Grace Alwan Takes 1st Place at National Synchronized Swimming Skills Competition

Cincinnati, OH – ANA Synchro athlete Grace Alwan placed first in the 13-15 year old age group at the USA Synchro National Skills Competition held earlier this month in Cincinnati, OH and San Diego, CA.

The USA Synchro National Skills Competition, which consists of 10 skills on land and 10 skills in the water, provides an opportunity for athletes to qualify and compete for the ultimate goal of being selected to the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Team. Alwan placed first in a combined field of 61 athletes in her age group from both the Cincinnati and San Diego competitions.

With Alwan’s achievement, ANA Synchro now has 3 athletes qualified and competing for spots on the 2015 U.S. National Team. Alwan joins teammates Sophia Ju and Ruby Remati, whose performances last season qualified them for the 2015 National Team Trials.
“I’m so excited to move on,” said Alwan, a freshman at Andover High School. “Coach Leah’s been working on the basics with us at synchro practice, and being on the high school swim team this year definitely helped me with the 200IM!” Alwan was the only athlete to earn full points for the 200 yard Individual Medley swim, which is one of the 10 water skills in the competition.

“Grace’s hard work really paid off,” said ANA Synchro Head Coach Leah Pinette. “She placed 21st at this same competition last year and won it this year!”

Alwan, Ju and Remati are 3 of just 75 girls nationwide that have earned the opportunity to compete for a dozen spots on the 2015 13-15 age group U.S. National Team. They will spend the next few months training with Pinette for Phase 1 of the Trials in Colorado Springs, CO in January. Pinette, herself, was on the U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Team for 9 years prior to taking over as Head Coach for ANA Synchro last year.

ANA Synchro is the competitive synchronized swimming team of the Andover/North Andover YMCA. Girls wishing to join the team or try the sport for the first time should contact Head Coach Leah Pinette at 978-685-3541, lpinette@mvymca.org. Introductory sessions meet twice a week and are held regularly throughout the year.

Synchronized swimming combines music, dance and swimming into “the ultimate team sport”. Through the artistry and athletics of synchronized swimming and team competition, girls build lifelong friendships and skills while developing the confidence to dream big and pursue their goals. The team is open to girls ages 6 to 19.

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Caption for attached photo: Grace Alwan (left) and Head Coach Leah Pinette of ANA Synchro.