History

Aquanuts’ first eight shows were performed at Edgewater Beach. The yearly dues for membership was set at $5.00 per member.

Munson Marine sponsored the club with a few pair of skis and Dr. Pepper sponsored programs for which ads were sold. Aquanuts entered tournaments for the first time and placed eleventh at State and eighth at Nationals. Aquanuts were the first team to utilize background musical soundtracks, which was an innovation quickly copied by other teams. The Aquanuts’ own Gary Borowski was the first amateur skier to perform the "flying dock barefoot start" in a competition.

Munson Marine increased sponsorship by furnishing entire team with skis. Under show director Ed Kaelber II, we placed 1st at State and 2nd at Nationals. Greg Borowski, Kent Yunker and Jeff Slovick are praised as the best clowns in show skiing for their original and entertaining performances.

Mercury Outboards became the club's sponsor in 1979 and supplied accessories for all team boats. More seating was added to the show site by terracing the area with railroad ties. We continued our innovative tradition as we introduced the first choreographed dance/ski act “Greased Lightning” at the State tournament. We retained first at State, the Ballet Line was again awarded Best in Competition and we placed third overall at Nationals.

Improvement at the show site continued in 1981 by installing a paved walkway and the addition of more bleachers. A new clown flivver boat was purchased. Tournament results included placing second at State and third at Nationals. Ken Borowski and Kent Yunker, otherwise known as "Bub and Bobo", were awarded the title #1 Clowns at the National Show Tournament.

Aquanuts won the highly coveted Triple Crown of Show Skiing in 1983! Garrett Adams was the Show Director with the “Saga of Rock Ridge” western theme and performances were spectacular at every tournament entered. The show opened with a live Country and Western band playing while live chickens and hay bales decorated the new floating stage as props. Colorful screen backdrops depicted the town of Rock Ridge. The choreographed Western Dance Intro and Swivel/Ballet Line outscored all other teams in their respective categories at all three tournaments.

Brian Schaufel and Brian Sisk co-direct the show and guide the team into three 2nd place finishes. Special Awards Category at Nationals included: Willa Cook Award for Best Female Skier, Chris Little; #1 Boat Driver Brian Schaufel, #1Swiverl Ballet Line, #1 Barefoot Act.

Fifteen men skied barefoot through the show course simultaneously to comprise the Aquanaut's biggest barefoot line yet! New for the team was an all-girl barefoot line. Chris Little won the Best Female Skier Willa Cook Award for the second time. The Best Boat Driving Team at Nationals was awarded to Brian Schaufel, Mike O'Toole, and Todd Forsgren. Once again the Jump Team successfully captured another national award.

Gotham City, led by Show Director George Mantoan, was the scene for the new show featuring the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin. The caped crusaders were such a favorite with the youngsters that the skiers often had to stay an extra half-hour after the performances just to sign autographs. At the show's end the Bat Dance was so popular that even parents and advisors joined in on the fun. Tournament results were fourth place at Lamb's, third at State, and fourth at Nationals.

Changes for this year included the installation of a new jump and a brand new sign at the entrance to Lance Park. Peter Renn Jr., as Show Director, orchestrated this “Top Gun” season. A first for the Aquanuts was executing a 4-high pyramid at Lamb's Farm. At State, the team skied in the fog and the crowd excitedly cheered as they emerged from the mist with yet another 4-high pyramid. The glow of light reflecting off the neon costumes added to the scene. Tournament results for the year were a fifth place at Lamb's Farm, third place at State and fifth place finish at Nationals.

The Aquanuts undergo major improvements including landscaping, new staging area, painting and carpet inside the Scout House, new equipment and new costumes! A brand new jump surface just like the one used by the pro tour added a new dimension to the Jump Act. With Carrie Michael as the Show Director, they finished a solid third place at all three tournaments with the "Ultimate Game Show" as the theme. At Lamb's Farm the Barefoot Line won the award for the highest scoring barefoot act. Kevin Michael became the first Aquanut to win the "Skip Gilkerson Award" for Outstanding Male Skier at Nationals.

