Juniors Plunge for Championship and 10 National Team Spots
2008 Olympic hopefuls set to swim

Indianapolis, Ind. - Canton, Ohio will be the destination for the 2005 Speedo Junior Synchronized Swimming Championships, being held April 7-9 in the C.T. Branin Natatorium.

More than 300 elite athletes ages 14-18 will vie for junior national titles in the solo, duet, trio and team events. Also up for grabs are 10 roster spots on the 2005 U.S. Junior National Team. 2008 Olympic training squad members also set to swim.

The fourth phase, consisting of four figures, will take place during the Championships for the final determination of the 2005 U.S. Junior National team.

The Santa Clara Aquamaids (Calif.) are ready to defend their 2004 Speedo Junior Championship win, boasting six National Team I members, and two Junior National team contenders. They are led this year by International Champion Christina Jones, who tabbed 2004's first place finish in solo, duet and team.

The Riverside Aquettes (Calif.) will go head-to-head for the championship after their second place finish in 2004. Swimming for the Aquettes is Brook Abel, a contender for both the Junior National team and Team I, and three additional athletes competing in Phase Four of Junior National trials.

Walnut Creek Aquanuts (Calif.) looks to improve upon their 2004 overall third place finish. National teamers Erin Bell, Deborah Shim, Diana LaScala-Gruenwald and 2008 Olympic training squad member Annabelle Orme, who swept the 2004 championships, are expected to lead the team.

The team event will bring an exciting finish as the top teams in the nation battle for first. 2004 finalists include Santa Clara (Calif.), Riverside (Calif.), Walnut Creek (Calif.), Seattle Synchro (Wash.), Sacramento (Calif.), and Indy Synchro (Ind.), who swept the North Zone Championships earlier this month-- capturing 11 of the meet's 15 medal placements.

Tammy Crow, a member of the Bronze Medal winning United States 2004 Olympic Synchronized Swimming Team will be on hand during the weekend to support the up-and-coming athletes and for media interviews.

“It’s very exciting to have this high caliber competition here in Canton, Ohio. We are so pleased to be able to share our love of the sport with this great community. And the C.T. Branin Natatorium is the perfect location to showcase the top junior athletes in the country,” said Co-Meet Managers Ann Bradway and Nancy Rosengard.

The Speedo Junior Championships is hosted by CCS Tailspinners, a synchronized swimming program sponsored by Canton City Schools Program.

Top routines will advance to the U.S. National Championships, April 28-30 in Federal Way, Wash., while top athletes will progress to the final phase of the Junior Team Trials to determine the U.S. Junior National Team. The U.S. Junior National Team is slated to compete at the Junior Pan American Games, being held in Orlando, Florida in August.