2006 season preview
February 3, 2006
NORTON, MA- One of Wheaton College's oldest programs fields one of its youngest teams this season, as a synchronized swimming squad comprised of 12 members includes just three juniors and no seniors.
However, a year removed from improving upon its collegiate championship finish by one placement for the second consecutive campaign, placing seventh out of 25 teams, third-year head coach Anna Eng expects another season of improvement.
"The goal is to keep moving up and to get stronger and stronger," said Eng. "Figures could make a big difference for us, and we are placing an emphasis on technique. We will be disappointed if we don't at least maintain last year's placement this year, but I already know with the camaraderie on this team that they are enjoying this year more than any other."
Eng said the team's theme this season is to draw upon the characteristics of Wheaton's mascot, a lion. "You need to be courageous, proud and have heart to be good at what you do," said Eng, whose Lyons have recorded top-10 finishes at the last 17 collegiate championships.
Wheaton boasts the last two C figures national champs at the United States Collegiate Championship as its co-captains, with junior Elizabeth Corman (Saint Paul, MN/Hill-Murray School), the 2004 champ and second-year captain, joining sophomore Megan Kinney (Los Angeles, CA/Marlborough School). Eng has praised her captains for their leadership abilities.
Eng anticipates that her A team will include the captains along with junior Sarah Swinkin (Hamden, CT/Hamden), sophomore Esther Kovacs (Windham, NH/Academy of Notre Dame) and freshmen Sharada Strasmore (Weston, CT/Weston) and Sylvia Syracuse (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore West).
The B team will perform more difficult routines this year than in the past, as executing elements such as lifts can be a tall order, the coach stated. Junior Renata Paglio (Portland, ME/Deering), sophomores Laura Fleck (Auburn, ME/Hebron Academy), Perri Kapp (Yarmouth Port, ME/Dennis-Yarmouth Regional), Ru-Huey Yen (Des Moines, IA/Abraham Lincoln) and Ru-Shyan Yen (Des Moines, IA/Abraham Lincoln) and freshman Kelly Maby (Woodhaven, NY/Richmond Hill) comprise the squad.
Kovacs and Syracuse will participate in the duet competition during the season's opening meet, and Strasmore is expected to join them to complete the trio upon returning from injury. Corman, Kinney and Swinkin constitute Wheaton's other threesome, as Eng plans to choose duet combinations from each of the two trios. Kovacs and Strasmore will serve as the Lyons' soloists.
Swinkin should contend for a national C figures title at the collegiate championship, while the rest of Wheaton's A team will swim B figures and the entire B team will compete in D figures.
"I want to be in a place where the team can go into the collegiate championship confident, realizing that they've done everything they can possibly do to be the best they can be that weekend," said Eng. "Since the quantity of athletes isn't there, the quality must be top notch."
The Lyons open the season on February 4 by competing at Keuka College against Keuka and University of the Incarnate Word before traveling to the University of Pennsylvania Invitational on February 11. Wheaton's following two meets occur at Balfour Natatorium, as the Blue and White hosts the Wheaton Invitational on February 18 and a field of nearly 10 teams during the East Collegiate Regional on March 4.
"The team is excited to host regionals this year and extremely excited to host the 2007 collegiate championship," said Eng. "With a good home crowd, there's an instant energy boost that raises the level of performance."
After the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship at Keuka on March 18 and 19, Wheaton travels to the U.S. Collegiate Championship on March 23 through 25 at Stanford University. Should they qualify, the Lyons would take part in the U.S. National Championship from April 27 to 29 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/21/07.
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Wheaton runs top-10 streak at Collegiate Championship to 20 years (more)
Two figures wins propel Wheaton to third at ECAC Championship (more)
Lyons place third among seven teams at East Collegiate Regional (more)
7-Dec Sat New England Figure Meet H TBA
9-Jan Fri Puerto Rico Routines A TBA
12-Jan Mon Puerto Rico Figures A TBA
29-Mar Collegiate Championship - 8th
23-Mar ECAC Championship - 3rd
2-Mar East Collegiate Regional - 3rd
