POLK CITY, Fla. — USA Water Ski has selected Jimmy Siemers of Round Rock, Texas and Brandi Hunt of Clermont, Fla. as its November Male and Female Athletes of the Month. The U.S. Junior Water Ski Team was named USA Water Ski's Team of the Month. The athletes and team will now be considered for the United States Olympic Committee's Male and Female Athletes and Team of the Month awards.

Siemers, 19, scored 2,931 points to win the Men's 17 to 21 overall gold medal at the 2001 Americas' Challenge, November 22-25, in Santiago, Chile. Siemers recorded the highest scores in slalom (2 buoys at 38 off) and tricks (10,050 points), but his best performance of the weekend came in the only event in which he didn't have the highest score.

In a crash on his first attempt in the jumping event, Siemers injured his ribs and bit through his tongue. But knowing that the U.S. 17 to 21 Water Ski Team needed his jumping score to remain in the running for the team title, Siemers returned to the water to take his final two attempts. Siemers posted jumps of 171 and 188 feet, well off his usual performances, but enough to earn the U.S. 17 to 21 Team valuable points as it edged Latin America and Canada

Hunt, 21, claimed the Women's 17 to 21 overall gold medal at the Americas' Challenge. Hunt had the highest scores in tricks and jumping, with 6,290 points and 156 feet, respectively, to secure the overall title with 2,982 points. She also had the second-best score in slalom, which added a critical 80 points to the team's overall total. Hunt's performances helped secure the team gold medal for the U.S. 17 to 21 Team.

The U.S. Junior Team dominated the Junior event at the Americas' Challenge. The team finished with 8,685 points, outdistancing Canada (7,505.6 points) and Latin America (7,158.9 points).