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HISTORY

The synchronized swimming team began at Penn State University in 1939 through the Women’s Recreation Association Swim Club. Through the 1940's the club grew and began holding yearly performances for friends and family of the members on the team. Gradually the club began competing, holding varsity status in the seventies, and later went on to win a number of Eastern District championships. 

 

In the late seventies, other womens varsity sports became popular, and synchro fell to club status, however still competed intercollegiately. In 1988 two club members, Carol Kellner and Kim Swan Levine, qualified for the Olympic Trials. Throughout the 80's and 90's the team was coached by Mary Beth Rader-Allegar leading the team to top ten rankings and in 1996 winning the Big Ten Invitational. The team then began its decent when it lost the strong coaching it once had and dropped to twelve members in 2002, with only eight members competing. In 2003, the numbers fell to four, with only two competing at competitions.

 

The club was then left to just one freshmen, Carin Segal, who successfully recruited a number of new girls to the team. In the past few years, the club has held steady between eight and sixteen members since, and each year gains both experienced girls and girls new to the sport of synchronized swimming. During the 2008 - 2009 season the team had a record high of eighteen members, to which we hope to continue to maintain.

 

Now, we are in the process of recruiting new members. As of right now, we have six returning members who are excited to compete this year. The team hopes to continue to grow in the future and possibly someday have a coach to bring the team to varsity status once again.

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