The Santa Clara Aquamaids had a spectacular showing at the 2013 US National Team Synchronized Swimming Trials. After three days of competition among top athletes from across the U.S., 21 of 28 Aquamaids swimmers placed to the 50 U.S. National Team spots. Swimmers are between the ages of nine and 17-years-old.
Rebecca Moody, the youngest swimmer to be selected on the phase 1B of US Senior Team will represent the US at the 2013 World Aquatic Championship Games in Barcelona, Spain.
In addition to the solo, Moody is swimming a duet with Karensa Tjoa.
Head Coach Chris Carver, who is traveling with Moody to Spain said, “I have watched and trained Becca and Karensa for many years and they have blossomed as fine athletes and strong competitors … we will have to naturally train harder because now they will be competing on the world stage.”
Jasmine Pulido, Sarah Rodriguez and Claire Wang, who are on the Senior U.S. Open training squad, competed at the U.S. Open Championships in Texas, July 9 through 13.
The Aquamaids had an equally terrific showing in the US Junior National Team trials with Claire Barton, Katie Gu, Isabel Malcolmson and Karensa Tjoa all selected to represent the U.S. at the UANA Pan American Championship in Puerto Rico in August.
Six of the 12 swimmers on the 13-15 U.S. National team, who will represent the U.S. at the UANA Pan American Championship, are Aquamaids – Nicole Dzurko, Celine Joo, Rachel Lau, Jacklyn Lau, Leilah Talukder and Rachel Ye. Joo became a U.S. citizen this year.
Leilah Talukder and Joo, with Jacklyn Luu as alternate, were selected to compete at the 2013 COMEN Cup competition in Andorra, Spain in the 13-15-age duet.
The Aquamaids’ younger athletes in the 11-12 US National Team, comprised of Chesnie Cheung, Kate Chow, Hailee Heinrich, Kaitlyn Hoang, Colleen Li, Audrey Nguyen and Celine Wang, will be training for two weeks at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.
When asked how Aquamaids perform at a high level of excellence, Carver said, “Aquamaids takes a long and patient view in building each swimmer from novice all the way to our senior girls. We have athletes from ages 10 and under, 11-12, 13-15, juniors and seniors team. Each age group requires very specialized coaching experience, style and skills. As coaches, we have on our team Aquamaids swimmers who are now coaches and all the way to Olympians and Olympic level coaches on our team. When a young athlete 8-10 walks into Aquamaids they will have a clear ladder to climb as high as they want all the way to the Olympics if they have the passion, dedication and will do so.”
“Aquamaids success comes from our mission and our concept of a ‘Golden Triangle,'” said Francis Sargent, president of Aquamaids. “We continually focused on tightly binding the three constituencies the girls, the coaches and the parents and we are focused on helping our athletes achieve their goals.”
