Aquianas Third in Country at US Junior Championships

     The New Canaan YMCA Aquianas Synchronized Swim team returned from the US Junior National Championships, held April 2-4 in Federal Way WA, with much more than medals. For the second year in a row, the team has come in third in overall team points, continuing to break the stranglehold that the Western region teams have traditionally held in the sport. The ten girl squad placed six routines in the top ten, up from four last year and qualified four athletes for the Junior National Team trials. This is no easy feat when competing against the powerhouse Western region teams of Santa Clara, Walnut Creek, Riverside and the Arizona Aquastars.
     The compulsory figures were first up for the New Canaan girls. Madison Crocker, who took the bronze medal in compulsory figures last year, won the gold medal, beating 200 athletes. “This is the first gold we have ever taken in figures at this meet” said Coach Laura Mase. “For Madison to get the gold plus to have three other girls go through to the next round of trials was amazing. It’s a testament to how hard they have been working on their compulsory figures this year. On the international stage, figures are extremely important and we want New Canaan girls to be able to compete with the best”. Megan Hansley, who also qualified in 2007 and 2008, took 11th in figures, Chelsea Aton was 20th and Kelsey Smith 25th. The top 32 figure winners move onto the next round of trials for the Junior National Team. The Junior National Team will be made up of 10 swimmers and will compete at the Pan American Junior Championships in Huntersville, NC this August. 
     Chelsea Aton then swam her solo and improved on her 2007 performance. Her routine came in 10th, up from 17st last year. “Solo is a really tough event. To make it into the top ten is a big deal "said Aquianas coach Jen Muzyk. 
     The Aquianas continued their strong showing in the Duet event. The Aquianas qualified two duets in finals, up from one last year. The duet of Madison Crocker and Colleen Courtmanche was third in semi finals and then went on to take the silver medal with a score of 77.034, narrowly behind the Riverside duet (77.459). New Canaan's duet of Chelsea Aton and Megan Hansley came out of semi finals in 8th place and had a fantastic swim in finals, moving up to 4th place with a score of 76.43. "Moving up four places in an event which is this competitive is almost unheard of" said their coach Krista Bessinger. "They had an awesome swim and their figures were strong and it showed in their results". New Canaan’s duet of Marina Hoffman and Kelsey Smith placed 18th with a score of 75.421. 
     The New Canaan trios continued to keep the Aquianas busy. The trio of Alison Commender, Dana McLachlin and Mina Shah performed the pre-swim to warm up the judges for the trio event. For the second year in a row, New Canaan placed two trios in the top ten. Crocker, Courtmanche and Hansley took the silver medal with a score of 77.191, up from a third place finish last year. “We were so excited to take the silver. We always look to do better than the year before and we were thrilled to break onto the medal stand last year with the bronze. " said Hansley. The newly formed trio of Rebecca Gordon, Marina Hoffman and Kelsey Smith went into finals in 8th place. Their strong routine swim in finals moved them into 7th place, ahead of Santa Clara.
     In the team event the Aquianas team of Aton, Courtmanche, Crocker, Gordon, Hansley, Hoffman, McLachlin, and Smith (with alternates Commender and Shah) came in 4th, the highest they have ever placed at this meet. "They have placed 5th for two years in a row and were working hard all season to improve their ranking. The competition is always tough. You have to work so hard to beat these West Coast teams. New Canaan has won the Eastern Zone for nine years running but nationally, it is a different story” said coach Mase. “They were the only team from outside the Western region to make it into finals and to win fourth place was a great accomplishment” Santa Clara took the gold, defending champions Walnut Creek the silver, and the Arizona Aquastars the bronze. 
     Up next for the Aquianas is the Connecticut Association Championships in Hamden, CT the weekend of April 25-26.