Santa Clara Aquamaids
Encyclopedia
Santa Clara Aquamaids is a synchronized swimming
team located in Santa Clara, California
. The ages of the athletes stretch from age six to thirty six. Their mission is to "To champion the pursuit of excellence in the international sport of synchronized swimming." The club, a non-profit, member supported team creates nationally ranked synchronized swimmers of all ages. The Aquamaids have produced over 60% of all Olympic Synchronized Swimmers representing the United States since the sport became and Olympic event in 1952.
In 1984, Chris Carver was appointed head coach. Even with no history of participating in the actual sport, her innovative choreography and her great attention to detail is what makes the Aquamaids national champions. She has received the "Coach of the Year" award every year for the past fourteen years.
In 2000, Carver was appointed the head coach of the 2000 Summer Olympic Synchronized Swim Team. The nine-member team consisted of seven Aquamaids. The team consisted of Carrie Barton, Anna Kozlova
, Bridget Finn, Kristina Lum, Elicia Marshall, Tuesday Middaugh, and Kim Wurtzel. The duet of Anna Kozlova
and Tuesday Middaugh also competed. The team came close to a metal, placing fourth. The duet didn't place as well as the team did.
In 2003, Carver and her team were determined as ever before to become a successful team. After three years of training, the same team who competed in the 2000 Olympics competed in the 2003 Pan-American Games. Where the team took a gold metal, and the duet of Anna Kozlova
and Tuesday Middaugh took home a gold metal as well.
In 2004, the first two athletes to compete on the US Synchronized Swimming Team were announced. It was the freshly created duet of Anna Kozlova
and Alison Bartosik
. For the second year in a row, the duet that was representing the US consisted of two Aquamaids. Later the team added five more Aquamaids, and two swimmers that were not from the team. The five other Aqumaids were, Tammy Crow, Becky Jasontek, Sara Lowe, Lauren McFall and Kendra Zanotto. The team places third and was rewarded and bronze metal. This was the first year that the US got a metal since 1996. Anna Kozlova
and Alison Bartosik
placed third, receiving a bronze metal as well. Kozlova and Bartosik were among only twenty-two other athletes that had multiple metals.
In 2005, Carver stepped down as National Training Coach after twenty-five years to focus fully on the Aquamaids. The Aquamaids are currently have had 13 consecutive National Championship titles.
They are currently the most decorated synchronized swimming team in the world. They recruit swimmers from all over the world. They have recruited swimmers from Japan
, South Korea
, the Netherlands
, Italy
, Russia
, Scotland
, Switzerland
, France
, Germany
, New Zealand
, and South Africa
.
, beginning figures and land drilling. This is the foundation that could lead a swimmer to national or the Olympic track.
Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
team located in Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
. The ages of the athletes stretch from age six to thirty six. Their mission is to "To champion the pursuit of excellence in the international sport of synchronized swimming." The club, a non-profit, member supported team creates nationally ranked synchronized swimmers of all ages. The Aquamaids have produced over 60% of all Olympic Synchronized Swimmers representing the United States since the sport became and Olympic event in 1952.
History
In 1964, the club was founded by Wilbur Luick. He hired Kay Vilen as the first head coach. She was praised for her expertise and knowledge on the sport. She had the big ideas and interesting techniques that make the Aquamaids famous for today. After the death in 1976, the two top swimmers at the time, Gail Johnson and Pam Albin Edwards took over and head coaches.In 1984, Chris Carver was appointed head coach. Even with no history of participating in the actual sport, her innovative choreography and her great attention to detail is what makes the Aquamaids national champions. She has received the "Coach of the Year" award every year for the past fourteen years.
In 2000, Carver was appointed the head coach of the 2000 Summer Olympic Synchronized Swim Team. The nine-member team consisted of seven Aquamaids. The team consisted of Carrie Barton, Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova is a former synchronized swimmer who competed in three Olympic Games. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States in 1993. After missing the 1996...
, Bridget Finn, Kristina Lum, Elicia Marshall, Tuesday Middaugh, and Kim Wurtzel. The duet of Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova is a former synchronized swimmer who competed in three Olympic Games. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States in 1993. After missing the 1996...
and Tuesday Middaugh also competed. The team came close to a metal, placing fourth. The duet didn't place as well as the team did.
In 2003, Carver and her team were determined as ever before to become a successful team. After three years of training, the same team who competed in the 2000 Olympics competed in the 2003 Pan-American Games. Where the team took a gold metal, and the duet of Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova is a former synchronized swimmer who competed in three Olympic Games. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States in 1993. After missing the 1996...
and Tuesday Middaugh took home a gold metal as well.
In 2004, the first two athletes to compete on the US Synchronized Swimming Team were announced. It was the freshly created duet of Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova is a former synchronized swimmer who competed in three Olympic Games. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States in 1993. After missing the 1996...
and Alison Bartosik
Alison Bartosik
Alison Bartosik is an American competitor in synchronized swimming.She won two Olympic bronze medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, one in in duet with Anna Kozlova, and one in the team competition.-References:...
. For the second year in a row, the duet that was representing the US consisted of two Aquamaids. Later the team added five more Aquamaids, and two swimmers that were not from the team. The five other Aqumaids were, Tammy Crow, Becky Jasontek, Sara Lowe, Lauren McFall and Kendra Zanotto. The team places third and was rewarded and bronze metal. This was the first year that the US got a metal since 1996. Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova
Anna Kozlova is a former synchronized swimmer who competed in three Olympic Games. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States in 1993. After missing the 1996...
and Alison Bartosik
Alison Bartosik
Alison Bartosik is an American competitor in synchronized swimming.She won two Olympic bronze medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, one in in duet with Anna Kozlova, and one in the team competition.-References:...
placed third, receiving a bronze metal as well. Kozlova and Bartosik were among only twenty-two other athletes that had multiple metals.
In 2005, Carver stepped down as National Training Coach after twenty-five years to focus fully on the Aquamaids. The Aquamaids are currently have had 13 consecutive National Championship titles.
They are currently the most decorated synchronized swimming team in the world. They recruit swimmers from all over the world. They have recruited swimmers from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The Competitive Program
This is the program that puts the swimmer on a nationally or internationally ranked track. The level of ability ranges from the absolute basics to the most elite level of synchronized swimming. The program accepts swimmers as young as six. The very beginning of training starts with the person learning the very basics of synchronized swimming. These things include, learning to count music, scullingSculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...
, beginning figures and land drilling. This is the foundation that could lead a swimmer to national or the Olympic track.