By Katie Winkler
Review Staff Writer
Some students swim and dive or dance, but for Lauren Prebay, her sport requires skill in all of those.
Prebay finished in the top three at the regional synchronized swimming meet, pushing her way to the US Age Group Synchronized Swimming National Championships in Washington.
During her time at the nationals, Prebay competed in the trio category with Troy twins Isabella and Victoria Balza, where they placed 19 out of 38 teams, and the 11-12 age group team, placing 25 out of 31 teams. The competitions took place June 27 through July 5 in Federal Way, Washington.
‘I am a very proud mommy,? mother Jennifer Prebay said. ‘Lauren, only nine, swims with 11 and 12 year olds. She has always stepped up to the age of the girls she is swimming with.?
Jennifer Prebay explained that other teams they were competing against practiced everyday for five to eight hours each day, while the girls from the Oakland area practiced only on Friday and Saturdays for a couple of hours. The few weeks prior to the nationals, Prebay and teammates were able to get extra practice time at other pools besides their normal practice times at Troy High School.
‘We were so excited and proud of them. We’ve never see them swim better and to do the best they have ever done, especially with pressure of competing against all of these high level teams,? Prebay said.
Lauren was first approached about switching from swimming to synchronized swimming at the age of four, when her family lived in Texas.
Three years later, the Prebay’s moved back to Michigan and began looking for a synchronized swimming team, which is the team that she is on now.
Lauren explained that she stayed with syncronized swimming after moving to Michigan because it is ‘fun to swim with friends, be able to swim to music, do gymnastics, and enjoy dancing in the water.?
‘Synchronized swimming is more of a team sport because they are doing duos and working with a team. There is more gracefullness and rhythm that you perform during musical reoutines,? Jennifer Prebay said. ‘In racing swimming, you are on your own and trying to beat your own time. If you ask a syncronized swimmer, they say it is harder than racing.?