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Ohio Water Ski Association

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Congratulations to the following Ohio Skiers who placed at the 2025 Water Ski Nationals held at Ski West Village in Arvin, CA on August 5 - 9, 2025:

8/21/2025

 
  Jeanette Van Akeilijen, W7 Slalom Champion                    Ted McColley, M8 2nd place Slalom                           Bob Axe, M7 Trick Champion
                 Bob Axe, M7 4th place Overall                         Libby Van Treese, W7 Trick Champion                       Kelli Kerns, W5 2nd place Slalom
        Emily Dammeyer, W2 2nd place Trick                        Kyle Dammeyer, M2 2nd place slalom                    Kyle Dammeyer, M2 4th place Trick
           Mary Nelson, W1 5th place Jump                             Mary Nelson, W1 4th place Slalom                          Mary Nelson, W1 3rd place Overall

Jeanette Van Akelijen Awarded 2025 Distinguished Service Award

7/30/2025

 
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Congratulations Jeanette Van Akeilijen on this year’s Distinguished Service Award.  Jeanette grew up water skiing on the Ohio River as a weekend Wally. In 1995 during a job interview there was a picture on the wall of a slalom skier laying out a big spray. Being a skier, she asked the interviewer if he skied as well.
​Little did she know that simple question would begin a 30 year journey filled with passion and love for this sport. The interviewer said he skied and if she got the job, he’d take her out to “my” lake. She wondered “My lake?”  Well, she got the job and the following year had her own boat – a 1995 purple Nautique – dubbed the Barney Barge. She joined Hidden Lake in Morrow, OH and has been chasing buoys ever since.

Her slalom accomplishments include many Ohio State championships, several Midwest Regional championships, a 3rd place finish at US Nationals in 2024 and a 5th place finish at the Senior Worlds in Spain in 2024. She currently holds the W6 Ohio State Championship slalom record 1@32 mph/35 off and the W6 Ohio tournament record 3@32mph/35 off. You might even catch her on a trick ski now and then.
She has spent the last 3 decades giving back to the sport. Those involved know that these tournaments don’t run themselves. She has been a senior slalom judge and a senior 3 event scorer for many years. Since returning to Ohio 10 years ago, she has been the chief scorer for the Ohio State championships and many other tournaments including collegiate tournaments. 

Ted McColley breaks long standing M8 Ohio Championships Slalom Record with [email protected]/39.5

7/30/2025

 
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Ohio State Championship July 19 & 20th

7/16/2025

 
ORDER OF EVENTS:

​Saturday -
Round 1 Slalom for all participants
                   Round 1 Trick for Juniors, B1-5 & G1-5
                   Round 1 Jump for Juniors, B1-5 & G1-5
Sunday -    Round 1 & 2 Trick 
                   Round 1 & 2 Jump
                   Round 2 Slalom 

We will also be competing by team based on Lake membership or College.  

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT

5/23/2025

 
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October 2024 Collegiate Nationals at San Marcos River Ranch

3/16/2025

 
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Miami University - 10th Place D1
SPIRIT AWARD WINNER
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Annemarie Wroblewski 3rd D1 Slalom
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Ohio State University - 2nd Place D2
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Ryan Houser 5th D2 Slalom

OHIO Skiers who placed at the 2024 82nd WATER SKI NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS held at Ski West Village in Arvin, CA August 13 - 17, 2024

11/5/2024

 
Kyle Dammeyer M2 Slalom National Champion
4th place Slalom-Emily Dammeyer
5th place M2 Trick - Kyle Dammeyer
Emily Dammeyer W2 Trick National Champion
3rd W6 Slalom-Janette Van Akeilijen
2nd place W5 Slalom - Kelli Kerns
4th place W1 Overall - Mary Nelson
5th place W1 Slalom - Mary Nelson
2nd place M7 Trick, 3rd place M7 Jump - Jim McClure

Congratulations to Kayla McClure recipient of the 2024 OWSA Distinguished Service Award

11/5/2024

 
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Kayla Herstad is a member of the Pleasant Shores waterski club. She started skiing at the age of 2 and competing at the age of 5. She currently holds the Ohio state jump records for girls 3, 4, 5, as well as women's 2. She earned the National jump title in both 2021 and 2022. Her personal bests include 2 @35 in slalom, 3590 points in trick, and 124 feet in jump. Kayla competed at the collegiate level at Ball State University. Where she earned the Midwest Female Rookie of the Year award her freshman year and the Midwest Most Valuable skier award her senior year. She still holds the Great Lakes slalom record at 2 @ 35 off. While in college she earned her bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She is currently the lead PreK teacher at Southwick Elementary School.

Kayla is a key member of Pleasant Shores club helping to run the 3 event and collegiate tournaments. She replaces buoys, adjusts the jump and does countless before and after tournament duties. The success of the Pleasant Shores tournaments would not be the same without Kayla's talent and effort. Kayla continues to remain an active competitor in all three events as well as a rated regular judge, scorer, regional safety and trained driver.  This year, 2024, Kayla is serving as an appointed judge at the Midwest Regionals in Wilmington, IL

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2024 Ohio State Championships at Pleasant Shores, Van Wert, Ohio

11/5/2024

 
It was Perfect conditions for breaking State Championship Records at the 2024 Ohio State Championships held July 27 & 28th at Pleasant Shores.  

Congratulations to the following new record holders:

Men's 2 Slalom - Kyle Dammeyer with 110 (2 @ 39.5/10.75) 36 mph.
Women's 6 Slalom - Jeanette Van Akelejin with 85 (1 @ 35/12.00) 34 mph.
Women's 7 Slalom - Cathy Burger with 68.5 (2.5 @ 28/14.25) 30 mph

Men's 8 Trick - Ralph Pesek with 2270 points

Men's 7 Jump - Jim McClure with 62 feet

We Would Love to Have You Get On The Water Soon!

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