Lindenwood synchronized swimming inched closer to perennial national champion Ohio State during the 2011 North Regional Championships held over the weekend at Ohio State. In the process, the Lions qualified all routines for the U.S. Collegiate Championships, March 17-19 in Buffalo, N.Y.

Lindenwood finished with the silver and bronze medals in solo, and a bronze in team, nearly eclipsing Ohio State's Gray team by just .500. Overall, the Lions finished second in the team standings ahead of a slate of NCAA Division I programs.

“We're really starting to hit our stride as we taper down our training and rest up for the Collegiate Championships,” head coach Lori Eaton said. “I received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from the judges and even Ohio State's coaches. I think they can see we're getting better each week.”

The Lions started the day with a strong swim in trio. Freshmen Anouk Eman and Reem Abdalazen, and junior Mikayla Francese earned the bronze medal with a score of 86.833, followed by Victoria Burdon, Stewart Shoemaker and Jessica web at 84.500.

Lindenwood made its move on the Buckeyes in the duet event, finishing second, fourth and fifth. Eman and Francese won silver with an 87.833, trailed by Burdon and Bethany Burton at 85.000 in fourth, and Shoemaker and Webb at 83.167.

Perhaps the most notable finish of the day, though, was in solo, where Lindenwood's Bethany Burton and Reem Abdalazem finished 2-3, and in the process topped three-time U.S. National Teamer Lauren Nicholson. Burton scored a 90.500, with Abdalazem close behind at 88.667.

“Reem and Beth's swims today demonstrated that 'it' factor that the judges look for in a soloist,” Eaton said. “They've both shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, and today they really shined. I couldn't be more proud of their performances.”

In the final event of the day, the team routine, Lindenwood's "Australia" scored a 92.167 to trail Ohio State's Gray team by just half a point. Lindenwood's “China” team finished fourth at 88.000.

2011 North Regional Championships
March 5, 2011
McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
Columbus, Ohio

Team Standings
1. Ohio State 93
2. Lindenwood 75
3. Minnesota 50
4. Miami 36
5. Michigan 35
6. Carleton 32
7. Colorado State 19

Team Routine
1. Ohio State Scarlet (Shim, Theriault, Ramsey, Nicholson, Robinson, Courtmanche, Aton, Beckett) - 96.667
2. Ohio State Gray (Finnigan, Aguado, LaBounty, Colville, Hoffman, Tutton, Mann, Litsky) - 92.667
3. Lindenwood (Burdon, Burton, Eman, Francese, Johnston, Webb, Mendez, Abdalazem) - 92.167
4. Lindenwood (Andresen, Bertolini, Birkelo, McWhorter, Placha, Sebring, Shoemaker, Salazar) - 88.0
5. Minnesota (Ahmann, Bodin, Gilles, Dickenson, Peshock, Riddle, Cooper, Lillehei) - 81.667
6. Michigan (Bander, Gianchandani, Gurley, Biester, Solarewicz, Zahul) - 71.333
7. Carleton (Christensen, Li, Storey, Brant, Nachmann, Murphy, Girard, Levinson) - 70.50
8. Miami (Dillard, Yoder, Finnell, O'Donnell, Jackson, Nicholson) - 67.50

Solo
1. Yuliya Maryanko (Ohio State) - 95.333
2. Bethany Burton (Lindenwood) - 90.50
3H. Reem Abdalazem (Lindenwood) - 88.667
4H. Lauren Nicholson (Ohio State) - 88.50
5. Annie Dillard (Miami) - 80.50
6. Tory Ahmann (Minnesota) - 80.167
7H. Briana Preiss (Lindenwood) - 79.167
8. Hannah Riddle (Minnesota) - 75.167

Duet
1. Michelle Theriault, Yuliya Maryanko (Ohio State) - 94.333
2. Anouk Eman, Mikayla Francese (Lindenwood) - 87.833
3H. Colleen Courtmanche, Paige Ramsey (Ohio State) - 87.667
4H. Victoria Burdon, Bethany Burton (Lindenwood) - 85.0
5H. Stewart Shoemaker, Jessica Webb (Lindenwood) - 83.167
6. Tory Ahmann, Ali Bodin (Minnesota) - 80.167
7. Annie Dillard, Emily Wille (Miami) - 77.330
8H. Ashley Gilles, Anna Peshock (Minnesota) - 74.167

Trio
1. Alex Beckett, Michelle Theriault, Deborah Shim (Ohio State) - 93.0
2. Paige Ramsey, Lauren Nicholson, Lauren Robinson (Ohio State) - 92.333
3. Anouk Eman, Mikayla Francese, Reem Abdalazem (Lindenwood) - 86.833
4. Victoria Burdon, Stewart Shoemaker, Jessica Webb (Lindenwood) - 84.50
5. Ali Bodin Ashley Gilles, Nikki Dickenson (Minnesota) - 75.167
6. Lindsey Bander, Sachi Gianchandani, Ashlyn Gurley (Michigan) - 69.833
7. Kathleen Storey, Megan Brant, Libby Nachman (Carleton) - 63.0