Synchronized Swimming Takes Second at Regionals, Best Showing in Six Seasons

The Wheaton College synchronized swimming team posted its best East Collegiate Regional Championship finish in six years, standing second among eight teams when the two-day competition came to an end on March 8 at Keuka College. The Lyons, who placed behind Canisius College, had been third each of the past four years after tying for second in 2004 and taking second outright in 2003.

In trio, junior Laura Montes (San Juan, PR/Academia San Jose) joined freshmen Christiana Butera (San Diego, CA/Academy of Our Lady of Peace) and Amanda Chils (Lakeland, FL/George Jenkins) to take second, and senior Sharada Strasmore (Weston, CT/Weston), junior Jenna Swinkin (Hamden, CT/Hamden) and freshman Rachel Cordo (Wayzata, MN/Wayzata) finished fourth. During the duet competition, Butera and Chils combined for a second-place finish, while Cordo and Swinkin took fourth. Butera, Chils, Cordo, Montes, Strasmore, Swinkin and freshman Anastasia Hare (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Seminary) combined on a second-place finish during the team routines. In the figures portion of the meet, Wheaton had strong showing in both the B and C categories. Strasmore won B, while Butera was second. Swinkin took seventh but came within 0.450 points of the top five. During C, Chils captured the top spot, Hare was third, and Cordo took fifth. Montes nabbed fifth in A figures.