Sitting On the Dock of the Lake Watching the Tide Roll Away

Spectators must have felt a lot like Otis Redding as they watched the Alabama Crimson Tide capture the Southern & Atlantic Coastal Regional title for the seventh year in a row. This year’s Regional Championships were hosted by Clemson University at Rodgers Farm Pond in Greenwood, South Carolina.

Men’s Slalom

The Regional Championships began with the Men’s slalom event where Jamie Calhoun (FSC) took the title with 2.5 buoys at 39.5 off, edging out Alabama’s Sean Hunter (ALA) who ran 2 buoys at 39.5 off. Tanguy Dailland (FSC) was able to secure third place with his score of 4.5 buoys at 38 off. 

Although the Mocs of Florida Southern had a strong showing , the Crimson Tide took the team victory in the first event of the day, Men’s Slalom, proving that depth is vital in collegiate skiing.

Women’s Slalom

Once the men had finished slaloming, the ladies had their chance to show everyone how it’s done. Freshman Brooke Baldwin (ALA) was the last skier off the dock and captured first place with half a buoy at 39.5 off. Allie Nicholson (FSC), a seasoned competitor in the Collegiate Women’s slalom event, earned second place with a score of 3.5 buoys at 38 off. Anna Gay (ALA) also earned her spot on the podium with a score of 4.5 at 35 off.

Once again, the Tide continued to roll away from the competition claiming the team title for the Women’s Slalom event.

Men’s Trick

The Tide’s weakest link this year was the Men’s Trick event. Tanguy Dailland (FSC) demonstrated his prowess in the trick event flipping his way into first place with 5,570 points. Bama team captain Quinn Haines (ALA) proved that he is a force to be reckoned with as an overall skier putting up 4,020 points to take second place. Freshman Collin Diviak (ROL) secured the Tars’ first podium of the day with a run worth 2,870 points to take third.

The Mocs made sure to take advantage of the Tide’s shortcoming and garnered their first team victory of the day with solid performances from their men’s trick team.

Women’s Trick

World Trick Champion, Anna Gay, (ALA) racked up 5,020 points, placing herself firmly atop the podium. Freshman Josefa Gonzalez (FSC) spun her way into second place with a score of 3,300 points and Bailey Grathwohl (ALA) followed in third place with 2,770 points. 

After falling to the Mocs in the Men’s Trick event, the Tide asserted their dominance once again by clinching a team win in Women’s Tricks.

Women’s Jump

Valentina Gonzalez (FSC), no stranger to the Collegiate jump scene,put out a 141 foot jump in the first rotation of the Women’s Jump event, daring the rest of the ladies to take a poke at big red. Brooke Baldwin (ALA) proved that she is a major asset to the Crimson Tide with a jump of 135 feet, which earned her second place. Tianna Kosek (FSC) was able to take third with her 126 foot flight.

Although the Lady Mocs posted some big scores, Alabama came out on top once again, proving the importance of depth.

Men’s Jump

The University of Alabama flexed once again by dominating the Men’s Jump event. SAC regional record holder Quinn Haines (ALA) broke his own site record with a 176 foot leap to take the gold. Teammate Ben Leutz (ALA), founding member of the Midwest Airforce, put out a 164 foot jump to secure a second place finish. Freshman Blake Keller rounded out the Crimson podium with a 147 foot jump.

Although Florida Southern’s Tanguy Dailland snuck into fifth place with a score of 142 feet edging out Dylan Melnar (ALA) by one tenth of a meter, the Tide ensured a team win by placing all five of their jumpers in the top six.

Team Results

Although the Mocs of Florida Southern College put up a strong fight, in the end they could not turn the tide and the University of Alabama came out victorious once again. 

By claiming the SAC Regional title, the University of Alabama punched their ticket to the 2019 Syndicate Waterskis NCWSA National Championships which will be held at Bell Aqua in Rio Linda, California October 10^ththrough 12^th. Florida Southern College, Rollins College, Clemson University, and Auburn University also qualified for the National Championships and will be making the trip to the west coast.  

Congratulations to the University of Georgia and Lander University on a fantastic season. We can’t wait to see you back on the water this spring.

Thank you to all of the Clemson University Water Ski Team for hosting this year’s SAC Regional championships, the Rodgers family for allowing us to ski at their site, and all of the officials who made this event possible.

Placement	School	Points
1	University of Alabama	6,445
2	Florida Southern College	5,380
3	Rollins College	4,380
4	Clemson University	3,960
5	Auburn University	2,660
6	University of Georgia	2,205
7	Lander University	350

The full scorebook can be found on USA Water Ski & Wakesports

Who’s headed to Nationals, and in what seed? Watch the 2019 NCWSA Wildcard Show.

PB Alert

Slalom

James Webber (CLE) 2.5 @ 38 off

Trick

Collin Diviak (ROL) 2,870 points

Hayden Caffey (FSC) 1,950 points

Abbie Skeen (CLE) 1,010 points

Maddie Extine (AUB) 370 points

Jump

Katie Horton (ALA) 116 feet

Colton Steffensen (CLE) 91 feet

Carlos Fidalgo (AUB) 70 feet

Sarah Switzer (AUB) 50 feet

Hallie Burris (CLE) 43 feet

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Photo credit: Emily Sampson (@simplycapturedmoments)

Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun, I’ll be sittin’ when the evening comes. Watching the Tide roll in, then I watch ’em roll away again.