Summerlin mermaids return from Ohio with championship gold and silver

The Southern Nevada Desert Mermaids, Summerlin's competitive synchronized swim team, made a splash at this year's E Synchro Age Group Championship in Oxford, Ohio.

At the June event, which showcases more than 1,000 athletes, the Southern Nevada Desert Mermaids fared well earning a silver medal in the 13 to 15-year division; and a gold medal for a duet performed by Ashley Taylor and Karli Farris in the 18 to 19-year division. Four first-timers comprising the 11- to 12-age group team finished seventh in this national competition.

Practicing daily in the master-planned community of Summerlin, the Desert Mermaids are Nevada's only nationally ranked competitive synchronized swim team. Formed in 1999, the team is comprised of 35 girls, ages 6 to 18, who travel the country for national meets and train up to five hours a day, five times weekly.

Currently, the team is preparing for its annual water show, "Beach Party 2007," on Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pavilion Pool adjacent to Palo Verde High School, 333 Pavilion Center Drive. Admission is $10, and the fundraising event features a silent auction from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.

According to head coach, Katie Tipton, the team is coached by some of the world's best synchronized swimmers, including Stephane Miermont, former French National Team member, French National Duet Champion, French and U.S. National Coach, World Championship and Olympic Choreographer, and former "O" show swimmer.

Other coaches include Stephanie Bissonnette, former Jr. World Champion, Jr. World Solo Champion, Gold Medalist in Solo and Duet & Team, and former "O" show performer; Christine Stark, novice and new member coach; and Linda S. Tannenbaum, Sullivan Award finalist, U.S. Synchro Swimming Hall of Fame member, FINA World Cup, World Championship, and Pan American champion.

"Las Vegas is lucky to have such world class talent," Tipton said. "The shows on the Strip such as 'O' and 'Le Reve,' attract the best synchronized swimmers to our city and we are fortunate so many are willing to share their talents with us."

The Pavilion pool where the team often practices and performs was designed and built by The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin. Today, it is operated by the city of Las Vegas as a public use facility and is shared by Palo Verde High School.

According to Tom Warden, vice president of community and government relations for The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties and developer of Summerlin, extracurricular opportunities for youth, such as the Southern Nevada Desert Mermaids, help enrich the Summerlin lifestyle.

"Summerlin's many recreational amenities, such as parks, trails, pools and golf courses, along with its active recreational and youth sport programs, make the Summerlin lifestyle especially popular for families," Warden said. "We are proud to claim the Southern Nevada Desert Mermaids as a Summerlin-based sports team, and we're even more proud that this team competes successfully on a national level."

Summerlin began to take shape in 1990 and is a 22,500-acre master-planned community located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley.

The community features a number of amenities and is home to more than 95,000 residents. With about 7,500 acres still to develop, including its urban core, Summerlin Centre, Summerlin is continuing to unfold.

The master-planned community is home to 100-plus neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of the Summerlin trail system, 19 public and private schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, medical facilities, cultural facilities, business parks and more than 60 model homes.

For more information on the master-planned community, visit summerlin.com or call 791-4500.