Aquanuts place third at 2017 state championships

/Photo courtesy of Lisa Neal Photography

The Aquanut Water Shows team competed at the 51st Annual Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Championships, Saturday, July 22, the “oldest and largest” water ski championships in the world, at the Red Sands Beach on Lake Wazeecha in Wisconsin Rapids.

The Aquanuts placed third in the overall competition (1,731.38 points), following Mad City (1,892.22 points) and the Rock Aqua Jays (1,844.18 points). The Aquanuts had an outstanding show, against the adversity of Slow No Wake conditions on Lake Mary (Twin Lakes, Wisconsin). This years show director, Eric Fauth, brought the audience back in time to the Nuts of Hazzard, a spoof of the 1980’s hit television show the “Dukes of Hazzard”, with family appropriate humor and incredible water skiing. The Aquanuts have high flying jumpers, beautiful and graceful swivel and ballet ladies, trick skiers with intricate moves, fast boats and barefooting skiers all on the water within the hour long show.

This year the Aquanuts are once again State Ballet champions with 26 girls, upholding their tradition for incredible ballet on the water and intricate dances on the land. Ethan Shulda was awarded the Outstanding Trick Skier Award, for the second consecutive year. Kailey Koehler, was named the 2017 Jennifer Dibble-Woods/Michelle Cook Award Winner. Kailey barefooted, swiveled and climbed pyramids, establishing her as most valuable female skier for the third time in the past 5 years. Swivel star Grace Gurda placed second in the individual Swivel competition. Ethan Shulda, also captured a second place trophy at the individual Free Style Jump competition.

The Aquanuts are a 501c3 charity organization with shows on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day in Lance Park, Twin Lakes. Please check their website for shows due to the Slow NO Wake conditions on Lake Mary. Other community events include Learn to Ski and Adaptive Aquatics, a learn to ski program for children and adults with different abilities. Members of the public are invited to attend.