Montes to represent Puerto Rico at Central American and Caribbean Games

NORTON, MA- Wheaton College synchronized swimming senior Laura Montes (San Juan, PR/Academia San Jose) has been chosen as a member of Puerto Rico's national synchronized swimming team, which will compete over the summer at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

The event, which will run from July 17 to August 1, takes place every four years, with the 2010 version the 21st competition since it began in 1926. The CAC Games are the oldest continuous regional competition, with only the Olympics having a longer history. Thirty-two countries were represented during the 2006 event, while 7,000 athletes competed in 2002.

Montes previously competed internationally as a member of Puerto Rico's national team from 2000-06. A second-year Lyon captain, Montes has earned United States Synchronized Swimming (USSS) All-Collegiate honors three times. In addition to helping Wheaton place among the top 10 at the U.S. Collegiate Championship each of her first three years, Montes performed solo and team routines during the U.S. National Championship in 2009. The team routine was the first performed by the Lyons at the meet since 1996.

Wheaton looks to extend its top-10 streak at the U.S. Collegiate Championship to 22 years when it heads to Stanford University next week. The three-day meet begins on Thursday.