Oct. 25, 2005
Media Advisory
To: News Directors and News Editors
From: Veronika Avery, Director of Media Relations, 342-5444, vavery@ulm.edu

The University of Louisiana at Monroe Water Ski Team fell just 15 points shy of their second consecutive National Collegiate Water Ski Association championship on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Purdue University. With several first place finishes in individual events, ULM's combined team overall score came to 12,520. It was not enough, however, to overtake the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, who finished with 12,535 overall points.

Despite not winning the combined team championship, the ULM women's team won their overall championship, coming in first in slalom, trick, and jump. The Indians were well represented in the top three of all three events. ULM's Regina Jaquess took first place in the women's slalom and trick competitions and came in second in the jump competition. Natalia Berdnikava took first place for the Indians in the women's jump and Carly Clifton tied for third. Berdnikava also came in third in the women's trick competition.

The ULM men's team was also impressive, coming in second in the men's overall. The team won first place in the slalom and second place in the jump and trick competitions. Thomas Degasperi took first place for the Indians in the slalom. Alexei Zharnasek and Ryan Dodd finished first and second respectively in the trick competition. Dodd also took first place in the jump competition, with a jump of 183 feet.

Adam McDonald contributed to this release.