Synchronized swimming preview
December 5, 2001
NORTON, MA- Head coach Mary Kay Adams and her 13-member synchronized swimming team enter the 2001-02 campaign with high anticipation, as the Lyons are coming off a sixth-place finish nationally in addition to having the opportunity to host the 2002 United States Synchronized Swimming Collegiate Championship on March 21-23.
With seven returning athletes coupled with six newcomers to the program, Adams feels that her squad's preparation and development thus far is exceeding the norm. "Across the board, we are swimming sharp with strong, crisp movements," states Adams, who was honored at last year's national meet with the prestigious Collegiate Contributor Award. "Although it appears to be a rebuilding year after losing three seniors, I am pleased with our progress and my expectations will be the same as they have always been."
Those expectations should translate into another successful journey for the Lyons, as they are certain to see their fair share of competition prior to the national meet. Given the opportunity to evaluate team performances prior to national's, Adams is especially looking forward to the Albany meet, where they will compete against the University of Richmond, Keuka College and possibly the College of William and Mary. With trips only scheduled for New York, Adams decided to add a meet in Tuscon, Arizona, where the Lyons will swim against the University of Arizona's club team on Thursday, January 17.
Without question the highlight of the year will be hosting the U.S. Collegiate Championship, as Norton returns to the national spotlight for the first time in ten years. Adams along with first-year assistant coaches Elise Beaumont and Debra Fornasaro are excited about the opportunity. "We are very excited to host an event of this magnitude," adds Adams. "We know we will get huge support from the Wheaton community, alumnae and neighboring age group programs. The atmosphere should be huge and I believe our squad will respond to the energy and support we receive. The only challenge will be to maintain our focus."
Beaumont, who is a former synchronized swimmer with Great Britain's national team, will be relied on for experience with routines in addition to providing individual attention and workouts with the Wheaton swimmers. Fornasaro assists with the conditioning of the athletes.
Despite losing valuable experience from a year ago, the Lyons will more than make up for that void with excellent leadership and team camaraderie. Plus, the new look adds an exciting dimension and element to the squad. Leading the Wheaton team will be a pair of St. Louis natives in junior co-captain Jamie Sallier (St. Louis, MO/Ladue Horton Watkins) and sophomore Beth Percy (St. Louis, MO/Parkway West). Percy, named to the Division III All-Collegiate team as a freshman, placed sixth in last year's solo routine. That finish coupled with a eighth-place mark in duet with Sallier enabled Percy to earn the meet's high-point scorer for all Division III athletes. Also performing solo at the national meet, Sallier placed 10th overall.
Percy will be the lone soloist for the Lyons while joining Sallier once again for duets. Sallier studied abroad last fall in Australia, but will return to the team in early January. Other duets for Wheaton will be junior Emily Padow (Richmond, VA/The Steward School) with freshman Jamie Olken (Rochester, NY/Brighton), junior co-captain Elizabeth Maga (Dayton, OH/Chaminade-Julienne) with first-year Blair Feldman (Tuscon, AZ/Green Fields Country Day School) and junior Kerri Moran (Hanson, MA/Whitman Hanson) with sophomore Aimee Sears (Norwell, MA/Thayer Academy).
The Lyons will feature a pair of trio routines, led by Sallier, Maga and Feldman. The second routine will consist of Padow, Olken and first-year Bevin Hughes (Akron, OH/Walsh Jesuit). Rounding out the Wheaton squad are sophomores Liana Cardillo (Bedford, NH/West), Andrea Barkoukis (Brecksville, OH/Gilmour Academy) and Joie Turmelle (Waterville, ME) and first-year Luisa Frontino (Mashpee, MA). Overall, Wheaton's team consists of four juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen.
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/21/07.
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