Arizona Aqua Stars Adult Masters Team Shines At National Championships

The Arizona Aqua Stars (AAS), a nationally recognized synchronized swim team based in Mesa, Ariz., recently competed at the USA Synchronized Swimming Masters Championship in Grand Rapids, Mich. The AAS Adult Masters Team, composed of nine women, aged 21 to 65, took home top awards as well as several National Championship titles:

• Katie LaBounty (Chandler) won a gold medal and the top figure award of the entire competition and is now the 2015 Figure Champion in the 20-29 age group. LaBounty also wowed the judges and audience with a beautiful solo performance that got her the silver medal.

• Laurie Stiff (Mesa), who joined the team five years ago, won the bronze medal in the 50-59 Age Group categories.

• Julie Johnson (Gilbert), Deborah Anderson (Phoenix) and Laurie Stiff (Mesa), who swam a trio to a compilation from Davina and the Vagabonds in the 50-59 age group, took the bronze medal. "We were thrilled at their performance. I couldn't be more proud of them. The teammates had never performed together before. Our newest member, Julie Johnson, has only been swimming since March," saidCoach Becky Thompson.

• In the team competition, a team of eight swam to a medley of evil villains and queens from popular Disney movies. Their free-routine performance, known as "Evil Queens," placed second in the nation in the 30-39 age group. "Combining their score between the technical routine and free routine landed them the bronze medal and the highest final score they have ever received," explained Thompson.

For more information about the Arizona Aqua Stars Adult Masters Team and the programs AAS offers, visit http://www.azaquastars.org.