Sea Sprites pleased with showing at North Zone meet / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, March 12, 2007

Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center earns rave reviews as site of synchronized swimming competition

March 12, 2007

Complete with a miniature Aladdin-style lamp in tow, the Kansas City Sea Sprites brought a little Arabian flavor to the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.

Moving to the choreographed theme of "Arabian Nights," the Kansas City-based synchronized swimming club team finished fourth with 72.353 points during Sunday's 2007 North Zone Championships.

"It went really well," said Heidi Fogle of the Sea Sprites. "It's definitely hard competition, and we swam our hearts out."

The Indy Synchro team represented the most difficult competition, finishing first among the eight teams of the North Zone, which stretches as far north as Wisconsin and as far west as Colorado.

The Synchro scored 75.188 while incorporating themes from the natural elements of earth, wind and fire. They also finished first in trios (75.891 points) and second in solos (77.53) and duets (73.9).

"They had an excellent swim," said first-year Synchro coach Stephanie Raftery. "I could tell just from the dive in that they were competing as a team."

Approached for an interview after her team received its medals, Raftery said it would have to wait. Earlier in the week, she had promised her girls they could throw her into the pool if they won.

"I've thrown my coaches in," said Raftery, her clothes drenched. "I guess it was an initiation into the coaching world."

The Sea Sprites served as the host school, but Sunday's event took place in the Aquatic Center because Kansas City did not have a facility that could accommodate all the swimmers and spectators. The Lawrence pool drew rave reviews.

Photo by Rachel Seymour

THE KANSAS CITY SEA SPRITES compete in the team finals at the 2007 North Zone Championship. The Sea Sprites finished fourth as a team Sunday in the synchronized swimming competition in the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.

"It was a great pool to swim in," Raftery said. "It's just this open, wonderful facility - very new, very well-kept, very clean."

Fogle, a 17-year-old who will attend Stanford University next year, scored a 73.66 for fifth place during solos. Her theme was "Tomb Raider," and she performed to a wide range of music, including techno.

"I like it a lot," Fogle said. "It has a nice variety."

The Sea Sprites' Meredith McKaig finished seventh in solos with a 72.462. Emma Mrkonic, Bernadette Myers and Fogle finished fourth in trios with a 72.581. Mrkonic and Myers finished fifth with a 72.708 in duets and also qualified for U.S. Juniors competition for 17-and-under girls.

Veterans Fogle and McKaig anchored the Sea Sprites, which should not come as a surprise.

Marilyn Deister, who has coached the Sea Sprites since founding the team in 1951, praised the diligence of the two girls, who practice five times a week.

"They work so hard," Deister said. "They won't stay home. ... If I practiced them seven times a week, they'd manage to be there."

Sunday's competition completed the four-day event, which drew girls and coaches from all over the country.

"It's the best sport in the world," Deister said.