For members of Hawai'i Synchro Club, grace under water is an absolute must when it comes to executing flawless synchronized swimming routines.

"Synchronized swimming requires a lot of physical work, and the goal is to make it look easy when you do it. No matter how hard you are working, you keep a big smile," Susie Rodenkirchen said.

Rodenkirchen, 31, a Minnesota native, began competitive swimming at age 9. In high school, her interest in synchronized swimming took hold, and it carried on into her early college years at Gustuvus Adolphus College.

"I swam with GAC's competitive swimming team," Rodenkirchen said. "There was no synchro team, so I started one my freshman year."

With Rodenkirchen's desire to work in the marine biology field, she moved to Hawai'i 10 years ago and landed a job at the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory as a dolphin trainer. She is now its education coordinator.

At work, Rodenkirchen met Alison Stimpert, who was a member of the Hawai'i Synchro team. The pair would occasionally choreograph routines for fun.

"(Allison) and I would gather a group of our co-workers together to perform fun-themed routines for laboratory parties," Rodenkirchen said.

Rodenkirchen was selected as a team member sent to compete in the Oceania Games held in Brisbane, Australia, in July 2006, where she was part of the group that took a silver medal in the team competition.

Lisa Velez, Rodenkirchen's coach, appreciates her contributions to the team.

"Susie is one of our college athletes who has improved tremendously," Velez said. "Her previous synchronized swimming experience was very helpful to her in both solo and team participation. She's a wonderful coach in helping with the development of our younger swimmers."

Although synchronized swimmers show a smile while competing, the sport is tough.

"Synchronized swimming is a fantastic workout," Rodenkirchen said. "You use many different muscles in the sport — your legs (and arms) really work hard to support your body as you move across the water or when you're upside down.

"Being in the water is among my favorite activities. There's nothing like the feeling of moving through water — I feel so lucky to be a swimmer."

THE NOVICE

Sarah Almeida, 12, selected synchronized swimming as one of her extracurricular activities at La Pietra School.

"It was one of the few sports I could do as a sixth-grader, and because I caught on quickly, I immediately enjoyed it," she said.

Almeida, who did gymnastics from age 2 to 10, credits that in helping her pick up the intricate underwater movements required in synchronized swimming.

"One of the hardest things is learning to hold your breath for a long while and trying to stay in timing with the other swimmers," she said. "The only thing I don't like about it is when I accidentally gulp down chlorinated water, which is really nasty."

Velez sees great potential in Almeida.

"Sarah came to us with natural athletic talent, which transferred well for the physical demands of synchronized swimming," she said, adding that Almeida should have an opportunity for a team tryout for the next Oceania Games in 2008.

Almeida also runs and lifts light weights as part of her out-of-water training.

"I hope to do synchronized swimming when I go to college, either in New York or in Washington (state)," Almeida said.

ORIGINS OF THE CLUB

Velez, 28, is a former national synchronized team member.

In November 2005, Velez, along with her friend and former national team member, Lianne Cameron-Vrielink, founded the HSC at the University of Hawai'i, as a nonprofit organization.

The club, which includes juniors, college students and adults, was approved as a registered independent organization, creating the first collegiate club in the state, allowing it to compete against other colleges. HSC is pursuing varsity status at the university.

Seeking to extend the club's influences beyond the campuses of La Pietra and Punahou schools, Velez and Cameron-Vrielink offer programs at Central O'ahu Veteran's Memorial Pool and the YWCA Kokokahi in Kane'ohe.

The highlight has been the club's showing at the Oceania Games in 2006.

"We took eight athletes to Australia, winning gold and silver medals in nearly every event," Velez said.

For more information, contact Hawai'i Synchro Club at 551-0316, or visit their Web site at www.hawaiisynchro.com.