The Markham Synchro Club maintained its winning reputation this past weekend at the Central/North Regional Championships. The meet featured close to 200 competitors from 10 clubs, and covered the area from Toronto right up to Sault Ste. Marie.

Markham 's athletes were extremely successful, placing in 10 out of...

11 events that they entered. All of Markham's competitors qualified for the Ontario Tier Championships in May, and all eligible swimmers qualified for the prestigious Quebec-Ontario Cup at the end April.

Individual athletes compete in compulsory figures, which are a set of standard movements performed in front of a panel of judges. These figures scores compose 50% of the championship score.

Placing in Tier 1 were Maegan Austin (4 th ) and Michelle Clarke (5 th ). Alanna Scott placed 5 th in Tier 2 figures. Daniela Lato, who is new to Tier 4 this year placed 1 st by an entire point. The Tier 5 swimmers dominated the podium with Nicole Ashworth placing 1 st , Isabel Wyrzykowska placing 2 nd , Liz Lovell placing 3 rd , and Sara Lawrence placing 4 th . Kristin Hayes placed 1 st in Tier 9 figures.

Athletes then compete in a routine event where they swim either as a solo, duet, or team. This is the real crowd pleaser as the routine music and bathing suits are set to a theme and the excitement level is high.

Our Tier 1 swimmers; Maegan Austin, Michelle Clarke, Catalina Maass, and Brianna Wodehouse, coached by Amanda Jackson and Victoria Lee; placed first as a team in figures, first in routine, and first overall by almost 2 full points! Our Tier 2 team of Dianne Li, Constanza Maass, Alanna Scott, and Jenya Tkachenko , coached by Heidi Nemeth; had an excellent swim for their first competition. Our Tier 5 team, coached by Kim Beveridge, of Katija Aladin, Nicole Ashworth, Daniela Lato, Sara Lawrence, Liz Lovell, Dora Tahamatani, and Isabel Wyrzykowska who have had a very successful year thus far, placing 1 st at Ontario Winter Game Trials and 4 th at Ontario Winter Games continued their impressive run with a gold medal finish.

In the duet event Daniela Lato and Katija Aladin teamed up to place 2 nd in Tier 4. Nicole Ashworth and Isabel Wyrzykowska took the gold and are undefeated this season! Both duets are coached by Jennifer Kim.

In the Tier 9 solo event Kristen Hayes, coached by Kim Beveridge, placed first, defending her win from the last two years.

Markham 's youngest swimmers, the “minis”, who are 5-8 years old, also had an opportunity to show off their routine, much to the audience's delight!

The Markham Synchro Club swims out of the Markham Centennial Pool on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings. The club features both recreational and competitive levels and is always looking for new swimmers to join them! For further information please visit the website at www.synchrostars.ca