The 2005-2006 season promises to be the best yet for the ANA Synchers; the synchronized swimming team that is sponsored by the Merrimack Valley YMCA. With 64 athletes this year, the Synchers will enjoy the largest and strongest "synchro" team in the history of the YMCA program.

And, there truly is strength in numbers. More than thirty members of the ANA Synchers team lent their support to Lazarus House in September by participating in the Hike for Hope. One of the largest groups to participate, the Synchers raised over $ --- for this important cause.

With most of the competitive season for synchronized swimming beginning in the winter, the fall is normally a time for developing routines and building skills. Toward that end, the ANA Synchers sent four athletes to the Pre-Elite clinic at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center on October 14th-16th. The athletes, Kelly Mahoney, Beth O'Connor and Faryn Shiro from Andover and Charlotte Gorski from XX New Hampshire were accompanied by head coach Eugenia Gillan. The Lake Placid clinic is an invitational event for pre-elite east zone athletes and coaches, and is conducted by 1992 US Olympic gold medalists Karen and Sarah Josephson.

Thanks to its most accomplished swimmers, the Synchers are receiving unprecedented recognition and opportunities. This year nationally ranked Rita Gillan qualified for and will be attending the East Zone Elite Clinic in December in Buffalo, New York. The top 30 athletes in the East Zone have been selected to attend this event where they will be working with the coaching staff of the US National Synchronized swimming team. Clinics like these are designed to enhance athletes' skills and to promote them to an elite level of competition. Rita and coach Gillan also represented the ANA Synchers at this year's national Aquatics Convention in North Carolina earlier this month.

The ANA Synchers are proud to report that its Masters Swimming program continues to grow and thrive, and is a vital part of the overall team. Four ANA master athletes will be competing at National Masters Championship in Florida from Oct 20th-25th, in team, duet and trio events. We wish our Masters great success!

The ANA Synchers are still accepting new novice and masters swimmers for the current season. Please direct any inquiries to Eugenia at 978-394-3274. Those interested in learning more about this exhilarating and challenging sport can attend the ANA Syncher's annual showcase which is planned for the spring. Watch for more announcements about this exciting event!