- November 23, 2024
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Carolyne Vasconcellos didn’t need any extra motivation last week at the 2012 USA Synchro national swimming competition.
Unfortunately for her competitors, she had some.
Just a day before the finals, Vasconcellos’ grandfather died.
“It was definitely an amazing accomplishment, but also during a very sad moment in Carolyne’s life,” said her mother and coach, Isabella.
As if being named Florida’s top synchronized swimmer wasn’t enough, Vasconcellos, of the Flagler County Synchro Belles, used her added motivation to win three gold medals at the event in Oxford, Ohio.
She took top honors in the solo, trio and figures — leaving the Midwestern U.S. with the hardware dangling from her neck, solidifying her imprint on the sport as one of top synchronized swimmers in the country. Earlier this month, the former Flagler Palm Coast swimming standout signed a full athletic scholarship with the University of the Incarnate Word — a liberal arts school in San Antonio that won the national synchronized swimming title this past season.
There, she will swim for the synchro team, likely study pre-med and train to hopefully compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics, in Brazil.
“(My grandfather) told me I’d win it all before I left, and I did,” Vasconcellos said. “He also told me I’d make the Olympics one day, and I will.”
As a team, the Synchro Belles finished in the top eight in five of nine routines.
The trio of Vasconcellos, Carrie Hartnett and Emily Petkovsek defended their national title.
Palm Coast majors eliminated
The Palm Coast Little League Major All-Stars were eliminated from the postseason Thursday after an 8-7 loss to DeLand Little League.
The game began on Tuesday, but was suspended in the top of the third inning with DeLand leading, 7-2.
Palm Coast fought back to tie the game before eventually losing in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“(I was) really proud of our boys tonight,” said coach Doug Berryhill. “They finally played like a real baseball team. They were excellent.”
Unda The Radar Academy signups
Early registration for the Unda Tha Radar Academy will take place 5-8 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at Tropical Smoothie Café, 5234 E. State Road 100.
For more, call 801-9023.
