March 23, 2002

NORTON, Mass. - The UAB synchronized swimming team posted a third place national finish today after final round competition at the U.S. Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Championships held at Balfour Natatorium on the campus of Wheaton College. The finish marked the highest ever for UAB at the event.

Ohio State won its 22nd collegiate National Championship, posting an overall score of 99. Stanford placed second, with a score of 92, UAB tallied an overall score of 73, Canisius placed fourth with 65 points, and Wheaton College rounded out the top five, with a score of 47.5.

Bogdana Zareva had the highest finish for the Blazers, as she took third in the solo finals, scoring a 94.833. Zareva finished just behind gold medallists Katie Norris of Stanford and Carolina Moraes of Ohio State, who tied for first place, with a score of 95.833.

Zareva teamed with Amanda Haeuser for a fourth place national finish in the duet finals, as the duo scored a 91.167. Finishing just behind Zareva and Haeuser were UAB's Jennifer Holmquist and Stacy Leiker, who scored a 90.000.

For the first time in school history, UAB placed two teams in the finals of the Collegiate Championships. The UAB team of Jessica Brown, Kelli Dickerson, Haeuser, Holmquist, Stacey Jackson, Stephanie Jackson, Leiker and Zareva took fourth nationally in the team finals, with a score of 95.167. The Blazer squad of Luna Aguilu, Hannah Freer, Kristen Kramer, Erica Levine, Kara Morgan, Sarah Pikal and Moraine Ruddick posted a sixth place finish, scoring an 89.917.

Aguilu, Holmquist and Leiker placed fifth nationally for the Blazers in the trio routines, scoring a 91.667.

Kramer took sixth nationally in the "B" figures, scoring a 71.209, and Pikal finished 10th, scoring a 70.830.

"It was an amazing meet and we couldn't be more excited," said UAB Head Coach Amy O'Donnell. "It was a great battle. The team represented UAB very well. It's a huge accomplishment for this program to finish third overall in only our third year. I am so proud of each of these athletes."

The U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee selects 14 All-Americans at the Collegiate Championships and UAB had three swimmers to receive the honor. Brown, Haeuser and Leiker were each named All-Americans at the event.

UAB was coming off back-to-back fourth-place finishes at the Collegiate Championships in 2000 and 2001. UAB is only in its third year of intercollegiate competition.

UAB next travels to Oxford, Ohio to compete in the U.S. National Championships and World Cup Team Trials April 18-20. The Nationals represent the top synchronized swimming programs from all levels of competition. UAB will be making its third appearance at the event.