story by Mikayla Francese, Lindenwood Legacy

The Lindenwood Synchronized Swimming Lady Lions plan to reach the top, in and out of the water, as they start the third season Jan. 28 against Canisius College at the St. Peter's Rec-Plex.

Preparation started in the summer of 2007 when President James D. Evans, Ph. D. decided to add another sport to Lindenwood's already successful athletics program. “We wanted to add another women's sport to have even better balance between men's and women's intercollegiate athletics at LU,” Evans said. Athletic Director John Creer talked with Aquatics Director Craig Penrose who suggested adding synchronized swimming.

“I have always admired synchro. I dated a synchro athlete in college and I had seen many competitions. It seemed like the right sport to add,” Penrose said. “The art of making eight girls look as one and great amount of strength the athletes must have to stay above the water, without touching the bottom, amazed me.”

After being in aquatics for 25 years, Penrose consistently heard one name from his many contacts. Lori Eaton, a U.S National Team Coach, who lived in the St. Louis area. “She is the best,” Penrose said.

Eaton agreed to start the program when a longtime friend and former teammate of hers, Jamie Sallier, asked to join in her vision for the team. “I love the sport and saw an opportunity to help support in the growth of synchro,” Sallier said. “I felt this was a great opportunity to be a part of something amazing.”

The challenge of recruiting synchro swimmers across the nation became full-time jobs for them. “The plan was to find swimmers who were passionate, excited, determined and willing to take a risk,” Eaton said. “This was tough. I put the word out there in the synchro community that a new collegiate synchro team was starting,” she said. “There were many unknowns, but the challenge was very exciting. I simply asked that swimmers and families trust me.”

Trusting and taking a risk is exactly what the first 12 student-athletes did when they signed up for the program in 2008. The new team became a family and wasted no time in working to become great. Sallier said, “After my first practice coaching, it was evident that this team would be successful, and quickly.”

By the end of its first season, the team had placed sixth at the U.S Collegiate Nationals, which was the highest placement of any first-year team in the sport's history. The team also maintained the highest GPA of the sports at Lindenwood.

Standards were set higher as the second season began in August 2009. Seven athletes were added to the team and goals were raised to move up in ranking. By the end of the season, the team reached its goal, placing fifth overall at the U.S Collegiate Nationals in March 2010.

In 2010- 2011, the team has grown to 22 swimmers, attracting some of the nation's and the world's most talented athletes. Freshman Reem Abdalazem, a 2008 Olympian from Egypt said, “I came here because I thought it is a very good opportunity to experience a new culture, while meeting new teammates, and playing the sport that I love, along with having a good education.” Others came from South Africa, Aruba, Canada, Italy and Slovakia.

Utilizing her experience with the U.S. National Team program, Eaton has strived to create a model program at LU. Along with water training, the team has raised funds to add the services of John Fleming, a former U.S. Olympic Training Center strength and conditioning coach, who created a detailed weight training and nutrition program for the team to follow. Lindenwood's Dance Team works with the swimmers on ballet, posture and flexibility in order to improve water skills, and Lindenwood's Joe Stanley works as the team's Sports Psychologist. The HIT center (High Intensity Training) also works with the team twice a week on conditioning and endurance.

Freshman Julia Birkelo said, “As competitive athletes, we need to be well-rounded. By subjecting ourselves to several different methods of training, we are able to become versatile and understanding of each other's strengths.”

Although these different aspects of training have helped, Eaton points to one key element that has brought success to the team. “The key to a successful team is selflessness,” Eaton said. “The team comes first, then discipline, love and trust.”

The unique coaching of Eaton and Sallier has set Lindenwood's team apart from the competition. They teach the team how to work hard but also see beyond the sport. “I feel that we are not just synchro coaches, but mentors to our athletes,” Eaton said. “We are in the unique position to help build character within each of them. We are coaches who provide the leadership and guidance to our swimmers to become confident, self-aware, disciplined young women when they leave our program. We just happen to know a thing or two about synchronized swimming.”