For the Rapids City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers Show Team hosted the 53rd Annual Wisconsin State Water Ski Show Championships, July 18-21, at Red Sands Beach, Lake Wazeecha, and walked away with a fourth place finish.

The tournament was delayed with the severe weather on Saturday, but with the help of the community, show skiers, and tournament officials, they were able to fit in the remaining 11 teams on Sunday to finish the tournament.

The Wisconsin Rapids Aqua Skiers not only hosted the tournament, but also competed in Division 1 of the tournament. The team won Best Comedy and Most Original Act awards. The Aqua Skiers earned fourth place and has qualified for the Division 1 National Water Ski Show Championships, Aug. 9-11 in Warsaw, IN.

This is the first time the team will be skiing in a Division 1 National Water Ski Show Championships since 2004, where they placed sixth out of 14.

Standouts from the Aqua Skiers include Dan Dix, who was named the Division 1 Most Valuable Male Skier and received the Jack Luke’s Memorial Award, and Molly Schaefer, who placed second in the Individual Swivel Competition and qualified for the Division 1 National Individual Swivel Tournament on Aug. 9 in Indiana.