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2008-09 Synchronized Swimming Season Preview
November 4, 2008
Seniors Jenn Kaminska and Corenn Cookerly and junior Shannon Crowder will guide the Storm in 2008-09.
A seventh place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Nationals last season was a great accomplishment for a small Division III school competing against such Division I powerhouses as Ohio State University and Stanford University.
With the return of every member of its “A” team routine, including All-Collegiate swimmers Corenn Cookerly (Brownsburg, IN/Brownsburg) and Shannon Crowder (Durban, South Africa/Durban Girls College), the Storm look to improve on its national finish in 2008-09.
Head coach Nancy Wightman will count on Cookerly and Crowder to lead the Storm through its tough 11-match schedule that includes meets against the likes of Ohio State, Stanford, Penn State University, and Canisius College, among others.
Cookerly, a senior and three-time All-Collegiate performer, enjoyed a sensational junior campaign. She finished eighth in the solo routine, ninth in a trio routine, and eighth in the team routine at nationals. Before that, she claimed second place in the solo routine at the ECAC Championships.
Junior Brianne Lojo and sophomore Tracy Ringel will play a huge role in any Storm success in 2008-09.
South African native Crowder, a junior who was named the Synchronized Swimmer of the Year in her country, has also been an All-Collegiate swimmer each year she has swam. She placed 10th in the solo routine at nationals while also being a member of Keuka’s trio and team routines with Cookerly.
Also returning from the Storm’s “A” team are senior Jennifer Kaminska (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport), junior Brianne Lojo (Westfield, NJ/Union Catholic), and sophomore Tracy Ringel (Columbia, MD/Atholton). All were Academic All-Americans last season. Kaminska is the third swimmer in the Storm’s top trio. She also forms a powerful duet with Ringel, who took fifth at the ECACs last season. Lojo finished eighth in “C” figures at nationals.
Also back are juniors Courtney Karolinko (Boynton Beach, FL/Park Vista) and Sarah Silverman (Shrewsbury, MA/Shrewsbury) and sophomores Shannon O’Donnell (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) and Jessica Regelsberger (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Arcadia). Karolinko returns after a one-year absence from the team. Silverman and O’Donnell were Academic All-Americans last year.
New to the team this year will be Charlie Jane Clark (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Buffalo Seminary), Kristeena Griggs (Hamden, CT/Hamden), Megan Morehouse (Penn Yan, N.Y./Penn Yan), Alicia Wimmer (Brackney, PA/Montrose Area), and Kitara Wright (Springfield, VA/North Stafford).
The Storm will open its season with a home meet against Canisius College on Friday, Nov. 21 beginning at 4 pm.
