The University of the Incarnate Word synchronize swimming team finished the 2011 Collegiate Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, in third place on Saturday, scoring 75 points and finishing behind champion Ohio State (93.0) and Stanford University (90.0).
The Cardinals were led by Saki Fujise, who swam her way to a second place finish in the solo competition, scoring a 91.375 (the winner was Yuliya Maryanko from Ohio State with a 91.625).
Fujise was also part of the UIW Red Squad who finished third in the Team Event finals, scoring a 91.375. Also swimming for the Red team were Brianna Andreychuk, Emily Burkhart, Molly Knight, Anna Nelson, Elizabeth Norton, Rosilyn Tegart and Monica Tomczak.
The Cardinal Black team (members consisting of Alexandra Cox, Carolina Davidson, Amanda Holtz, Leah Johnson, Natalie Krakoski, Ingrid Lundblad, Rochelle Mattern and Hannah Roadruck) finished 7th with an 87.250.
In the Trio event, the two UIW teams finished 5th and 7th, respectively. The 5th place unit, made up of Burkhart, Nelson and Tegart, scored an 88.000 while the 7th place team, made up of Andreychuk, Knight and Tomczak, finished with an 86.375.
In the duets, the team of Fujise and Burkhart swam to a score of 89.250 and finished in fourth place, overall.
The third place finish is equal to the finish that the Cardinals achieved last season – their most successful as a program – but this season, UIW is not tied with Canisius College (the event's host school) for third as Incarnate Word outscored Canisius, 75 to 63.
Another note as to the significance of the Cardinals' effort this weekend: Due to plane troubles back in February, the UIW synchro team was unable to compete in the 2011 Regional Championships (an event UIW had won for five straight seasons) and unable to have that extra competition for the team to improve their routines. Despite having missed out on that chance to compete and get some in-competition experience, especially for the program's younger swimmers, Incarnate Word still went to the Collegiate Championships and took third.
Up next, UIW will prep for the 2011 National Championships, which allows club teams not associated with colleges or universities to compete against teams like Ohio State, UIW and Stanford.
