Alex Lauretano Sweeps Gold at PanAm Water Ski Championships

Press Release: August 5, 2008, Terryville, CT

Alex Lauretano of Morris, Connecticut led the USA Water Ski Team to victory at the 2008 Pan American Championships by sweeping gold medals in all five category events including Slalom, Jump, Trick, Overall and Team Overall. The PanAm Championships which draws teams from North, Central and South America was held in Medellin, Columbia from July 28th through August 3rd and was hosted by the Columbian Water Ski Federation under the supervision of the International Water Ski Federation and Olympic Rules Committee.

Alex scored 7220 points in the trick event, 3 buoys @ 35 feet off in slalom, 47.7 meters (156 feet) in jump and 2857.1 points overall. Other competitors on the USA Team were Olivia McDonald of Fayetteville, NC who won silver medals in trick and overall, Storm Selsor of Fremont, CA who earned the silver medal in jump and bronze in overall and Keri McClure of Van Wert, OH who earned the silver medal in slalom. The team staff consisted of Coach Brandi Hunt of Clermont, FL, Manager Jim Grew of Winter Park, FL and team physician Dr. Marc Aiken of Johnson City, TN.

The US U/21 Water Ski Team scored 7730.2 points in winning its Team Gold medal. Canada earned the silver medal with 7276.5 points and Columbia earned the bronze medal with 6279.4.

Alex is the current US National Champion and is World Ranked # 2 Overall in her U21 age division. She also won the Jr. US Open held in Westchester, OH June 21st & 22nd. She will be defending her National title when she competes at the 2008 National Championships to be held August 11th through 16th in West Palm Beach, FL. She will also compete at the 2008 University World Championships to be held in Tianjin, China October 1st through 5th and will then return to the United States to compete in the Collegiate National Championships October 14th through 16th in Chandler, AZ.

Alex will be featured at the 50th Anniversary Bantam Lake Ski Show along with former World Champion and Morris, CT resident Al Tyll on August 9th & 10th at Sandy Beach on Bantam Lake in Litchfield, CT.

Alex is sponsored by MasterCraft Boats, D3 Skis, Girls4Sport Activewear and is an Athlete Sponsor for PETA. She currently lives and trains in Winter Garden, FL and is a Junior at Florida Southern College studying nutrition.

Please contact Pat Byrne (860-582-0233 x 160) for additional information or for contact information for Alex.

Photo: Courtesy Team Canada