Synchronized swimming at Carleton is meant to expose the campus to this emerging NCAA sport, allowing students to learn something new and get exercise in a fun and relaxed environment. Carleton's team, the Dolphins, comes from a wide range of backgrounds, some team members having done synchro since elementary school while some are just perfecting their ability to swim. The sport consists mainly of women competitors, but Carleton men do join the Dolphins to perform in their show each year.

The Dolphins' two main priorities are competition and an annual show for the Carleton community. While swimmers of all abilities compete, competition is an option for team members able to make a more serious time commitment. Meets are usually held at other schools in the Midwest, and the Dolphins travel as far as Ohio to compete in the regional competitions. The annual show is usually extremely well attended, and offers an entertainment opportunity for the campus as well as affording respect and admiration to this little known sport. The team performs its competition routines as well as several show routines, including a co-ed number and a floating routine, both campus favorites.

Synchronized swimming collegiate season falls during Carleton's winter term, but the Dolphins start preliminary practices in the fall, teaching basic skills to new swimmers. In the winter the practice schedule varies depending on whether or not a swimmer wants to compete, and on how many show routines she participates in. The Dolphins have pool time six days a week. The team practices in Cowling Recreation Center, and practices consist of swimming workouts, drills of synchro skills, and routine rehearsals.

Six years ago the Dolphins started participating in intercollegiate competition, and the team has sent representatives to Nationals every year since then. Four years ago Carleton began to make a name for itself when the team's then captain Kira Lee '95 won the junior figures competition and placed 10th in the solo competition, single-handedly bringing Carleton to tenth place overall.

In 1995, the Dolphins' first ever competitive team routine, with a full eight members including two first-year synchro swimmers, placed twelfth at Nationals. With help from a 14th place solo by Leah Lempert '97, a 10th place solo (Lee), and a 10th place trio (Lee, Lempert, and Ellie Morse, '98), the team rocketed to an overall 12th place finish. Team routine again put in a great showing in later years, placing 14th and 10th in 1996 and 1997 respectively, always competing against top ranked universities such as Stanford and Ohio State. Morse's solo placed 10th in '96, and this year the captains took 16th place with their duet.

Team granted varisty status Spring 1998.

If you are an alum and have more information about the history of synchronized swimming at Carleton, please contact Leon Lunder (llunder@carleton.edu) so that we can make our history more complete!

Need more information?

Synchronized Swimming Links

Synchronized Swimming Links
This is a great page with links to information on clubs around the country and the sport in general.

Last modified Monday, 12-May-2003 13:22:57 CDT
by: Aren Wish