Inglemoor's synchro star Lovitt wins bronze at UANA Pan American Championships

By Kristina Adad

For the Reporter

Liane Lovitt is used to winning gold with the Inglemoor High swim team, but bronze will have to do for now.

The Viking junior, who had a hand in two 4A state titles, gave the U.S. 16-18 synchronized swim team a boost when the girls finished third in their age group at the recent 2008 UANA Pan American Championships in Calgary, Canada.

Selected to try out for the 2008 Junior National Team and making first alternate (the top 12 comprise the U.S. Junior National Team), a New Canaan, Conn., coach asked Lovitt to train and compete with a team of five New Canaan Aquianas and two Indianapolis, Ind., swimmers to represent the U.S.

Lovitt met her seven teammates, ranging from 16 to 17 years old, and three coaches in New Canaan three weeks before the event to learn their routine, train and practice together before going to the competition.

“Because we were so pressed for time, practices were long and hard. We had some 10-hour training days, and we also worked with a trainer for dry-land conditioning,” Lovitt said.

She added that the best part of competing internationally was, “Talking to the girls from other countries. I got to practice the Spanish I’ve been studying in school with girls from Chile, Mexico and Peru. The most fun experience of the meet was the last night, where all the athletes traded their swimsuits, swim caps, sweats, etc. with everyone else. It was such a fun meet!”

Lovitt, who just turned 17, has been participating with the Kenmore-based Seattle Synchronized Swim Team since she was 7. She began her love of swimming in parent-tot swim classes at 18 months, with mom, Michele, and continued later with swim lessons.

In addition to Pan Am, Lovitt placed fifth with her trio at the 2008 U.S. Junior National Championships in Clermont, Fla., along with Seattle Synchro teammates Shelby McDaniel, Katie LaBounty and alternate Mollie Keenan.

An International Baccalaureate student at Inglemoor, the 4.0 grade-point-average-holder begins her third season swimming as captain of the Viking team. Her favorite events include the 100-yard backstroke, the 50-yard freestyle and the 200-yard medley relay, where she was an alternate at the 2007 state championships.

One might suggest that St. Edward State Park’s pool is Lovitt’s “second home.” When coupling her Monday-through-Friday 90-minute swim-team practice with 4-5 days of Seattle Synchro 3-4-hour practices, she swims an average of 18 hours per week.

Pool or school, Lovitt is making an impact.

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