The Aquianis Prepare for Zones

By Hannah Vogel

Here at Darien High School we have an array of athletic opportunities ranging from football to squash, to hockey to sailing. However, there is one sport that goes unreported for the most part despite its rigor, difficulty, and intensity; the sport is synchronized swimming.

At the New Canaan YMCA, the New Canaan Y Aquianas practice over 20 hours a week and sometimes multiple times per day.  Katie Chidley, a Darien High School junior, is one member of the New Canaan Y Aquianas and filled me in on what they are currently working on and what their team goals are for this season.  Chidley is also a member of the U.S.  Junior National Synchronized Swimming Team (2017-2018), and will journey to California this summer to train.

The Aquianas’ next meet is Zones which takes place on March 10th-12th  in Hamden, CT.  Zones is open to the synchro teams of the East Coast and serves as a qualifying meet for the championship season.  Chidley is swimming in a team routine and also competes in duet, solo, and combo routines. (A combo routine is comprised of routines inside of a team routine).  Chidley said that her team routine this year is to “alien-like music” and that her team’s “long term goal is to get a medal at nationals which is in April in Arizona”.

A photo of the team from earlier this season 

In regards to what Chidley wishes people understood about synchronized swimming, she says that she “wishes people understood the difference between what synchro used to be and what it is now” , that it is a “much more technical and difficult sport than it was before”.  To describe synchro to those who have never done it or seen it, she says that synchro is “the equivalent of swimming, gymnastics, and water polo combined”  and she  She encourages people to watch videos on YouTube to get a better idea of what synchro really is.

Camilla Kline, DHS senior, also a member of the Aquianas and team-member of Chidley  provided insight on the team dynamic of synchronized swimming saying that it is “a tough sport and you’re forced to work very closely with your team so you create a lot of really strong bonds.  There’s a strong team dynamic.”

I will continue to post updates on how the Aquianas competition goes, and make sure to check it out to increase your knowledge of the sport! March 10th-12th (on the 10th @  3:00pm and on the 12th  @ 5:00pm) the Aquianas will compete at Zones at Hamden High School.