Synchronized swimmer Julia Klein, a UAS freshman from Juneau, placed second in the "C" figures at the 2000 U.S. Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Championships this past weekend in Ohio.

"I was very surprised," Klein said, "because with so many in that category, I expected to be in the middle." There were 48 contestants in the "C" figures. In addition to her athletic achievement, Klein also won an Academic Excellence Award for her UAS grade point average above 3.25. To qualify for the nationals, Klein won her division in the Regional competition at Stanford University in early March.

Klein represented UAS as a team of one. Her "team" finished 15th out of the 19 teams entered in the national competition. "One team had two girls," Klein said. "Most had at least six. The bigger teams had almost 20."

Synchronized swimming includes competitions in solo, duet, trio and team plus three categories of figures. "Everyone wears a black suit and white cap," Klein says of the figures competition. "That's so everyone looks the same. Some of the judges are coaches."

During competition, Klein swam her figures before panels of judges. "You rotate through the panels," she said. "They call your number, you swim your figure, the judge gives you a score and you move to the next figure. You rotated around the pool."

Klein spent four, 12-hour days at the swimming pool for the competition. In addition she faced jet lag. She had to arrive at the pool at 7:30 a.m., Ohio time.

This is Klein's last competition this academic year. She will now help coach the Juneau Aurora Knights synchronized swim team of younger Juneau swimmers as they prepare for their regional meet. Klein plans to compete on the intercollegiate level next year. "I can start planning my routines and practicing my figures for the B category." She also wants to find a duet partner.

Klein planned to carry her medal back to Juneau in an overnight bag, but airport security made her take it out. "I ended up putting it on," she said. "People asked me what I won it for." Klein also wore her medal at UAS on Monday.