Jane Homma (in front) performs with sister Heidi Homma (back) Photo provided
Nine Lamordina athletes swam with the world-renowned Walnut Creek Aquanuts this year, making a splash in national and international competition.
Alena Faulkner (Lafayette, 16), Jane Homma (Orinda, 17), and Raena Sumiyoshi (Moraga, 16) were on the Walnut Creek Aquanut Junior/Senior A Team this year. These athletes were coached by Kim Probst - 2008 US Olympic synchronized swimming team captain.
In April the team traveled to Federal Way, Washington. They competed in the Speedo Junior National Championship earning first place for their “Bollywood” routine. The team finished second place in the overall championship, just shy of the gold by 0.2 points.
In late June, the younger Aquanuts in the 11-12 and 13-15 age groups traveled to Gainesville, Florida to compete in the Esynchro Age Group National Championships. Joanna Langer (Lafayette) swam with the 11-12 team and brought home a bronze medal. Next, Heidi Homma (Orinda, 14) added her golden touch with a hat trick in the water: she won gold in the figures, trio, and solo competition. Also competing in the team event were Tori Yee (Orinda, 13) Grace Moran (Orinda, 13) and Marisa Tashima (Lafayette, 13). The girls added more gold medals with a first place finish in the team competition.
This was only the beginning for Yee, Moran, and Tashima. From August 3th through 9th, the girls competed in Serbia at the Comen Cup. The Walnut Creek Aquanuts had the distinction of representing the US in this competition. The three girls swam as part of an eight member Aquanut team in this competition and earned an impressive fifth place with their “Chopstick” routine. Tammy McGregor, a 1996 US Olympic Gold Medalist and the 2008 US Olympic head coach, coached the group of girls. McGregor, a Northgate High School graduate, had tears of joy as she watched her team compete. McGregor said, “I am very proud of this team. They trained less than a year together. Most of the girls on my team are 13 years old and most of the girls on the other teams are 15. The possibilities are endless for these young, world class athletes.”
While the younger girls were swimming in Serbia, Heidi Homma was in Boulder, Colorado competing for one of the ten spots on the 13-15 US National Synchronized Swimming team. She earned a spot and had the honor of training for the next two weeks with the 13-15 US National Team and the Mexican National Team.
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA