Wheaton College selected to host 2007 United States Synchronized Swimming Collegiate Championship
November 1, 2005
By Sean Kelly '06
Wheaton Sports Information
Wheaton College was recently selected to host the 2007 United States Synchronized Swimming Collegiate Championship, once again moving Norton, Massachusetts into the national spotlight. The 2007 championship will mark the third time in a 16-season span that Wheaton has presided over the national event after hosting in 1992 and 2002.
"We're excited to host the championship," stated Wheaton synchronized swimming coach Anna Eng, who is now entering her third season with the Lyons. "It is something we are doing for the Wheaton community. We are bringing the best of the best. There will be national champions, former Olympians and future Olympians."
The Lyons are coming off a strong 2005 campaign, having finished as the top Division III team in the country while placing seventh overall at last year's collegiate championship. The seventh-place standing marked a steady improvement for Wheaton, moving up from an eighth-place finish in 2004 and a ninth-place result in 2003. The Lyons are currently riding an impressive streak of 17 straight top-10 finishes.
The last time Wheaton hosted the national championship in 2002, the Lyons made the opportunity a memorable one by finishing in fifth place, equaling the highest placement ever by a Wheaton synchronized swimming team.
"We always have such a great and supportive crowd at our home meets," declared Eng. "It is crucial, because as a swimmer the crowd really raises the level of your performance. Hopefully 2007 will yield similar results."
With the addition of teams at Babson College and Smith College, the event will also serve as an opportunity to invoke interest in synchro and help the sport expand in New England and the Northeast region.
"We have a lot of club teams nearby, such as Boston University, MIT and the University of Rhode Island," said Eng. "As one of the few varsity teams in the area, we really put a lot of effort into helping them grow. Having nationals so close to home makes it more affordable for those teams that are either mostly or entirely subsidized by the students."
As one of the oldest and more storied programs at Wheaton, synchronized swimming has served as an archetype for the school's athletic prowess in the national collegiate community. The 2007 championship will occur on the eve of Wheaton synchro's 70th anniversary, which will be commemorated in 2008.
"During the week's events we will have an alumnae reception connecting the swimmers of the past with the swimmers of the present," stated Eng. "I hope any alumnae who are able to attend will join us for the week to support the program."
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