THE NATIONAL TEAM
Brazil Open the
Rio De Janeiro / June 3-5, 2011 The National Team attended their first team competition of the season by
participating in the Brazil Open held in Rio De Janeiro from June 3-5. The Brazilian Federation was an exceptional host. They provided air, transportation, food and housing for the US delegation. The team debuted their new technical program and captured a Bronze medal
just a fraction behind France. The “Sinnerman” jazz routine was very well received. The program, which was choreographed by head coach Mayuko Fujiki and for- mer Spanish national team member Paola Tirados, is very complex. One of the main highlights is the cadence element. “It is fast paced in both the combination of moves and pattern changes” said coach Fujiki. “It is also risky because if one person is off the cadence can get lost.” The program allows for complexity but the elements are very well placed and clear within the choreography. Team USA continued to refine the “Firebird” program and had a great swim in the free finals. The US remained in third throughout the competition. Brazil
(who
was second in the Technical Program) fell to fourth in the final team results. “We have been focusing a lot on the technical program so we were very happy that our tech performance helped to secure our bronze medal” said team captain Leah Pinette. “This is our first competition and we know we will only improve as we move towards the World Championships.” Representing Team USA were Heidi Homma, Mary Killman, Morgan Fuller, Michelle Moore, Leah Pinette, Lyssa Wallace, Ali Williams, and Katy Wiita, with reserves Christiana Butera and Brooke Taylor. Team USA swam only their Duet Tech and Solo Tech programs. The Texas
twosome of Mary Killman and Lyssa Wallace placed fourth in the technical program just two tenths of a point behind third place finishers France. “We are very confident in our tech program. We just need to continue to work on our execution and synchronization” said Killman. “We both have been recovering from injuries so we know that our performances can only get better as we continue our training in Indianapolis” added Wallace. n
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USASYNCHRO.ORG JULY 2011 Share this.
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