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Brandon Goodwin’s senior year was nothing short of remarkable. Transitioning from struggling to complete side slides in his junior year, he demonstrated exceptional progress by executing an impressive 1240-point run at regionals this fall. This achievement not only secured his place in second in Miami Waterski’s history but also ensured his continuous improvement. Brandon expanded his horizons by contributing to the A team in trick skiing and excelling in slalom. His efforts culminated in achieving a personal best at the end of the year of 4 @36 mph, 22 off. Beyond his accomplishments, Brandon played a crucial role in motivating and driving the team toward success. His support throughout the season inspired the team to work diligently and set goals. Brandon Goodwin has undeniably proven to be a valuable asset to Miami Waterski, impacting individual and team achievements.
Mason Letcher has been an integral A team member since his freshman year, consistently pushing his limits despite facing a setback with a knee injury during the summer leading into his junior year. He was determined to overcome his challenges. He recovered from the knee injury and resumed jumping in the current season. During his senior year, Mason joined Century Club. He achieved an impressive jump of 102 feet, securing a commendable 3rd place in the Miami Waterski Records. Not only did he excel in jumping, but Mason also made a mark in the Miami waterski slalom record, securing 2nd place with two buoys at 36mph 35 off. Beyond his achievements, Mason plays a pivotal role in fostering the growth and development of our team. His dedication extends to supporting new members in reaching their goals, highlighting his importance as a mentor and contributor to the team’s overall success.
This past season, Katie Harvat was honored with the role of Vice President of Miami Waterski, playing a pivotal role in the team’s behind-the-scenes operations. Despite the often unseen nature of her contributions, Katie’s impact extended both on and off the water. With unwavering enthusiasm, Katie personally sent off each new member from the dock, providing pep talks and extending a warm welcome to every individual joining the team. Beyond this, her commitment to the support she offered to our team and others in the Midwest. During the season, Katie picked every skier up after their runs regardless of how well their run went. She was always there to lift every skier, irrespective of being on A or B. Her commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within the waterski community.
Mason Letcher breathes, sleeps, and eats waterskiing. He has been a contributing member of the A team since his freshman year. He was a ski baby, as we call it, and has been in waterski tournaments his whole life. In his senior year, Mason earned a spot in the Century Club, achieving an impressive 102-foot jump that secured him a noteworthy 3rd place in the Miami Waterski Records. His skill extends beyond jumping. He shows other skills from his 2nd place position in the Miami waterski slalom record, accomplishing two buoys at 36 mph 35 off. He has been a successful skier and could make it big.
Mary Nelson has waterski in her blood. Ever since Mary was young, her life has been waterskiing. She grew up in the waterski world and carried it through college. She is a ski baby. She has always brought a supportive world into Miami Waterski’s lifestyle. Mary has set multiple records for Miami University. Nelson’s numerical achievements display her exceptional talent and dedication, a stellar performance of 2@34 mph (32 off) in slalom, a trick score of 940 points, and an outstanding jump of 62 feet. These remarkable accomplishments have propelled Miami to a historic tie for their best finish in team history. Mary holds the record for Salolm and Jump for women and 2nd in women’s trick. Mary has shown Miami what she can do and now only has to show others.
In his freshman year, Braylen Lynch emerged as a newcomer to waterskiing. Despite being relatively new to the sport, Braylen distinguished himself as the most dedicated member of our team, investing considerable effort throughout the summer and the season, even at the expense of skipping numerous classes. His relentless hard work paid off. Braylen went from never putting on skis to achieving a trick run of over 1000 and a jump over 80 feet. Braylen has demonstrated dedication and remarkable capabilities on the water, achieving milestones that typically require a more protracted timeframe. Braylen did it in just one short year. Also, during practice, he just tried slalom and was able to run a course after a few tries. He has been a great team member on and off the water.
Braylen Lynch has rapidly progressed from struggling with even landing jumps to landing over 80 feet in just one season. Braylen has never failed to impress. However, a recent attempt at a ¾ cut following an injury without practice raised concerns for Miami Waterski. Yet Braylen sends it to the ramp with no thoughts of fear. The daring move brought him dangerously close to the side curtain. While we applaud Braylen’s ambition, we also express hope for a careful balance to pushing his limits. He truly is one to continuously send it to the hospital.
Mary Nelson plays a vital role in Miami Waterski’s story this year, emerging as the supreme skier for the women’s team across all three events. Her skill in waterskiing has been reflected in her commanding positions on the all-time leaderboard. Nelson’s numerical achievements display her exceptional talent and dedication, a stellar performance of 2@34 mph (32 off) in slalom, a trick score of 940 points, and an outstanding jump of 62 feet. These remarkable accomplishments have propelled Miami to a historic tie for their best finish in team history. Her proficiency on the water has put her name into the Miami record books and shaped Miami’s life in competitive skiing. Not only did she perform off the water, but she performed off the water as well. Mary took on the role of our team’s president this past season. She was a strong leader that led us to a season of success and fun!
Mason Letcher has been a contributing member of the A team since his freshman year and consistently challenges his boundaries. Despite his injuries, Mason remained determined to overcome obstacles. Following a successful recovery, he resumed jumping in the current season. In his senior year, Mason earned a spot in the Century Club, achieving an impressive 102-foot jump that secured him a noteworthy 3rd place in the Miami Waterski Records. His skill extends beyond jumping. He shows other skills from his 2nd place position in the Miami waterski slalom record, accomplishing two buoys at 36 mph 35 off. Beyond his accomplishments, Mason plays a pivotal role in nurturing the growth of our team. His dedication shines through in supporting new members, mentoring, and contributing significantly to the team’s overall success.
Greg Houser has been a part of Miami for many years. He not only skied for Miami while he was in college but has also come back to support us in many ways. He comes back and coaches our slalom team every single Monday afternoon. From countless cheers at tournaments to late nights of advice on how to get better, he was been a proper foundation for what Miami waterski is today.
Rhett Bendure was a great captain for Miami this year. He gave everything to the team during tournaments. He was always overprepared and pushed our men’s team to our best year ever with a win at regionals. He was always at the lake, helping people learn to ski and get better. Personally, Rhett always gave me great words of encouragement before my jumps when I was freaking. He was always there for everyone on the team, and everyone got better through the year due to Rhett’s presence.
Emma Long served admirably as the captain of the women’s team this year, going above and beyond her designated role. Her support extended beyond gender boundaries, actively assisting and encouraging all team members. Collaborating seamlessly with our men’s captain, Rhett, Emma demonstrated a harmonious balance between their roles. Her proactive approach ensured she was always abreast of team needs, fostering an environment where skiers felt supported. She was not only a huge supporter but also learned what the skiers needed before their runs and did that so they could perform to their best ability. Emma understood all sides of skiing and that there were good and bad days. She would always be there to help encourage others not to give up when they had a bad day. Personally speaking, Emma confronted me on my worst performance during Decatur. She was there for the highs and lows, and to me, that shows a strong captain. Despite the demands on her, Emma prioritized the well-being of others with a cheerful demeanor, illustrating her exceptional leadership style.