The Sac State water ski club rounded out its season three weeks ago in Nationals, coming in last place on the rough waters of Tempe Town, Ariz. A week before Nationals, the club finished third in the Regional event.

Despite the unsuccessful outcome, the team produced stellar performances in the individual competitions. Sac State has performed fairly well over the past few years in the water ski competition advancing to Nationals many times.

“We?re a new team that?s rebuilding and we still made it to the nationals,” said water ski club member Brian Dennick.

Much success water ski at Sac State has earned is awarded to Celeste Eckerman, the captain of the water ski club.

“She pulls the team together, shows up to every practice and event, and runs the whole show,” said Dennick.

Greg Fisher is another prominent player on the club with his strengths coming in the slalom event.

Water Ski competitions are comprised of three events, the slalom, trick, and jump. The slalom comprises of set obstacle courses that are similar for every slalom event in which competition of time takes place. The trick event is self-explanatory in which better tricks result in more points. The goal of the final event, the jump, is to remain airborne for the longest distance off a ramp.

Sac State also has a water ski team sponsored by the National Collegiate Water Ski Association. To be able to compete in the water ski club, one must simply pay team and competition dues. However, only qualified players may compete in Sac State?s NCWSA team.

The water ski season at Sac State starts when classes begin in fall and ends either after Nationals or a few weeks after depending on the individual. It resumes again during, roughly, March or April. Sac States water ski club decided to compete in a competition at Chico the weekend of October 20th, after nationals, and came in second place, even though the atmosphere was less competitive.