Synchro sweeps sections
Park synchro takes back section title
May 22, 2023
Park’s synchronized swimming team nearly swept the first place awards at their section meet May 20. The team hadn’t won the meet since 2019, however they finally brought home the section title on Saturday.
Head coach Carolyn Guddal said she was very happy with the results of the meet, as the team had been on a second-place streak for the past couple sections meets.
“We did fantastic — first place feels really good,” Guddal said. “We were section champions from the inception of the section meet 25 years ago, when the original sections were developed until 2019. Then in 2020 we were off, and in ‘21 and ‘22 Edina took first place. So this is our first time taking first and a couple years, so it feels great to reclaim that title.”
Freshman Lexa Rischall said they really appreciated how the team came together for the meet, and how the entire team was supportive the whole time.
“I just like being with the team, swimming — it’s been a wild ride,” Rischall said. “I liked watching everything come together for everyone and being there for each other when we need each other and everyone being there for support.”
Guddal said with the combination of the fans and the familiar pool, the team was in a more comfortable environment.
“I’m sure it gave a little bit of a home-pool advantage because it’s the space where they practice every day,” Guddal said. “It’s definitely a different atmosphere when you have a crowd full of fans and your teammates cheering you on and you’re the only one in the water while being judged. So there’s a lot of different components, but I do think it kind of took us over the edge to secure that win.”
Senior captain Rachel Katzovitz said the team should do well with how much preparation they have been doing, but there are always things to practice.
“Going into state of course, there’s always stuff that we have to do,” Katzovitz said. “There’s always stuff we can do to prepare, but I’m really proud of the work everyone’s put in throughout the season and overall, it’s paid off a lot. Also going into state we can deck more, keep doing reps and just keep doing our thing, and then we’ll be prepared.”
Guddal said she is proud of the team’s accomplishments after watching them work hard this season.
“I’m very proud — they’ve worked so hard,” Guddal said. “This is a receipt of all of the effort and hard work they put in for the last 10 weeks and throughout the rest of the year in the off-season. How they train so hard every day to achieve their goals, this is just the result of their effort, attention to detail and their commitment to the sport.”
Synchro will swim at the state meet at 7:30 a.m. on May 25 and 26 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota.
