Indianapolis, Indiana (August 23, 2003) - There is something about the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding that really brings out Tara Hamilton's A Game. In 2002 at this same event the Built Ford Tough WWA Wakeboard National Championships, Hamilton re-emerged as one of the world's top female wakeboarders, by winning her semifinal heat.
At the Precedent's Lake Berwind on Saturday, Hamilton again won her pro women's semifinal heat to take one of the top spots into the Pro Women's Finals on Sunday afternoon, and have the inside shot at the 2003 Built Ford Tough WWA Wakeboarding National Championship.
Last year Hamilton finished the season on a high note, winning the final event in the Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding series, the Mountain Dew WWA Wakeboard World Championship.
Hamilton will have her work cut out for her. Still in contention is 2002 defending National Champion Dallas Friday who had a disappointing third-place finish in her semifinal heat. Friday has won every major professional women's event in 2003, a string of six consecutive victories on the year. However, If anyone could unseat Friday, it could be Hamilton, the most successful female rider in the sport's history.
Melissa Marquardt took the other Women's Semifinal Heat on Saturday to grab the other top spot in Sunday's final. Joining these ladies in the Final will be former World, National and Vans Triple Crown of Wakeboarding Champions Maeghan Major and Emily Copeland Durham.
The Pro Men's field is also set for Sunday's Semifinals and Finals. Defending National Champion, Shawn Watson took first place in his Quarterfinal Heat to earn a shot to defend his title on Sunday.
Watson will have his work cut out for him in fending off the rest of the qualifying field including 2002 Mountain Dew WWA Wakeboard World Champion Erik Ruck who won Heat NO. 4, 2003 X Games Gold Medalist, Danny Harf who won Heat NO. 2 and 2002 National Champion runner-up Trevor Hansen who won Heat NO. 7, just edging out 2003 Pro Wakeboard Tour Champion Parks Bonifay who finished second in the heat.
In the SeaDoo Watercraft Pro Wakeskate Series Aaron Reed and Brian Grubb won their heats to earn a spot in the finals on Sunday. Grubb took the top spot on the Pro Wakeboard Tour's SeaDoo Pro Wakeskate Series earlier this year.
Derek Grasman, Philip Combs and JD Webb took top honors in the Junior Men's Semifinals to earn a trip to Sunday's final. All three riders will be gunning for the Junior Men's National title left vacant when 2002 National Champion Tino Santori moved to the pro ranks this season.
Pro Men Quarterfinals
(top 2 each heat advance to Semifinals)
(If in Bold print - they already are qualified for Worlds)
* = Qualified for Worlds
HEAT # 1
* 1 Chad Sharpe (CAN) 97
* 2 Shaun Murray (FL) 92
* Gabe Lucas (TX) 91
* Joel Cahill (FL) 88
Kris Northrup (FL) 85
Steve Edwards (FL) 84
HEAT # 2
* 1 Danny Harf (FL) 96
* 2 Collin Harrington (FL) 93
* Andrew Adkison (FL) 92
* Matt Lockwood (TX) 87
Nick Valliere (FL) 85
Ben Greenwood (FL) 84
HEAT # 3
* 1 Shawn Watson (FL) 97
* 2 Shane Bonifay (FL) 93
* Brian Francis (AZ) 91
* Ryan Wynne (FL) 87
Kyle Murphy (CA) 85
Chad Morin (FL) 84
HEAT # 4
* 1 Erik Ruck (WI) 97
* 2 Keith Lyman (FL) 93
* Wes Brisco (FL) 91
* Nick Weinacker (FL) 88
Robin Friday (FL) 85
Duston Swafford (TX) 84
HEAT # 9
* 1 Rob Struharik (OH) 96
* 2 Darin Shapiro (FL) 95
* Tino Santori (CO) 90
* Chris Laske (MI) 87
Brian Brech (OH) 86
Rick Knott (ID) 81
Jack Scanio (TX) 80
Pro Women Semifinals
(top 4 each heat advance to FINALS)
(all 14 qualify for Worlds)
HEAT # 1
1 Melissa Marquardt (CA) 97
2 Maeghan Major (NC) 93
3 Emily Copeland Durham (CO) 92
4 Laura Lohrmann (FL) 87
Tiffany Landry (MS) 86
Gretchen Hammarberg (CA) 82
Megan McNeil (FL) 79
HEAT # 2
1 Tara Hamilton (FL) 92
2 Leslie Kent (FL) 91
3 Dallas Friday (FL) 90
4 Lauren Loe (TX) 89
Amber Wing (AUS) 87
Cheryl Newton (CA) 84
Lauren Harf (FL) 83
Wake Skate Semifinals
(top 3 each heat advance to FINALS)
(all 15 qualify for Worlds)
Heat # 1
1 Aaron Reed (FL) 97
2 Thomas Horrell (FL) 94
3 Daniel Lovett (FL) 89
Jim Leatherman (FL) 87
Tim Kovacich (FL) 85
Phillip Basino FL) 84
Danny Kennedy (FL) 78
Drew McGuckin (FL) 77
Heat # 2
1 Brian Grubb (FL) 97
2 Brandon Thomas (FL) 94
3 Clint Tomplins (FL) 90
Chase Gregory (OH) 89
George Daniels (FL) 85
Greg Van Wagnen (OH) 83
Rance Nerren (TX) 79
Jr Men Semifinals
(top 3 each heat advance to FINALS)
(all 18 qualify for Worlds)
HEAT # 1
1 Derek Grasman (MI) 97
2 Scott Hopkins (FL) 93
3 Jack Blodgett (OR) 92
Rob Jacques (FL) 87
Chase Andrews (GA) 85
Chris Anderson (MI) 84
HEAT # 2
1 Philip Combs (OR) 97
2 Jonathan Nadolski (FL) 93
3 Devin Rogers (FL) 91
Dann Thollander (FL) 89
Hank Carter (TX) 85
Rhett Whatley (GA) 84
HEAT # 3
1 J D Webb (FL) 97
2 Kevin Henshaw (CAN) 92
3 Justin Sellers (NC) 91
Jimmy Wolf (AZ) 88
Ross Gardner (FL) 85
Mike Fulton (AZ) 84