Nostalgia and old time Rock-n-Roll permeated the atmosphere as the Aquanuts took "A Trip Down Memory Lane" and revisited the era of the golden oldies. The story rotated around life at the "Aquanut Diner" complete with a soda fountain, car hops, and a visit from Johnny B. and the boys. Bruce Brenner directed the show to a third place finish at Lamb's Farm, third place at State, & fifth place finish at Nationals. The pyramid team took "High" honors when they were awarded The Highest Scoring Act at The Lamb's Farm Tournament. Again at Nationals, the pyramid made a strong showing with a new record for the 4-high pyramid comprised of 28 people! The pyramid was the only "mega 4-high" to perform without any major falls! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Aquanuts began to celebrate their 25th Anniversary with an all-star alumni show only to have mother nature intervene with severe weather forcing postponement of the show until the following year. The first ever Triple Rigged Hydrodyne in amateur competition made its debut in the Aquanut's show with none other than 1977 Show Director Brian Schaufel at the helm. Powered by triple V6 Evinrude Intruders, this machine turned more than a few heads when it took to the water.

The Junior Team, under the direction of Brenda Genengles, grew to over 45 members. The Senior Team, having lost several members to the pro ranks, went on to perform shows themed Aquanut Fever placing well in the State and National tournaments.

Aquanuts took a trip back to the past using a show theme that won the triple crown in 1984, The Roaring Twenties. After placing third at State, the team advanced to Nationals, where they placed eighth. Most notably, the repeated show theme won the Sea World’s Award "Best Presentation of a Show Theme".

The show theme took Aquanuts to the Army, where Chris Kadera led a not-so-disciplined group of soldiers in preparation for an inspection by the infamous Major Tweed. In June, they competed in the Mercury Invitational, placing third. In July, they were very successful raising money for the MACC fund through a benefit show in memory of Cheri Amore. The team competed in the Wisconsin State Show Tournament, placing fourth and the National Tournament in Loves Park placing ninth.

Paul Weiler, who brought Aquanut spirit as Show Director, ventured back to the 70's at P Dubs Car Wash. This show led the team to the best tournament finishes in 20 years. The team placed second overall at State, and won individual awards for #1 Ballet Line, #1 Jump Act, #1 Trick Skier and #1 Rope and Dock. They placed second overall at Nationals and won individual awards for #1 Ballet Line and #1 Jump Act.

Veteran show director and skier Ken Meyer resurrected an Aquanut classic, "Charlie Tuna," with the sequel, "Charlie's Revenge."

Bringing back another Aquanut favorite theme, "Aquanut Laboratories", Show Director Andy Amore carried the team through it's “growing year”!

The year 2011 marked the first time in several years the Aquanuts skied in three tournaments during the season. With Show Director Mike Pierce and his themed Aquanuts Roller-disco, the Aquanuts made a strong finish at the Mercury Open and set the stage for a great State Tournament and a fifth place finish. At the National Tournament, the team placed eighth overall. Once again, the ladies retained their title of Best Ballet Line at State and Nationals. Individual highlights were Kaila Coffey and Kendall Krieger in the Wisconsin State Tournament and Nationals. Fourteen year-old Jarad Meyer won the Best Trick Skier Award at State.

