Davis AquaStarz Take Third in Championship Meet
Third place may not seem a great finish for some. But it is the best the AquaStarz Synchronized Swimming Team has done in the annual Valley-Foothills Competitive Aquatics League championship meet, held Friday and Sunday at Rusch Park pool in Citrus Heights.
“This shows just how hard the team has been working and how all that hard work is paying off,” said Coach Meredith Fleener. “We’re very proud of our team.”
Davis came in after the home team, Sunrise Swans, and the Fulton-El Camino Stingrays. Both teams sent 40 swimmers to the synchronized swimming meet, which features competition in figures and routines. Davis sent 27 swimmers. Also competing were the Cordova Cordettes, who finished in fourth, and the Auburn Mermaids.
Maddie Peauroi, Clara Riggle and Jessica Hughes dominated the intermediate 13-14 figures race, taking the top three spots in the winners’ circle. The three also won first place for their trio routine in the intermediate 11-14 group.
Also taking first place were Tara Christensen and Olivia Bristow for their routine in the 11-14 intermediate age group. Christensen also won second place in figures for the 11-12 intermediates.
In the Novice 13-14 category, Tess Van Schoor took first place in figures, with Megan Wong taking third and Emily Knighton, in her first year of competition, taking fourth place. Both Van Schoor and Wong are expected to move up into the intermediate category next year.
Van Schoor, Wong and Knighton combines to take third place in novice trios for ages 13 and over. The trio added a fourth, Joanna Hughes swimming up from her 9-10 age group, for a team routine in the 13 and over age group.
Joanna Hughes continued to score high in figures, taking second place of 30 competitors in the novice 9-10 age group. Joanna Hughes paired with Mirielle Peauroi to take fifth place in novice 9-10 duets, just behind teammates Samantha Diel and Meili Monk, who placed fourth.
Elise Peauroi ended her reign at the top of the intermediates 17-18 age group with a second place medal in figures. She and Jessalyn Eernisse took third place for their duet routine in the 15-18 age group. Elise Peauroi and Eernisse were joined by teammates Emma Meades, Alexandra Wong, Maddie Peauroi and Jessican Hughes to take second place in the intermediate 15-18 team routine contest.