Americans Shine At Pan Am Games Article from West Marine By John Gregg Watsonville, CA. (August 10, 2008) — American water skiers put a serious dent on gold reserves throughout the world following their performances at the recently concluded Pan Am Games in Medellin, Colombia. 
All six of the United States water ski teams, that’s right all 6, came away with the bulk of the top trophies. The Elite Team, followed by the 17 to 20, Junior, Under 13, Veteran 1 and Veteran 2, at the 2008 Pan American Water Ski Championships in South America were all victorious. If you want to talk about precious metals, well, Americans skiers on the six U.S. teams combined to win 68 individual medals, including 33 of a possible 48 gold medals. Leading the way the U.S. Elite Water Ski Team racked up 8,704.1 points to capture its gold medal. Canada scored 8,492.9 points in earning the silver medal and Chile tallied 7,182.5 points in earning the bronze medal. The US Elite Team was lead by Regina Jaquess of Suwanee, Georgia, who won gold medals in women's slalom, tricks and overall, and the silver medal in jumping. Leading the US Men, Jimmy Siemers of Round Rock, Texas, won the gold medal in men's tricks and the silver medal in jumping. Also on the team were Danyelle Bennett of Zachary, Louisana, April Coble-Eller of Lillington, North Carolina, Russell Gay of Winter Garden, Florida and Mandy Nightingale of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Gay earned the silver medal in men's tricks; Coble-Eller captured the silver medal in women's slalom; and Bennett won bronze medals in women's jumping and overall. 
Members of the U.S. Veteran 1 Water Ski Team (ages 35-44) were: Eric Anderson of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Brenda Baldwin of Windermere, Florida, Jody Johnson of Conyers, Georgia and Marc Shaw of Winter Park, Fla. Shaw and Baldwin captured gold medals in men's and women's slalom, tricks, jumping and overall, respectively. For the 36-year-old Shaw the victory at the Pan Am Games had special significance. Six years earlier he stepped away from the sport to concentrate on his professional career. However, after a chance encounter with a friend he realized how much he missed skiing and rededicated himself two years ago to get back into competing. “I am very excited,” Shaw said after sweeping his events. ‘One of the main reason I went to Nationals last year at all and it was a long travel for me because it was in Bakersfield and I’m in Florida. The reason I went was to be eligible for the USA Teams. So it was icing on the cake to go out there with that goal and accomplish it.” 
After years away from the sport it was a struggle for Shaw not only get back into shape to ski but also to will his body back into the athletic condition he needed to compete at a world class level. “At the end of 2006 I had a conversation with a buddy of mine and talking about skiing. It was like a light went on and I realized how much I missed it,” Shaw confided. “I got myself back in the gym and got myself into shape and around May 2007 hit the water again and have been going full force ever since. It was very tough. The mind remembers how to do some things but the body, eh, but the body has certainly forgotten. After a few weeks I felt like it was coming back but initially it was real slow.” Perhaps the most impressive factor in Shaw’s return to the sport was his ability to again compete at the top level of water skiing but also to sweep in all three of his events. 
“It was exhilarating. I have never ever done that at such a high level. The local tournaments maybe but never at a Nationals before, so to do it at the Pan Ams was quite exciting,” Shaw explained. I think anytime you are able to do that not only is there skill involved you got to have a little bit of luck on your side. In tricks I felt very fortunate to win because I didn’t do tricks that well. Ironically enough I do have more tricks titles other than slalom or jump. Tricks is actually my weakest event, other than overalls, I probably have more nationals trick title than the other two disciplines. I was just fortunate enough to be consistent in tricks. I certainly consider slalom and jump to be my stronger events.” The U.S. 17 to 20 Water Ski Team scored 7,730.2 points in winning
its gold medal. Canada earned the silver medal with 7,276.5 points
and Colombia earned the bronze medal with 6,279.4 points. 
The U.S. Under 13 Water Ski Team recorded 7,959.6 points to win
its gold medal. Colombia earned the silver medal with 5,806.1 points
and Chile secured the bronze medal with 3,207.7 points. It is
the first time in history that a U.S. Under 13 Water Ski Team has
participated in an international event. One of the strongest performances was put together by the American Junior Water Ski Team, which will compete in the Junior Water Ski World Championships in January. The United States nailed down 8,653.5 points in its gold-medal winning performance. Mexico earned the silver medal with 6,593.0 points and Canada earned the bronze medal with 5,500.6 points. 
Members of the U.S. Junior Water Ski Team included Zack Worden of Deltona, Florida, Caroline Hensley of Hixson, Tennessee, Lauren Morgan of Odessa, Florida, and John Lex Kenerly of Jesup, Georgia. Worden and Hensley swept gold medals in boys' and girls' slalom, tricks, jumping and overall, respectively. For the teenager Hensley getting the chance to represent her country and her sport is always a thrill. “It was definitely an honor to be on the team and it was a great experience,” Hensley confided. “I have been on the team before but to go to the Pan Am Games and compete for my country again, well, that’s not to much more than I can ask for.” Hensley came away with gold medal in all of her events and overall but she took her greatest pride in winning as a team. “It is always an honor to ski for your country but to be with the best skiers in your age group is always a thrill,” Hensley said. “Going into the tournament of course, my number one priority was to get some solid scores for the team, you always think team first. You go out and try to be conservative and make the finals. The when you are in the finals, you think I helped out my team and then you go out and show what you can really do. So then it is all or nothing and I skied my best and it all seem to fall in place for me.” 
Winning gold medals for your country is always a great feeling, however, for the veteran Shaw the chance to visit with old friends and once again have the opportunity to knife through the water was his driving force to get back in skiing. “There’s a lot more excitement around it but being away from it, I do appreciate it a lot more,” Shaw said. “One of the things I really have enjoyed the last two seasons is reconnecting with the people. I use to go to tournaments and as soon as I was done skiing I was ready to go. Now you have to drag me away from the lake because I just enjoy being around them and being with my friends that I haven’t seen in so long.” As it turns out, lifelong friendships can be just as precious as gold medals for the athletes who represent this country on and off the water.
Photos courtesy of USA Water Ski
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