AquaSprites qualify for 2019 synchronized Junior Olympic Nationals

Posted June 13, 2019 11:00 pm

Submitted by Leigh Glavanovic, Aqua Sprites Parent Group

The AquaSprites Synchronized Swimming Team from Lattof YMCA, Des Plaines, were awarded four gold and two silver medals at the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Regional B Championship held May 11-12 in St. Louis, Missouri.

This was a qualifying event for competitors from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri to advance to the Junior Olympics Nationals, which will be held June 28-July6 in Buffalo, New York. All seven AquaSprite swimmers and five out of six routines qualified for Nationals.

The top two solos in each age group advance; the top three per age group advance in duet, combo and team:

Second place, age group 12 and younger, solo: Melanie Angelov from Mount Prospect.

First place, age group 13-15, duet: Lexi Dorula, Prospect Heights, and Anita Mihaylova. Mount Prospect.

Second place, age group 16-17, duet: Ema Glavanovic, Des Plaines, and Chaewon Park, Mount Prospect.

First place, age group 13-15, team: Melanie Angelov, Lexi Dorula, Michaelle Kneznik, Anita Mihaylova and Gabriela Mincikova of Bridgeview.

First place, intermediate 16-17, team: Nina Bunting of Park Ridge, Tamara Gonda of Schaumburg, Anaiya Layland of Northbrook, Tereza Mincikova of Bridgeview, Melanie Sheremet, Sihem Tayari of Vernon Hills and Grace Trifunovich of Park Ridge.

First place, age group 16-19, combination team: Melanie Angelov, Lexi Dorula, Ema Glavanovic, Michaelle Kneznik, Anita Mihaylova, Gabriela Mincikova and Chaewon Park.

Second place, 12 and younger, JO figures: Melanie Angelov; 13-15, JO figures: Second place, Lexi Dorula; fourth place, Anita Mihaylova; sixth place, Melanie Angelov; ninth place, Michaelle Kneznik; 10th place, Gabriela Mincikova.

Intermediate 16 and older figures: Second place, Grace Trifunovich; third place, Melanie Sheremet; fourth place, Nina Bunting; fifth place, Tereza Mincikova; sixth place, Anaiya Layland; seventh place, Sihem Tayari; and eighth place, Tamara Gonda.

The AquaSprites team is open to those ages 6-18 who can swim 50 yards continuously, tread water for one minute and is comfortable in deep water. Beginners will learn necessary synchro skills such as sculling, ballet legs, somersaults and kips. Registration is currently underway for members.

Practices take place at Lattof YMCA, 300 E Northwest Hwy., Des Plaines. For more information, contact Lattof YMCA at (847) 297-3376.

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