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Published on 07/22/1996 All articles from this issue

McFall in sync with junior national team

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By Andy Nystrom

Town Crier Sports Editor

Lauren McFall, front left, performs with the U.S. junior national team in San Jose last week. Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier

Lauren McFall fell into a swimming pool when she was 6 years old, and has loved the water ever since.

The 16-year-old Los Altos resident is such a dedicated swimmer, in fact, that she's now a member of the United States junior national and Santa Clara Aquamaids synchronized teams, Los Altos High squad and even is entertaining the thought of playing girls water polo.

"I give up a lot to be able to swim," she said last week after a nine-hour junior nationals practice at San Jose State University. "But it's such a learning experience. You make friendships and learn responsibility."

And with all that hard work comes rewards, such as the Aquamaids winning the gold medal this month at the French Cup in southern France.

"Getting first was a big shock to us," McFall said, noting that the squad of 15-16-year-olds went up against teams a few years older. She said one advantage for the Aquamaids was its focus on technical aspects rather than artistic ones throughout the five-minute routines; in France, teams favor the artistic side.

Junior national Coach Stephane Miermont had his 10-member team bobbing its heads, gliding and twirling in and out of the water last Wednesday at SJSU in preparation for the national meet on Aug. 15 in St. Louis.

McFall said part of the music, titled "Appalachian Springs," conveys the emotions of anger, sorrow, joy and hope. "We work a lot on facial expressions and make up little stories to get into it," she said. "It's important to feel when you're swimming."

Having a strong mind, flexibility and speed are also crucial to being a successful swimmer, Miermont said, which are things that McFall possesses. "She really wants to do it, she never gives up," he said.

The Los Altos High junior, whose mother Paula is a former synchronized swimmer and coach, has been with the Aquamaids for seven years. And if she sticks with it for a while longer, the 2004 Olympics may be next, since swimmers usually reach their peak between the ages of 22 and 24.

As for the action at the SJSU pool - which last week included a performance from the No. 1-ranked U.S. Olympians before they headed out to Atlanta - McFall said the junior national team's four-week training period is going surprisingly well.

"It's kind of hard to get in sync. But it's cool that we pulled together the first day," she said. "This is a totally different experience. It's exciting."