Stanford synchronized swimming entered last weekend’s U.S. Nationals perfect, off an undefeated season and U.S. Collegiate title. They left Nationals even more perfect — adding three additional titles to their collection.

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Junior Missy Knight and her teammates finished a season as perfect as their suits are festive. #gallery http://daily.stanford.edu/image/full/7417
Stanford Daily File Photo

Junior Missy Knight and her teammates finished a season as perfect as their suits are festive.

The Cardinal became the first collegiate team in history to sweep all three U.S. Nationals events — solo, duet and team — in three days of the country’s top competition.

But that comes as no surprise from a team that also swept all three events — trio, duet and team — at the U.S. Collegiate Championships, won each of its eight meets this season and returned last year’s U.S. Nationals duet champions.

Juniors Courtenay Stewart and Sara Lowe repeated as duet champions, with a 95.584 total, 48.387 in their technical routine and 47.197 in the free.

“We work so well together, and this weekend showed that,” Stewart said.

The duo previously competed against each other as Olympic opponents — Lowe on the U.S. team and Stewart on the Canadian team in 2004. But they put aside their rivalry upon arriving at Stanford three years ago to become the first repeat duet champions in collegiate history.

“It was weird working with her at first, but I think that now we have a great relationship,” Lowe said. “We’ve pushed each other, and we’re good friends. I think I’ve really developed as a swimmer because of her; I’ve gotten stronger because she pushes me to have a better swim.”

That improvement also led Lowe to individual gold in the U.S. Nationals solo event. Topping both the free (47.834) and technical (47.584) routines for a 95.418 total, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-native added onto her collegiate title. “Happy” with her swim, Lowe was modest about the win, but her duet partner was quick to praise.

“It’s a huge accomplishment,” Stewart said. “She couldn’t have swam any better, and she just impressed everyone — not only her team, but also the judges, and even other coaches.”

But neither Lowe nor Stewart were done yet. Both went on to compete with the rest of the Cardinal in Saturday and Sunday’s team events. Although the eight-person event came after their own extensive routines, Lowe and Stewart both said their teammates helped pull them through.

“I was exhausted, but the other six people just brought so much energy to Courtenay and me,” Lowe said. “There’s such a thrill in pulling off a trick that you couldn’t do when you only have one or two people.”

The Cardinal pulled off its own hat trick, topping Ohio State 95.668-94.501 to take the team title, completing the historic sweep with an exclamation point. However, the Cardinal was unable to capitalize on its three wins to take the U.S. Nationals overall title. That honor went to the Santa Clara Aquamaids, who by their sheer number of team members were able to put eight routine scores toward their total, compared to Stanford’s three routines.

Still, the Cardinal women were more than happy with their performance this weekend, and Lowe was proud that Stanford was able to make a statement.

“We did a great job,” she said. “I think we showed everyone that we can make it to the top of the sport and compete with the best of the best, despite being a collegiate team.”

Stewart agreed that making history “was a huge high” for a team that has been climbing the ranks in a sport previously dominated by club teams like Santa Clara. The accomplishment, though, also leaves the Stanford swimmers precariously at the top of the national competition.

“Being on top is the hardest spot to be in; there’s nowhere to head but down,” Stewart said. “It’ll be hard knowing that we won everything this season, and it’ll require pressure and motivation from within to win again.”

For now, Lowe said she is enjoying the “icing on the cake” that the Nationals were for her season. She’ll return with Stewart and their teammates next year, looking to three-peat the U.S. Collegiate and defend their U.S Nationals titles.

“I don’t know how we can do any better — we literally had a perfect season,” Lowe said. “Hopefully, we can have the same accomplishment two years in a row.”