Dani Birky
Student Intern
Synchronized swimming is the latest sport to hit Sweet Home High School and it’s making a splash.
“As far as I know, this is the first Synchro team for SHHS,” said Faith Demar, pool director and team coach.
Demar believes synchronized swimming will give the school a needed breatho of fresh air in terms of sporting activities. She says students who were interested in the program contributed greatly in seeing it come to life.
“Synchronized swimming is when swimmers perform a variety of figures or routines [to music] in front of an audience and/or judges. Sometimes this is done as a ‘team’, (eight swimmers together), and sometimes it is done by only one person, or with two or three together,” Demar explained.
Synchro, (synchronized swimming), appears to be a combination of swimming and dance in the water. The swimmers on a synchro team are instructed to do their routines perfectly synchronized. This means for all of them to be doing the same thing at the same time; unless the routines appoint different swimmers, (or groups of swimmers), to different figures or sequences. However, when this occurs, it still flows together in a synchronized manner.
“I have not competitively synchronized swam; I have dabbled a little here and there and always was interested in synchro. I have a level one coaches and judges certification in synchro. I love the sport,” Demar said.
Is synchronized swimming a high school or club sport? Is it just for high school athletes or for all age groups? Is it for both boys and girls?
Mrs. Demar explained that, “right now it is just a ‘try-it-out’ [sport] for high school athletes both boys and girls. The hope is that next year it will become a school approved club sport.”
So far, there are six swimmers who are involved on the synchro swim team: Jessica Trautwein, Korina Thompson, Ashlee Flanigan, Dani Birky, Sarah Rosa, and Brinden Sanders. However, a “team” is defined as having eight swimmers. So, there is definitely room for others who are interested.
Requirements to join the team include:
— One must be able to swim at least one length of a 25 yard pool;
— Be able to float or tread water for one minute;
— Have a swim suit, goggles, nose clips, and towel.
Synchro practices occur during the week from 6-6:50 a.m. weekdays at the SHHS pool.
“We swim laps, learn figures, and work on water routines. There is a lot of breath control, sculling, and flexibility training,” Demar said. “Come out and see a practice and give it a try. It is a great sport. I would be happy to talk with anyone interested in synchro.”
As for upcoming synchro competitions, Demar said there will be one in July at the “State Games” in Portland. Also, there is the “Oregon Classic” April 23rd-24th in Portland. Demar says that Sweet Home’s synchro team will go to watch the Oregon Classic, but not compete. She also adds that she is checking in on other available meets.
Synchronized swimming is a year-round sport for those who are interested. The main synchro season is from a January-May, Demar said.
Synchro, like other sports, has its challenges. The swimmers are required to learn all the different figures (body positions) in a routine, be able to retain breath control, and learn how to scull the water.
Sculling is how a swimmer moves her hands and uses her upper body strength to move through the water and lift her body above the water.
Through stretches and training, flexibility will be acquired by the swimmers; as flexibility is a main factor in being able to execute some of the synchro figures. Being able to smile through a whole routine is another quality that the swimmers will learn. In Synchro, it is required to maintain the smile, for judging purposes.
This new sport for Sweet Home has invaded the pool and enticed swimmers to join the team. Synchronized swimming was popular in the in the 1930s and 1940s and it seems to be making a come back with a new generation.