POLK CITY, Fla. — The U.S. Junior and 17 to 21 water-ski teams won gold medals Sunday, November 25 at the 2001 Americas' Challenge in Santiago, Chile. U.S. athletes combined to earn five of the six overall titles awarded at the biennial three-event water ski competition that featured athletes representing countries from North, Central and South America. The U.S. Veteran Water Ski Team (7,571.5 points) earned the silver medal, finishing a mere 426.3 points behind Canada.

The U.S. Junior Team dominated the Junior event, finishing with 8,685 points, outdistancing Canada (7,505.6 points) and Latin America (7,158.9 points). In Junior Girls, Regina Jaquess of Suwanee, Ga., earned the top scores in slalom (1-1/2 buoys at 38 feet off), tricks (6,460 points) and jumping (140 feet) to claim the overall gold medal with 3,000 points. Fellow U.S. Team member Tarah Benzel of (Groveland, Fla., earned the overall silver medal (2,589 points) after finishing third in slalom (2-1/2 buoys at 35 off), tricks (4,410 points) and jumping (124 feet). Caroline Wolfe of Homer, Mich., completed a U.S. Junior Girls overall medal sweep by claiming the bronze medal with 2,193 points. Wolfe finished second in slalom (5 buoys at 32 off) and jumping (127 feet). In Junior Boys action, U.S. team member Justin Allen of Winter Garden, Fla., finished first in tricks (8,790 points) and second in slalom (6 buoys at 35 off) on his way to winning the overall gold medal with 2,822 points. Fellow team members Brody Reid of Jerseyville, Ill., and Tomlin Wilson of Minden, La., also recorded top-three finishes. Reid finished first in jumping with a 157-foot jump and third in slalom by rounding 2-1/2 buoys at 35 off. Wilson scored 7,670 points in tricks to place third.

In the 17 to 21 competition, the U.S. Team (7,871.9 points) narrowly fought off Latin America's upset bid, as the United States won by only 123.4 points. Canada placed third with 6,842.8 points. The 17 to 21 team was led by Brandi Hunt of Clermont, Fla.of and Jimmy Siemers of Round Rock, Texas, who each earned overall gold medals. Hunt rounded 2-1/2 buoys at 35 off in slalom, scored 6,290 points in tricks and soared 156 feet in jumping to finish first in each event and secure the 17 to 21 Women overall title with 2,982 points. Siemers placed first in slalom (2 buoys at 38 off) and tricks (10,050 points), and second in jumping (188 feet) to claim the 17 to 21 Men overall title with 2,931 points. The third member of the U.S. 17 to 21 Team, Renee Jaquess, secured the 17 to 21 Women overall silver medal (1,959 points) after finishing third in slalom (4 buoys at 32 off) and jumping (115 feet).