The Sacramento State Water Ski Team finished fifth in the 2007 National Collegiate Water Ski Championships held in Zachary, La. this past weekend. The Hornets competed in division I against 11 other teams.

Each team was judged on three different events: slalom, trick and jumping.

The University of Louisiana-Monroe took home the championship title, while the University of Louisiana-Lafayette placed second. Arizona State finished third and Purdue earned fourth place, Sac State rounded out the top five with fifth place. The only other team from California that competed in division I was Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Cal Poly finished 11th.

The Water Ski Team’s head coach, Michael Sloan, said, “The (Sac State) team finished higher than any other non-scholarship school. Every team that placed higher than us actually gives out scholarships to their skiers.”

“I was really proud of the way our team performed. The women skiers on our team really pulled though and were a key reason why we finished in the top five,” said Sloan.

The two Hornet standouts were Ryan Selsor and Andrea Neely. Selsor took 10th overall in the nation in the men’s division while Neely took eighth overall in the women’s division. Selsor and Neely participated in slalom, trick and jumping events.

“We have five graduating seniors who have skied for us for four years. It’s been a good ride and I just want them to know that,” said Sloan.

“The weather on Friday and Saturday was great and the people in Louisiana were very friendly and polite,” said Sloan.

UC Davis competed in division II and finished in second place.

The Hornets finished fourth in the 2006 National Collegiate Water Ski Championships.

Andrew Eggers can be reached at [email protected]