Aqua Skiers win D2 nationals

TOMAHAWK – The Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers were more than up to the task making the jump from Division 3 to Division 2 in a two-week span.

The club dominated the D2 field, scoring 1,462 points to win their first national show ski championship Sunday at the Kwahamot Ski Bowl. The Aqua Skiers highest prior finish at a national tournament was second in 2001 in Division 1.

Another first, the Aqua Skiers are the only club in Wisconsin to win the state tournament in Division 3, 2 and 1. They are also the first to win a D3 state title and the Division 2 national title in the same year.

Aside from winning by a 149-point margin over runner-up Browns Lake Aqua Ducks (1,313), the Aqua Skiers won all four traditional box scores. Rapids scored 49 points in the dock and equipment category, 152 in pick up boats, 371 in tow boat driving and 447 in sound crew.

“Our box scores and girls carries us,” said Aqua Skiers co-show director Jason Sachs. “Our boat drivers, pick up boat drivers and dock crew did an incredible job.

“We hit the acts we had to hit and just really skied a strong show. We’re really excited about how this year finished for us.”

The Aqua Skier girls had the top scoring ballet act (214) and the best swivel ski act (194). The ballet line, 21 girls, was the club’s highest scoring act.

Kelsey Sachs was the female MVP of the tournament and Taylor Christianson was the D2 swivel champ, to round out the girls’ accomplishments.

The boys fared well too, having the highest scoring barefoot act, their four-man back barefoot line (212), and Rich Taugner was the male MVP of the tournament.

“Looking back to June, piecing everything together and to see where we are now is amazing,” Sachs said. “To accomplish what we have in just a few months is pretty special.”

The Aqua Skiers will compete at the Division 2 level at next year’s 50th Wisconsin State Water Ski tournament and will also be hosting the 2016 World Show Skiing championships in September.

“We had a great season and next year is going to be even bigger for us,” Sachs said.

Division 2 nationals

Team scores: 1. Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers 1,462; 2. Browns Lake 1,313; 3. Lake City Skiers, 1,309;4.Hartwick Huskys 1,272; 5. Kwahamots 1,174; 6. Ski Cats 1,173; 7. Badwater Ski-Ters 1,152; 8. Plum Ski-Ters 1,0095; 9. Ski Sprites 1,070.

Box scores (Top 3): Dock and equipment: Aqua Skiers 49, Browns Lake 36, Hartwick Huskys. Pick up boats: Aqua Skiers 152, Kwahamots 127, Ski Sprites 123. Tow boat driving: Aqua Skiers 371, Browns Lake 341, Ski Cats 312. Sound crew: Aqua Skiers 447, Browns Lake 397, Ski Cats 389.