by Anthony Mazur
posted 03/13/16   

     Local synchronized swim team Pirouettes of Texas (PTX), based in Lewisville, has been participating in the South Zone Synchronized Swim Championships this past weekend. The event features teams across the country, including teams from Florida, Virginia, and North and south Carolina. The Pirouettes have been training and competing since 1985. Some Olympians, such as Carrie Barton were members of PTX when they were younger. This year, coach Erika Johnson, previously a swimmer with over 19 years of experience, has been working with the Pirouettes for the the South Zone Championships, which serves as a qualifier for the national competition.
     “[Synchronized Swim] is a mixture of dancing, swimming, ballet, and gymnastics in the water,” Johnson said.
     The team has to practice conditioning and endurance to be able to complete their routine, along with wearing nose plugs to prevent water from entering their nasal cavities when flipping upside down underwater.
     “You got to think that we are holding our breath for 30 to 40 percent of the routine, if not more, and the routine is an average of three minutes,” Johnson explained.
     The Pirouettes practice about 20 hours a week according to Johnson, and the competition is tough.
     “[The competition] is extremely hard this year,” Johnson said. “We have a lot that are trying for the national team, as well as being a part of the Olympics. We have a lot of hard work and difficult routines coming through, so it will be great to see.”
     PTX will continue competing at the South Zone Championships today. The full schedule can be found here.

Photos from the event on Friday can be found here.
Photos from the event on Saturday can be found here.