Lyons record highest finish in five years at U.S. Collegiates

PALO ALTO, CA- The Wheaton College synchronized swimming team completed the third and final day of the 34th annual U.S. Collegiate Championship with its 22nd consecutive top-10 finish, as the Lyons claimed seventh place following Saturday's competition at Stanford University's Avery Aquatic Center.

Reaching its highest national placement since taking seventh in 2005, Wheaton tallied 45.5 points, just 2.5 shy of Division I University of Florida.  The Lyons, who finished as the top Division III school, were behind four Division I programs, including champion Ohio State University.

Senior co-captain Jenna Swinkin (Hamden, CT/Hamden), sophomore Christiana Butera (San Diego, CA/Academy of Our Lady of Peace) and freshman Kirsten Wendth (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa) got things underway with an 11th-place result during trio, finishing 0.125 points out of 10th with 81.375 points.

Two Lyons had strong showings during the solo event, as Butera and senior co-captain Laura Montes (San Juan, PR/Academia San Jose) landed a pair of top-10 placements.  Butera came in eighth with 82.000 points, while Montes' 81.500 points were good for 10th, as Wheaton was one of three schools to have two competitors turn in top-10 marks.

To cap off the meet, Wheaton overtook one of regional power Canisius College's squads during the team routine and placed ninth, as Butera, Montes, Swinkin and Wendth joined sophomores Amanda Chils (Lakeland, FL/George Jenkins) and Anastasia Hare (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Seminary) and freshmen Christine Dyster (Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol) and Rebecca Gordon (North Haven, CT/North Haven).