Athletes Of The Month Selected

Scott N. Atkinson November 02, 2009

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Photo: Scott N. Atkinson

Zack Worden won titles at the Under 21 Water Ski World Championships and Collegiate Water Ski National Championships.

USA Water Ski has selected Zack Worden (Deltona, Fla.) and Caroline Hensley (Hixson, Tenn.) as its Male and Female Athletes of the Month, respectively, for October. The U.S. Under 21 Water Ski Team was selected team of the month. Worden, Hensley and the U.S. Under 21 Water Ski Team are now eligible for the United States Olympic Committee's Athlete and Team of the Month honors.

Worden won the men's jumping and overall titles, and helped lead the U.S. Under 21 Water Ski Team to the overall gold medal at the 4th Under 21 Water Ski World Championships, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Chapala, Mexico. Worden jumped 218 feet to win the jumping title and tallied 2,617.59 points to win the overall title. He also placed fifth in slalom (5 buoys at 38 feet off) and 10th in tricks (7,120 points). He contributed team points in all three events, tallying 2,604.64 points toward the U.S. team’s 7,800.16 points.

At the 31st Collegiate Water Ski National Championships, Oct. 22-24, in Arvin, Calif., Worden won the men's jumping title with a leap of 184 feet, placed second overall with 1,605 points, and tied for second in slalom with 1 buoy at 39-1/2 feet off. Worden, a freshman, also contributed valuable team points in helping the University of Louisiana-Monroe win the team championship for the fourth consecutive year.


Hensley earned the bronze medal in women's overall and helped lead the U.S. Under 21 Water Ski Team to the overall gold medal at the 4th Under 21 Water Ski World Championships, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Chapala, Mexico. Hensley tallied 2,539.34 points to secure the bronze medal in overall after placing fourth in slalom (3 buoys at 35 feet off) and tricks (6,950 points), and seventh in jumping (150 feet). She contributed team points in all three events, tallying 2,539.34 points toward the U.S. team’s 7,800.16 points.

At the 31st Collegiate Water Ski National Championships, Oct. 22-24, in Arvin, Calif., Hensley placed second in tricks (3,710 points), third in jumping (140 feet) and overall (1,630 points), and fourth in slalom (1/2-buoy at 38 feet off). Hensley, a freshman, also contributed valuable team points in helping the University of Alabama to a runner-up placement in the overall team standings.

The U.S. Under 21 Water Ski Team won the gold medal at the 4th Under 21 Water Ski World Championships, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Chapala, Mexico. The U.S. Under 21 Water Ski Team tallied 7,800.16 points in winning the overall gold medal for the third time.

Members of the U.S. Under 21 Water Ski Team were: Caroline Hensley (Hixson, Tenn.), Alex Lauretano (Morris, Conn.), Adam Pickos (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) and Zack Worden (Deltona, Fla.). All four team members contributed valuable points toward the team’s total. Jim Grew (Winter Haven, Fla.), Regina Jaquess (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) and Brad Harmon (Cleburne, Texas) served as captain, coach and physician, respectively.

Worden won gold medals in men's jumping and overall. He soared 218 feet (66.5 meters) to win the gold medal in jumping for the second consecutive time, and tallied 2,617.59 overall points to win the men's overall gold medal. Hensley earned the bronze medal in women's overall, tallying 2,539.34 points. Lauretano earned the bronze medal in women's jumping, leaping 161 feet. Pickos placed fourth in men’s tricks, scoring 9,690 points.

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