The water ski team at the University of Louisiana at Monroe has brought home another win for the second year in a row, making it the 28th win for the Warhawks. The tournament, which began in 1979, is judged based on 3 separate categories in competitive water skiing: slalom, trick and jumping.
ULM is one of few institutions in the nation with waterfront property on campus that can be utilized to both practice and compete on. Head coach Joey McNamara says this easy access is convenient for athletes because the commute to practice is minimal, and getting to and from class is not a problem.
Head Coach Joey McNamara says the support from ULM largely impacts the success of the team. He states that the school has "quite an investment in the water ski team." Scouts recruit student athletes from all over the world to join the team.
McNamara talks about the importance of individual training and how that contributes to their overall success. Water skiing is scored individually, but for college competitions, the teams' scores are grouped together to form a composite score.
Hanna Straltsova set a new current world record in women's jump, reaching 159 feet with a gold medal finish. The women's team placed first in all three categories. The men's team placed first in slalom, second in tricks, and third in men's jump.