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Aqua Jays finish second at state

Event: 2009 Wisconsin State/Regional Water Ski Show Tournament.

Dates: July 16-19.

Location: Lake Wazeecha, South Wood County Park, Wisconsin Rapids.

Results: Mad City Ski Team of Madison won with 1,939 points, followed by Rock Aqua Jays of Janesville with 1,892 points; Webfooters of Fremont, 1,737; Water Bugs of Muskego, 1,521; Aquanuts of Twin Lakes, 1,505; Badgerland of Oconomowoc, 1,461; Beaverland Must-Skis of Beaver Dam, 1,438; Chetek Hydroflites of Chetek, 1,227; Waterboard Warriors of Wrightstown, 1,177; Minneiska, Minn., 1,031; Ski Sprites of Altoona, 1,002; Lauderdale Aqua Skiers of Elkhorn, 990; Shermalot of Rome, 952; Aqua Skiers of Wisconsin Rapids, 861.

The Rock Aqua Jays scored the highest in barefoot and pyramid acts and tow-boat driving. The team took third in team jump. Heather Addie and Jacklyn Kumlien took fourth and fifth, respectively, in swivels.

Hosts: Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers.

Tournament highlight: The second-place finish earns the team a spot in the national championships in August, and Addie and Kumlien might earn bids to nationals for swivels, said Gerry Luiting, show director.

Luiting said he was proud of the team's performance but thinks they could have won if they had performed as well as they did the week before in practice and local shows. The team had some bad luck with ropes breaking in the barefoot pyramid and five-high pyramid acts.

"I'm disappointed only in that we've had great shows on Wednesday and Sunday of this week and great practices on Monday and Tuesday, and we haven't had the same quality … at the tournament," he said.

Quote of the day: "We just have to basically polish our show up (for the national tournament) because there's nothing wrong with the show we were doing up to the tournament day."

Next competition: Show Ski National Championships, Aug. 7-9, Rock River, Shorewood Park, Loves Park, Ill.