Artistic Swimming | 3/28/2022 10:05:00 AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 27, 2022) – As a first-year program, the Texas Woman's University artistic swimming team set the historical mark high in their first U.S. Collegiate Nationals.
 
After qualifying for every event final by placing in the top 12 in the preliminary rounds for solo, duet, trio and team, the Pioneers capped off Nationals on Sunday. Every placement at Nationals set the mark in the history books for the Pioneers.

"I am so proud of the athletes and their showing at our first Collegiate National Championship," TWU head coach Sara Lilly said. "These athletes came into each practice ready to work hard, and trusted in each other and the program we are building at TWU. Their hard work and discipline showed in their fantastic swims. I am so excited for the future of artistic swimming here at TWU and thankful to have the opportunity to start it with these seven athletes."
 
The trio performances kicked off the final day at The Ohio State University. TWU had two groups qualify for the trio finals.
 
The trio of Anaya Kashikar, Laura Klein and Regina Ramirez drew the seventh performance spot out of 12 teams. Performing their fiesta themed routine, Kashikar, Klein, Ramirez scored a 76.1000 and placed fifth.
 
Only .5 points behind, the Pioneers trio of Makayla Crichton, Maribella Falconer and Haiden Long finished in sixth place, tying their season high of 75.6333, which they scored in the preliminaries on Friday, March 25.
 
Following the trio event, the Pioneers performed in the duet competition. Ashley Latchford and Falconer drew the fourth performance spot out of 12. After a captivating routine, Latchford and Falconer scored a 75.400, placing seventh.
 
Latchford then dove into the solo competition. She swam in the ninth spot and, with only three swimmers after her, was able to scout the scores before swimming.  Raising her score from the preliminaries by two points, Latchford showcased a beautiful routine, scored a 78.2667 and placed fourth.
 
In the final event of the days, the Pioneers performed their Lion King themed routine in the team competition finals. TWU swam last, putting the exclamation point on the event.
 
After a strong performance, the Pioneers placed fifth out of 12 teams, scoring a team season high, 77.4500.
 
After all the performances and scores were calculated, the teams were ranked overall. Out of 13 teams, TWU finished fourth with a 63.5.
 
The Pioneers made history in their first U.S. Collegiate Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, and they laid a solid foundation of success for the future of TWU artistic swimming.
 
The overall team rankings can be viewed below:

1	The Ohio State University
2	Stanford University
3	University of the Incarnate Word
4	Texas Woman's University
5	University of Florida Gator Synchro
6	UCLA Artistic Swimming
7	University of Arizona
8	Wheaton College
9	University of Minnesota
10	University of Michigan
11	Boston University Synchro
12	University of Pennsylvania
13	University of Richmond