The Calgary Aquabelles won the coveted junior team national crown today at the 2016 Shiseido Canadian Open Sycnhronized Swimming Championships held at the Talisman Centre in Calgary.
The host club wowed the home crowd with a powerful rendition of their Phoenix routine to post a combined score of 153.4848 and capture gold. The Regional Training Centre – Ontario posted the second highest score of 152.3524 and, as a Training Centre entry, shared their silver medal with Montreal Synchro who followed at 148.5863. Quebec Excellence Synchro won bronze with 148.5558.
In open international competition, Mexico, represented by its Junior National Team, captured gold with a combined score of 154.2641.
Free Combo Finals
In the free combo finals, Montreal Synchro improved on its preliminary score by more than a point to claim its first combo national title in five years with their far west routine that earned them a score of 80.3000. The Aquabelles, swimming to an Olympic-themed routine, won silver with 79.2000 while Quebec Excellence Synchro received 76.1333 points for their Star Wars routine, winning bronze for their efforts.
In the international rankings, the Mexican Junior National Team received a strong 83.2333 points for their original Moulin Rouge routine and won gold.
Senior Team Finals
In the senior free team finals, the Aquabelles captured their second team gold of the day with a mark of 77.1333, a whopping 5 point improvement from their National Qualifier score. The Regional Training Centre – Ontario posted the second highest score of 75.9333 and, as a Training Centre entry, shared their silver medal with Québec Excellence Synchro. Dollard Synchro claimed the bronze medal.
Senior Duet Free Finals
Yesterday’s senior solo free champion, Ioana Gheta, from Synchro Laval, won her second gold medal in as many days, this time in the senior duet free event with her sister Maria. Their score of 77.4000 earned them first spot ahead of Brooke Brimo and Melody Roy from Montreal Synchro at 75.5667. Gabrielle Cadotte and Emmanuelle Chachai, also from Montréal Synchro, completed the podium with 72.0333.
Pat Murray Trophy for Top Junior Athlete
Andrée-Anne Côté, from Québec Excellence Synchro, was awarded the Pat Murray Trophy as the top Junior Athlete of the competition, presented to a junior athlete who participates in all four junior events and achieves the best rankings. This week, Côté placed first in the duet event, second in solo and figures, and third in team.
Coaches Awards
In addition to the 10 national champions crowned this week, two coaches received awards for their work over the past season.
The 2016 Suzanne Eon Trophy, presented yearly to the coach who displays all around abilities in the Solo, Duet, Team and Combo at the Canadian Open, was awarded to Aurora Synchro’s Jennifer Parker, from Edmonton.
The 2016 Charlotte Tutte Trophy, who is presented every year to a coach who reflects the philosophy of Charlotte Tutte in developing team spirit and enhancing the growth of athletes as individuals and competitors was awarded to Kasia Kulesza, from Quebec Excellence Synchro.