Bringing together the very best 13-15, Junior and Senior synchronized swimming talent in Ontario, the recent Leslie Taylor Ontario Cup meet in Nepean provided a wonderful barometer for all of the elite clubs, right across the province.
Qualifying a handful of athletes for the upcoming Canadian Artistic Swimming National Qualifier in Montreal at the end of March, Sudbury Synchro knew they belonged.
No swimmer moreso than Amy Lacelle, who finished 20th in a field of 244 competitors in the individual figures, and then teamed with Madison Hood to earn a top ten placing in the 13-15 duet, ranking 10th among the 31 tandems on hand and earning their spot at nationals.
In addition to posting a figures score of 67.9745 to slide in to 20th in figures, Lacelle also cracked the top half of the field in the Solo event (16th/30), while Hood registered a score of 64.4069 in the figures, good for 62nd (of 244).
The local girls then joined coach Allison Merla and their team of Emily Binks, Maeve Caddel, Gillian Franklin, Sarah Ieropoli, Stacie Kohan and Georgia Speck, stepping on to the podium (6/14) in the "Junior Tech Team" competition with a score of 63.6296.
Also qualifying for nationals were the 16-20 duet teams of Stacie Kohan and Georgia Speck (coached by Courtney Stasiuk) and Emily Binks and Sarah Ieropoli (coached by Candice Larochelle).
Following is a full breakdown of the remaining Sudbury swimmers who travelled to Ottawa (as well as the missing scores) for the ultra-intense competition:
Duet - age 13-15 (31 teams)
Madison Hood & Amy Lacelle
Score of 65.0583 (10th of 31)
Coached by Chelsea Wandziak
Junior Free Team
Emily Binks, Maeve Caddel, Gillian Franklin, Sarah Ieropoli
Stacie Kohan, Madison Hood, Amy Lacelle, Georgia Speck
Score of 64.8333 (8th/14)
coached by Chelsea Wandziak
Junior Duets
Stacie Kohan & Georgia Speck
Tech score - 64.4677 (16th/24)
Free score - 63.7333 (11th/16)
Emily Binks & Sarah Ieropoli
Tech score - 62.5043 (19th/24)
Free score - 63.1667 (12th/16)
