The syncro team is Wheaton's only Division I varsity sport and has performed competitively for 21 years.

Synchro starts new era under Story

By: Jake Foley '10

Posted: 2/13/08

The Wheaton Synchronized Swimming team has had a great track record of success. The Synchro team competes against elite teams of all levels, from regional club teams to the top ranked Division I squads.

To maintain a level of excellence, intense physical and mental preparation goes into creating and performing each routine that the team does, amounting to about 20 hours a week of choreographing, dry-land training, swimming, learning the routines, and coating hair with Knox Gelatin so it stays in place.

New head coach Rebecca Story brings 16 years experience, including a year of trials with the U.S. National Synchro Team. Because of this, Wheaton has even higher expectations for what they hope to achieve in this and coming years.

Story, who has competed against Wheaton in past years while swimming and coaching for rival school Keuka College, feels as though her experience of competing against Wheaton's upcoming opponents in her career coupled with a number of young, talented swimmers that compose the team are just what the team needs to give them the necessary competitive edge to elevate their game.

"It's very important for us to do everything we can to keep ourselves competitive, especially with a shorthanded team," says Story. "Our girls have to be at their peak performance if we want to distinguish ourselves as an even more elite team than we already are."

In synchronized swimming, teams typically perform four kinds of routines: solos, duets, trios, and team. Team routines require 8 swimmers, and are penalized precious tenths of points for each missing member. For many years, Wheaton has only swam 7 members, so before each competition, they're already trailing in the scoring.

This fact makes their success and desire for stepping up their performance that much more commendable.

"We have to make our routines just that much better if we want to compete at that higher level," said Story. "And this year, with only one senior on the team, I really believe that we have the talent and routines needed to go in the direction we're aiming for, to be the best we possibly can and to represent Wheaton in the same manner."

The Wheaton Sychronized Swimming team began their road to higher achievement with an impressive showing at Canisius College this past weekend, and continue their season with a home meet last Saturday, February 9th in Haas Athletic Center.

Other upcoming events include the Charity Alumni Watershow, and a Wheaton inter-sport promotional meet, both scheduled for the early spring.

"We're trying to get people excited about our team and what we can do," adds Story. "If we can get as many people on campus as involved in this sport as we are, then we're well on our way to making a bigger name for ourselves."