Eva Gonzalez sent in this news bit about a young Wallingford athlete:
Irene Gonzalez, 15, started synchronized swimming 8 years ago in Madrid, Spain, her birthplace, before moving to Wallingford five years ago. She is among 14 members of the Seattle Synchronized Swimming Team, set to compete for a national title at the 2014 Age Group National Championships June 28 – July 5th.
The team qualified for the national championships by placing among the top three finishers at the 2014 Northwest Regional Championships. Irene, who attends University Preparatory Academy, will compete with the 16-17 age category.
She has been competing locally, regionally and nationally ever since she started to swim both in Madrid and in Seattle. Irene, together with her team, has travelled to Ohio, California, New York, or Arizona, to swim at National Championships, where her team has always made it to finals, placing among the top ten of the Nation.
“I love synchronized swimming because it’s the way I’ve grown up, and I can’t imagine any other thing I would want to do,” Irene says. “When I’m in the water I feel – weightless and powerful! Although most of the time I’m tired, I’m also happy to do something I love.”
Synchronized swimming requires a unique combination of strength, agility, endurance, flexibility, and speed. Seattle Synchro athletes practice 2-4 hours per day, 3-5 days per week. Elite-level synchronized swimmers typically practice eight hours per day, six days per week.
Seattle Synchro has a long history of success. Three Seattle Synchro swimmers have gone on to the Olympics and two more are currently training with the National Team 1 squad. Seattle Synchro routinely places in the top 10 at National level competitions and dominates the Pacific Northwest Region. The club has been active in the community for more than 30 years, and is currently led by head coach Lacey Ethier.
This year the National Championships are here in Federal way, and we would love for people to attend and watch what these girls can do.
See the National Championship web site if you’re interested in attending, and the Seattle Synchro web site if you’re interested in getting your kids involved.
(That’s Irene in the air.)