Tucson Swim Team Keeps Things in Sync!

Can you imagine holding your breath for one minute underwater while performing acrobatics and beautiful stunts? This is just a part of what we do in synchronized swimming, now called artistic swimming. Let me tell you all about the local synchronized swimming team: Tucson Synchro!

I am starting my fourth year as a member of Tucson Synchro. I started synchronized swimming at age 8. Tucson Synchro was founded in 1972 by Candy Kaemerer. Fun fact-–she still coaches to this day!

Artistic swimming has been around for a long time. It dates back to the early 1900’s! It was officially created in 1941 when the Amateur Athletic Union adopted it. A synchronized swimming team is a group of people that performs a routine to music while doing stunts, acrobatics, and hybrids all underneath the surface of the water. It is pretty much a mash up between Jazz, Ballet, gymnastics, and underwater swimming.

This past year Tucson Synchro competed in two meets in Phoenix, the Cactus Classic meet in Oro Valley, West Regionals in Las Vegas, and the Junior Olympics in Arlington, Texas. Tucson Synchro competed in various events including a Novice trio, an age group routine, solos, duets, and a 13-15 trio. Tucson Synchro also has a Masters team that is preparing for a competition in Kansas City in October. One of the Masters is my aunt, Megan, who started swimming when she was 8. She swam through high school and later she became a coach.

When synchronized swimmers perform a routine they always have to add something called a hybrid. You have to include at least four hybrids in a group routine, but it varies depending on what (age) group you are in. A hybrid that is commonly added is called a front walkover. This might sound like something you do in gymnastics and it’s very similar to that, but instead of doing it on land you do it in the water upside down. Another common hybrid that you might see is a Ballet leg. The swimmer starts by laying on their back in the water with hands cupped at the sides while sculling. Then they bend the right knee so that the right toe is directly beside the left leg. This position is called a sailboat. The swimmer’s head should be all the way back with eyes looking at this sky. Then, the right leg is extended all the way up to the sky. That is how you do a Ballet leg in the water.

If you are interested in joining or just learning about Tucson Synchro, you can contact tucsonsynchro@gmail.com.