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October 19, 2008

ULM Water Ski Team wins 21st national championship title

The University of Louisiana Monroe Water Ski Team triumphed Oct. 16-18, winning its 21st national championship title at the National Collegiate Water Ski Association’s 30th National Championship Tournament, held this year in Chandler, Ariz.

The ULM Water Ski Team has won 21 of the 30 years the competition has been held. This is the third consecutive year for the Division 1 Team Overall title. Twenty-two teams from across the nation competed in the NCWSA National Championship Tournament, demonstrating some of the best of collegiate skiing.

The ULM team won the tournament by a solid 530 points, dominating with an overall point total of 12,360. This score is determined by 30 different ski performances over three days, with skiing starting at 7 a.m. and continuing until 6 p.m.

The performances seen at the National Championship Tournament are the culmination of the team developing a rhythm that allows them to move together well, develop a positive team dynamic and facilitate strong performances, according to Treina Landrum, ULM Water Ski Team coach and director of Recreational Services. “ULM Skiers set the standard for outstanding team performance in all three events: slalom, trick and jump. We were the team to watch in skiing, school spirit and good sportsmanship.

“This victory is a group effort; you win as a team or you lose as a team, no one performance determines the outcome. We were proud to wear our Homecoming shirts on the last day of the tournament. Everyone knows who the ULM Water Skiers are - they are the team that is skiing well, having the best time, supporting the other competitors, and holding that championship trophy.”

ULM team members placed in the top five in several categories, making them members of the All American team in those events.

The men’s team won first in the slalom and tricks categories and second in jumping, winning second place overall. In men’s slalom, Daniel Odvarko (Czech Republic) finished first, scoring two-and-a-half buoys at 39.5 feet off; Adam Sedlmajer (Czech Republic) finished second; and Martin Bartalsky (Slovakia) tied for fifth. In men’s tricks, Sedlmajer scored a first place victory, tallying 5,370 points; Odvarko tied for fourth. Overall, Sedlmajer won second place in the men’s portion.

The women’s team won first in the women’s slalom competition; Kate Adriaensen (Belgium) placed third and Karen Stevens (Canada) tied for fourth. In women’s tricks, ULM scored a first place victory; Adriaensen individually won third place. In women’s jumping, the team tied for second; Adriaensen earned a fourth place win. In the Division 1 women’s category, Adriaensen won second place and Stevens fifth, as individuals. The women’s team won second place overall.

The team's anniversary will be celebrated Oct. 25, marking the 30th year of water skiing at ULM. The team will host a reunion, as well as a ski show on Bayou DeSiard by the Alumni Center from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to see this performance given by ULM's water ski champions.

More about the ULM Water Ski Team:
The ULM Water Ski Team competes in the National Collegiate Water Ski Association South Central Region.

Members of the ULM Water Ski Team this fall are:

Women’s Team:

Men’s Team:

For information about the ULM Water Ski Team, contact Landrum at (318) 342-5313 or landrum@ulm.edu or visit the team’s Web site at www.ulmwaterski.com.

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