2010 synchronized swimming season preview

NORTON, MA- Entering her third season, Wheaton College synchronized swimming head coach Rebecca Story's roster includes seven athletes she drew from six states, as her first two recruiting classes comprise 70 percent of the squad in 2010.

Beyond the numbers, one of Story's major goals by this stage of her career was to assemble an eight-woman routine whose members possess equal skill.  "We've had numbers, but we haven't had eight women with a similar ability level to be able to put on the same team," said Story.  "It's a progression you hope to make with each passing year."

The Lyons are coming off a season in which they sent a team routine to the U.S. National Championship for the first time since 1996.  Finishing ninth in the country at the U.S. Collegiate Championship, Wheaton took first at three separate meets while besting rival Keuka College during a dual competition.  The Lyons also placed second at the East Collegiate Regional meet and third at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship.

"Last year provided the 'wow' effect," said Story, who put an emphasis on the team wanting to make an impression that people were going to remember.  "This year we want to add to that and do the unexpected.  One of the things the athletes aim for is to have a perfect swim every time.  We're striving toward that perfection."

Returning to the coaching staff for a second season is former four-year swimmer Sarah Swinkin '07, whose younger sister Jenna is a senior on this year's squad.  "Sarah provides another set of eyes, fresh eyes, during practices and meets," said Story, "which for the team routine is especially helpful.  Her nurturing personality and coaching style complement mine well, as I oftentimes get very focused during practices and meets."

Story acknowledges the lineup for the team routine is pretty well set but could change based on performance.  The lone two upperclassmen on that routine are senior co-captains Laura Montes (San Juan, PR/Academia San Jose) and Jenna Swinkin (Hamden, CT/Hamden).  Swinkin is in her third year captaining the Lyons, while Montes is in the midst of her second.

Joining the seniors on the team routine for a second straight year are sophomores Christiana Butera (San Diego, CA/Academy of Our Lady of Peace), Amanda Chils (Lakeland, FL/George Jenkins) and Anastasia Hare (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Seminary).  Freshmen Christine Dyster (Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol), Rebecca Gordon (North Haven, CT/North Haven) and Kirsten Wendth (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa) complete the eight-member team.

Currently listed as the team routine alternate is first-year Elizabeth Watkins (Indianapolis, IN/University High School of Indiana), who knows practically every position of the routine.  Junior Sarah Bertrand (Derry, NH/Pinkerton Academy) will swim figures.

With nearly half of Wheaton's swimmers new to the program, Story acknowledged there being a tough transition this time around.  "The personalities of the freshmen were all different," said Story.  "Plus, their strengths also varied, and the returners have different strengths, so the gelling took some time.  The returners have done an excellent job of showing the freshmen what's important to the program and ensuring everyone is on the same page."

A three-time all-collegiate qualifier, Montes performed solo and team routines at last year's U.S. National Championship.  Winning 12 events as a junior, Montes will once again serve as the team's soloist while joining Chils and Dyster as part of a Wheaton trio.  For figures, Montes is the lone Lyon competing in the A category.

Swinkin, who performed in the duet and team competitions at the 2009 U.S. national meet, will join Butera and Wendth for Wheaton's other trio routine.  Swinkin is slated to compete in B figures.  Due to a restructuring of figures at the national level, most of Wheaton's athletes will also fall under the B category, including Butera, Chils, Gordon, Hare and Wendth.

As freshmen, Butera and Chils took part in the duet and team routines at the U.S. National Championship.  Butera, an all-collegiate swimmer, won 10 events in 2009, while Chils, last year's national champion in C figures, was victorious in 15 events.  Hare was also a member of last year's team routine at the national championship.

This winter's three duets will be comprised of Butera and Gordon, Chils and Wendth, and Dyster and Watkins.  Rounding out the figures spots are Dyster and Watkins in the C category and Bertrand in D.  Four different Lyons captured C figures national championships in the last six years.

"Trios are pretty much based on skill," said Story, "as there's a tryout we go through.  The selection to a duet also necessitates skill, but they are more put together for progression purposes because you score fewer points and have a more difficult time qualifying for nationals.  There is a learning curve, as usually one swimmer possesses something that the other swimmer doesn't."

The Lyons are at Boston University this Saturday before returning home for the two-day Wheaton Invitational beginning on January 30.  The team then heads to New York for the Canisius Invitational the following Saturday before taking part in the combined East Collegiate Regional and ECAC meet the weekend of February 20-21.

This year's U.S. Collegiate Championship is slated to take place at Stanford University from March 11-13, while the three-day U.S. National Championship is scheduled to begin on April 15 in Huntersville, North Carolina.