Riverside Swims to Gold
2005 Junior National Team Announced

Indianapolis, IN-- The final day of the SPEEDO Junior Synchronized Swimming Championship was a knock-down drag-out for three California clubs. The Riverside Aquettes pulled ahead at the end of the day swimming, newly announced 2005 Junior National team members, Brooke Abel, Meghan Kinney, and Michelle Theriault, while the Walnut Creek Aquanuts placed second and the Santa Clara Aquamaids took third.

The trio finals started the final round of competition. Walnut Creek and Riverside battled it out with the Aquanuts taking silver and holding 3 spots in the top 8. Riverside holds 3 spots in the top 8, but takes the gold medal-- swimming Brooke Abel, Barb Nesbitt and Caitlin Stewart to a trio victory.

Canada sneaks in holding 2 tied sixth place spots in the duet finals to then tie with the Santa Clara Aquamaids. Christina Jones (Santa Clara, Calif.) and her duet partner, Carolyn Watts, take the gold pushing Riverside to second and the WCA Aquanuts to third in duet finals.

Jones comes back to take her second gold of the day in solo where she went toe-to-toe with Annabelle Orme (Walnut Creek, Calif.). The two won a bronze medal for their duet at the 2004 IX FINA Junior Synchronized Swimming World Championships in Moscow, Russia, and now swim together on the 2008 Olympic Training Squad.

In the team competition, the Riverside Aquettes made waves and stole gold, while WCA Aquanuts took silver, and the Santa Clara Aquamaids took bronze at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio.

Top routines will advance to the U.S. National Championships, April 28-30 in Federal Way, Wash. Newly appointed 2005 Junior National Team Members include Brooke Abel, Erin Bell, Debbie Chen, Meghan Kinney, Diana LaScala-Gruenewald, Lauren Oiye, Jillian Penner, Deborah Shim, Michelle Theriault, and Carolyn Watts. They are slated to compete at the Pan American Games held Orlando, August 18-21, 2005.

Solo Finals

1. Christina Jones (Santa Clara Aquamaids) 86.263, 2. Annabelle Orme (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) 84.457, 3. Barb Nesbitt (Riverside Aquettes) 83.544, 4. Caitlin Stewart (Riverside Aquettes) 81.773, 5. Carolyn Watts (Santa Clara Aquamaids) 80.761, 6. Jillian Penner (Seattle Synchro Swim Team) 80.297, 7. Kenyon Smith (Santa Clara Aquamaids) 80.119, 8. Deborah Shim (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) 79.925

Duet Finals

1. Christina Jones, Carolyn Watts (Santa Clara Aquamaids) 84.679, 2. Brooke Abel, Danielle DeCarlo (Riverside Aquettes) 82.500, 3. Diana LaScala-Gruenewald, Deborah Shim (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) 81.192, 4. Erin Bell, Maria Koroleva (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) 80.515, 5. Michelle Theriault, Meryl Grandia (Riverside Aquettes) 79.953, 6a Jennifer Knobbs, Amy Levine (Honor Olympium Synchro, Canada) 79.680, 6b Taylor Durand, Samantha Mawhinney (Honor Synchro Optima, Canada) 79.044, 6. Christine Park, Kenyon Smith (Santa Clara Aquamaids) 78.910, 7. Bianca Johnson, Lauren Oiye (Santa Clara Aquamaids) 78.492, 8. Jackie Mundy, Kaitlin Bolt (Riverside Aquettes) 77.542

Trio Finals

1. Brooke Abel, Barb Nesbitt, Caitlin Stewart (Riverside Aquettes) 83.482, 2. Erin Bell, Diana LaScala-Gruenewald, Annabelle Orme (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) 82.917, 3. Meghan Kinney, Michelle Theriault, Meryl Grandia (Riverside Aquettes) 80.277, 4. Anna Soto, Mary Soto, Jeanine Wurzel (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) 78.454, 5. Beatriz Feres, Branca Feres, Jillian Penner (Seattle Synchro Swim Team) 78.397, 6. Elizabeth MacAfee, Heidi McMahon, Deanna Schmitz (Santa Clara Aquamaids) 78.343, 7. Molly Knight, Olivia Morgan, Seyeon Min (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) 78.150, 8. Jackie Mundy, Kaitlin Bolt, Hannah Shivley (Riverside Aquettes) 77.233

Team Finals

1. Riverside Aquettes, 83.602, 2. Walnut Creek, 83.279, 3. Santa Clara Aquamaids, 82.545, 4a Honor Olympium Synchro, Canada, 79.679, 4. Riverside Aquettes, 79.532, 5. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 78.980, 6a Honor Synchro Optima, Canada, 78.739, 6. New Canaan Y Aquianas, 77.286, 7. Seattle Synchro Swim Team, 77.049, 8. Indy Synchro, 76.927