Twelve Gold Medals for New Canaan Aquianas at Regional Meet

The New Canaan YMCA Aquianas Synchronized swimming team traveled to Conklin, NY over the weekend of May 16-17 and came home with 14 gold, 15 silver and 4 bronze medals from the Regional Championships.  Teams comprised of 18 and under swimmers competed, representing teams from across the Connecticut, Massachusetts and the Central New York area.  New Canaan’s girls qualified to swim at this meet by placing in the top 4 routines at the recent association competition.

The Intermediate girls excelled, winning seven gold medals and five silvers in their events.  In compulsory figures, 10 and under swimmer Katherine Connolly won third place while Teresa Salamone took home the gold medal for the 11/12 group and Molly Flynn won the gold for the 13 and over category. 

In solos, Emily Nencioni placed second in the 10 and under event.  Salamone won her second gold medal of the day for her 11/12 solo.  Likewise, the gold medal for 13 and under solo went to Elissa Feist with a score of 53.352, over the second place soloist with 48.110.  The duet of Connolly and Eileen Flynn placed second.  11/12 duet partners Ashley Evans and Camilla Kline won a bronze medal.  Molly Flynn and Feist went on to take another gold medal for their 13 and under duet.  Trio competition followed with Katie Chidley, Lauren Vogel and Rachel Panzano winning silver in the 10 and under category while Annabel Hendrick, Natalia Londono and Salamone won gold for their 11/12 routine.

Last up for the intermediate girls were team events.  A silver medal was received  by 10 and unders Katie Chidley, Nencioni, Vogel, Panzano, Connolly and Eileen Flynn.  In the 11/12 Intermediate group, the team of Hendrick, Londono, Salamone, Evans, Kline and Clara Miller took first place, narrowly winning against a strong opponent from the ANA Synchers.   “We are part of a large region with many strong teams,” said Coach Thea Bardin.  “The intermediates worked hard to earn these medals, and we are very proud of them!”

The Age Group competitors then took to the pool and captured five gold and nine silver medals.  Starting with compulsory figures, the 10 and under silver medal went to Sierra Rojas-Thomas.  Likewise, Isabella Montgomery won second place in 11/12 figures with Anisha Khosla coming in third place.  13/15 swimmer Mina Shah won a silver medal for her figures.

Soloists Rojas-Thomas and Katie Farrell won first and second place, respectively, for their 10 and under group.  In 11/12 solo competition, Alexandra Lin won the silver medal.  Shah took home a second silver medal for her 13/15 solo performance with a score of 65.499.

In duet competition, partners Rojas-Thomas and Farrell won the gold for the 10 and unders while teammates Khosla and Montgomery took home the silver medal in the 11/12 group, narrowing missing first place to ANA Syncher duet by a mere half a point.  Rebecca Trinklein and Shah won first place for their 13/15 duet.

New Canaan’s 11-12 Age Group girls Lin, Khosla and Montgomery placed first in trios against stiff competition from ANA Synchers while teammates Emma Flynn, Ophelie Tousignant and Alice Chidley took home the bronze medal for their swim.  The 13/15 trio of Laura Cardi, Amelia Clark and Amanda McKenzie placed third in their event.

Ten and unders Rojas-Thomas and Farrell then teamed up with fellow Aquianas Lin, Emma Flynn, Khosla, Montgomery, Tousignant and Alice Chidley to swim the 11/12 team event.  New Canaan’s team swam well and was in second place after their routine.  “I was thrilled that they had such a good swim,” said Coach Krista Bessinger. ”This is a team comprised of some young swimmers as well as some experienced girls and they came together beautifully.”  The 13/15 team of Erin Wheeler, Cardi, Clark, Sarah Dittmeier, Molly Flynn, McKenzie, Jennifer O’Neill and Trinklein went on to capture the first place gold medal with a score of 60.247 while teammates Feist, Lenskiy, Selena Liu, Lauren Mayhew, Ankita Mukherjee, Shah, Diya Banerjee and Julianne Beck swam for a close second place with a score of 59.401

Next up for the Age Group swimmers are the National Age Groups at the University of Florida in Gainesville beginning June 23rd.

For those interested in trying synchronized swimming, the New Canaan YMCA Aquianas will be hosting a summer camp this July for girls aged 6-14.   The camp runs from 8:30 to 12:00 at the YMCA.  There will be three 2-week sessions (7/6-7/17, 7/20-7/31 and 8/3-8/14).  Participants will learn basic synchronized swimming skills, including extension, sculling and basic body positions.  In addition, participants will learn to swim together to music and learn a routine.  For further information, contact Coach Jen Muzyk at 966-4528, Ext 183.