trio Finals

1. Samantha B-Duclos, Courtenay Stewart, Sara Lowe (Stanford University) 97.000; 2. Ellen Hacker, Becky Kim, Lindsay Newbill, (The Ohio State University) 96.200; 3. Poppy Carlig, Cassidy Ramage, Melissa Knight (Stanford University) 95.400; 4. Carly Grimshaw, Chelsea Luker, Lauren Marsh, (The Ohio State University) 94.900; 5. Natalie Chase, Jennifer Holmquest, Danielle Kramer (University Incarnate Word) 92.600; 6. Stacey Jackson, Stephanie Jackson, Megan Kelly (Univ. Alabama, Birmingham) 89.80; 7. Kristina Averell, Alaina Hill, Katie Scanlon (Canisius College) 86.400; 8. Zoe Villarreal, Rachael Simon, Emily Van Vleck, (University Incarnate Word) 86.300T; 8. Megan Becker, Robin Collins, Stephanie Joyce (University Of Florida) 86.300T

Duet Finals

1. Courtenay Stewart, Sara Lowe (Stanford University) 97.300; 2. Becky Kim, Lindsay Newbill (The Ohio State University) 97.200; 3. Katie Rose Norris, Samantha B-Duclos (Stanford University) 97.000; 4. Morgan Clarke, Sara Petrov (Univ. Alabama, Birmingham) 94.000; 5. Jennifer Holmquest, Rachael Simon (University Incarnate Word) 92.800; 6. Jamee Paoloemilio, Beth Richie (Canisius College) 88.800; 7. Stacey Jackson, Stephanie Jackson (Univ. Alabama, Birmingham) 88.200; 8. Andrea Natoli, Katie Scanlon (Canisius College) 86.300

Solo Finals

1. Katie Rose Norris (Stanford University) 97.300; 2. Becky Kim (The Ohio State University) 96.100; 3. Danielle Kramer (University Incarnate Word) 94.400; 4. Sara Petrov (Univ. Alabama, Birmingham) 93.400; 5. Rebecca Story (Keuka College Storm) 87.900; 6. Sachi Maekawa (Wheaton College) 86.800; 7. Kim Marsh (College Of William & Mary) 83.900; 8. Kristina Averell (Canisius College) 83.400

Team Finals

1. Stanford University, 99.200; 2. The Ohio State University, 98.900; 3. The Ohio State University, 97.500; 4. Univ. Alabama, Birmingham, 97.000; 5. University Incarnate Word, 94.950; 6. University Of Florida, 92.100; 7. Canisius College, 89.550; 8. Wheaton College, 88.550