Southern Region Members Win Gold At The World Senior Trophy

The US Veteran Water Ski Team won the overall team gold medal and 11 US athletes earned individual medals at the 2006 World Senior Trophy, Oct. 24-29, in Durban, South Africa. US athletes combined to win 20 medals, including five gold medals, at the biennial event.

Members of the US Veteran Water Ski Team were: Patricia Astin, Tom Danford, Mitch Grau, Leza Harrison, Jody Johnson, Lisa Lamb, Steve Raphael, and Donna Switzer.

Divisions at the World Senior Trophy consisted of Veteran 1 (ages 35-44), Veteran 2 (ages 45-54) and Veteran 3 (ages 55 and over). Johnson and Lamb competed in Veteran 1; Astin, Danford, Grau and Harrison competed in Veteran 2; and Raphael and Switzer competed in Veteran 3.

Jody Johnson of Conyers, Georgia earned the bronze medal in Men's slalom (5-1/2 at 38 off). Dr. John Carder of Knoxville, Tennessee, competing in the event as an independent, won the gold medal in Men's jumping (153 feet).

In Veteran 2,  Patricia Astin of Lake Worth, Florida earned bronze medals in Women's jumping (93 feet) and overall (2,797.65 points); and Leza Harrison of Ovieda, Florida earned silver medals in Women's tricks (3,150 points), jumping (94 feet) and overall (3,186.38 points), and the bronze medal in slalom (1/2 at 35 off).

In Veteran 3, Donna Switzer of Mulberry, Florida earned the bronze medal Women's tricks (780 points). DeAna Shealy, of Dawsonville, Georgia, competing as an independent, won the gold medal in Women's slalom (1 at 32 off).