Figures and Finals

This past weekend we hosted an competed in our anual New England figure meet. Everyone did a great job and showed off our slow and controlled figures. The judges and our coaches were pleased with the outcome! This week is our last week together before heading off to sunny California. With that being said practices are getting tough but we are pushing through and showing our strength. Keep up the good work both in and out of the pool.

http://athletics.wheatoncollege.edu/sports/synchro/2011-12/releases/20111204t4o1at

~Rebecca

The New Wheaton

Hey everyone!

We just got back from a nice break... from school that is. Now its back to the pool for the wheaton lyons. We are preparing for our figure meet this weekend where we will be hosting, competing and volunteering. We are so excited to show off our new outfitting that has a more althetic feel to it. Although we're cute and cuddly, were tough and determined Wish us luck!

When Times get Tough, the Tough Get Swimming

Hey all,
We have been very busy these last few weeks as we move along to the more extensive phases of our training program. The team is getting excited for our upcoming training trip in San Diego California in the beginning of December. We will be staying in the home of one of our captains, Christiana Butera and training at the City of La Mesa Municipal Pool from December 18th-23rd.
Our team routine is progressing rapidly and we are already working on writing the end of the 3rd lap and its not even Thanksgiving break yet!! We are definitely further along in both choreography and skill than in past years at this time. Keep up the great work ladies.
~Rebecca

And so it begins

Hey All,

Practice has been going great these last weeks as the team continues to improve. On Friday we worked on goal setting for the year and are really striving to be CRISP in all of our moves. We have already started writing our team routine and have the first lap done which is more than we have had at this time in past years. After tryouts last week, the team was named as well as the small routines. At the moment we are seeing drastic improvements among all the swimmers.
Last Tuesday we did a demonstration for a company in Cape Cod. We were so honored to be the entertainment for the evening and were treated like Olympians. It was our first opportunity to see how the freshmen perform under pressure and they did an excellent job!!!

Although we are approaching a much needed October break, we will be land drilling daily and be back in the pool on Wednesday.

~Rebecca

Happy Synchro New Year!

Hey everyone,

The first two weeks of practice have been great. We feed off of each others energy and have a strong team bond already. Our three freshmen have been a great addition to our team. At the end of this week we will hold team tryouts where we will be performing a quick paced and fun tryout routine. From watching my teammates swim in groups, it feels great to say we are already stronger than we have been in past years.


It has been difficult at first to manage our scholastics with our added practice on Thursday evenings but we can do anything and in time it will become easier. The second practice is a great way for us to get use to swimming in the late afternoon when most of our competitions occur. Hopefully these great new changes as well as our daily gymnastics warm up will take the team to the next level.

Have a great week,
~Rebecca Gordon

Summer

Its finally the end. It has been a great year full of many accomplishments and great new friendships. We are so excited for our incoming freshmen and are already looking forward to next season. One of our final team projects was a clinic we hosted on Sunday. We had a great time teaching and writing routines with local club teams as well as working on other skills and techniques. It was a successful day and we are so glad to be able to help and form a close bond with age group swimmers. Finals are coming up and although we are stressed and overwhelmed, we still find time for each other because even when we are out of the pool we are a team and we are best friends. After spending months seeing the same people multiple times a day you would think we would need a break but the truth is, we don't really know what life would be like without each other. I know I will definitely miss my girls and will be on Skype daily with my best friends. Synchro is a part of us not only for the sport but for the experience and relationships that come out of it. Until next season, ~Rebecca

US Collegiate Nationals 2011

The Wheaton College synchronized swimming team recorded its highest finish at a U.S. Collegiate Championship since 2002, as the Lyons placed sixth out of 21 teams

Results

Synchronized Swimming Championships

March 16 - 19 Tonowanda, NY

Overall Team Trophy

Ohio State University 193.0

Stanford University 290.0

University of Incarnate Word 375.0

Canisius College 463.0

Lindenwood University 562.5

Wheaton College 648.5

Gator Synchro 747.0

University of Richmond 834.5

Wheaton College synchronized swimming junior Christiana Butera (San Diego, CA/Academy of Our Lady of Peace) is believed to be the first NCAA Division III swimmer named to a U.S. national team, as she was one of 12 athletes selected to represent her country at the 14th FINA World Aquatics Championships from July 16-31 in Shanghai, China.

The roster includes five returning athletes from the 2010 national team that took sixth at last year's competition. Team USA began training on January 24 in Indianapolis, Indiana, home of USA Synchro national headquarters and sponsor Saint Vincent Sports Performance (SVSP). With Butera in the midst of her college season, she will join the national team later this year.

"The whole thing seemed unreal," said Butera, referring to her reaction when learning she'd made the team. "I was in complete disbelief. Even when I realized I had a good chance of making it, I had no real concept of what that meant until they called my name. I was so incredibly proud, honored and excited."

Butera's selection comes on the heels of former teammate Laura Montes '10 being chosen as a member of Puerto Rico's national synchronized swimming team that competed last summer at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

WHEATON SWIMMER REPRESENTS!

USA Synchro Names

2011 U.S. World Championship Team

Indianapolis, Ind. –

USA Synchro named the 2011 National Synchronized Swimming Team

which will represent the United States at the 14th FINA World Aquatics Championships later this

year. The elite international competition which features all four aquatics sports, will take place

July 16-31, in Shanghai, China.

The roster includes five returning athletes from the 2010 National Team which finished sixth at

last year’s FINA World Cup. Team USA will begin training on January 24 in Indianapolis, Ind.,

home of the USA Synchro National Headquarters and sponsor St. Vincent Sports Performance

(SVSP). The National Team will split training time between the IU Natatorium on the campus of

IUPUI and SVSP.

The 2011 National Team will be coached by

Mayuko “Mayu” Fujiki. Fujiki, who competed for Japan, earned a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. As a coach, Fujiki has served on the coaching staffs of Italy, Australia, Japan, Greece, Hungary, and most recently, Spain, where she led the 2010 Spanish National Team to an overall Gold Medal finish, topping synchro powerhouse Russia at the FINA World Trophy.

The 2010 U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Team includes:

Christiana Butera

(Wheaton College), Morgan Fuller (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Megan Hansley

(New Canaan, Conn.), Heidi Homma (Orinda, Calif.), Mary Killman (McKinney, Texas),

Danielle Kramer (Santa Clara, Calif.), Jourdan Meltzer (Oakland, Calif.), Michelle Moore

(Tonawanda,N.Y.), Leah Pinette (Bristol, Conn.), Brooke Taylor (Las Vegas, Nev), Lyssa Wallace

(San Antonio, Texas), Katy Wiita (Vancouver, Wash.) and Alison Williams* (Northridge, Calif.)