A spectacular year for the Nuts was definitely 2013. The Aquanut Rock Show, led by Show Director Dave Thornton, rocked into second place at the Mercury Invitational, fifth place at Wisconsin State and third place at Nationals in Loves Park, IL. The 30-girl Ballet Line was again National Champion and highest scoring act at Nationals while the 26-girl Ballet Line was State Champion. The Aquanuts performed the State Tournament’s Most Creative/Original Act with a “Barefoot Pyramid Plunge”, performed by 6 team members: Dave Thornton, Aaron Nelson, Brandon Kirchens, Collin Barber, Kailey and Ariana Koehler. Kailey Koehler was named the Jennifer Dibble/Michelle Cook Most Valuable Female Skier. Aaron Nelson was the Mark Black Memorial Outstanding Trick Skier. Swivel Ladies Kendall Krieger, Kaila Coffey and Olivia Shulda placed second, third and ninth at state, respectively. The entire team worked together to build three, four-high pyramids as the show-stopper at Nationals using the new barge. Cody Coffey Wake Boarding and Kailey and Ariana Koehler’s Barefoot Act were the highest scoring acts at the Mercury Open along with the 25-girl Ballet Line. The Rope and Dock Team directed by Lynn Renn and consisting of Anthony and Emily Renn, Ethan Shulda, Zach Brumm, Asa Neal, Mason Hedrick Pat and Lisa Kirchens, tied for first place. Also at Nationals, star swivel lady, Kendall Krieger, placed third, which was an Aquanut first! Lastly, Aquanut sisters Ariana and Kailey Koehler were named to the 2014 USA Waterski Show Team.

The year 2015 was spectacular for the Aquanuts as they were awarded the title D1 National Champion Show Ski Team! The team’s trip to the national tournament in Janesville, WI was a dream come true by executing a near flawless performance, and achieving a first place finish. The show’s theme, created by Show Director Ken Meyer and Justin Mushel, was centered around the 1978 comedy movie Animal House and the comedic exchanges between the administration and students of the campus “frat house”. To start the tournament season, the Aquanuts competed in June at the Mercury Invitational in Janesville, WI placing third overall. In July, they competed at the 49th annual Wisconsin Water Ski Show Championships in Wisconsin Rapids on Lake Wazeecha and placed third. An award was presented to swivel skier Kaila Coffey who placed second in the Individual Swivel Competition. The Back Barefoot Circle Act, performed by Kailey Koehler, (ranked #1 in USA, #3 World-ranked bare-footer), her sister Ariana Koehler (ranked #3 in USA) and Collin Barber, was the highest scoring barefoot act at the weekend competition. In addition, Kailey Koehler was named the 2015 Jennifer Dibble-Woods/Michelle Cook Award winner for the most outstanding female skier of the competition. An Aquanut member has held this award for four years in a row. The season’s highlight was winning the National Team Title in August at the 4first Indmar Marine Engines Division 1 Show Ski Nationals, a feat that last occurred 31 years ago in 1984. The Aquanuts won Best Ballet Line for the fifth year running. The 31-person ballet line consisted of 9 ladies swiveling, followed by a “thread-the-needle quick pick up” of the remaining 22 ladies. Kailey Koehler and her difficult backward barefoot circles won the Best Barefoot Act of the tournament. Kailey barefooted backwards four times around the show course and ended in a well-deserved standing ovation. The Aquanuts also won the award for Best Swivel Act. With 2014 National Champion Kendall Krieger and nationally ranked skier Kaila Coffey (ranked #3 in USA) as anchors, they were followed by a 360° swivel line and 180° swivel line of ladies. Together this is the largest swivel act in the nation with 14 women strong. The team completed two grand pyramids. The show started with a double top, four-high pyramid and closed with three, four-high pyramids comprised of 36 team members. The Men’s Variety Act, which had wowed the opening of every show all season long, was also a high-scoring act. It included members Ethan Shulda, David Thornton, Jarad Meyer, Brandon Kirchens, and Collin Barber. In December, the Aquanuts were officially named by USA Water Ski - National Show Ski Team of the Year. Three of our talented ladies are again named to the USA Show Skiing Team: Kendall Krieger, Ariana Koehler, and Kailey Koehler. What an incredible year!

The summer of 2017 was marked by a 100 year rain and flood which caused Lake Mary to be closed for 3 weeks in the month of July. Show director Eric Fauth still put together an exciting show based around the 1980’s tv show “The Dukes of Hazzard”. The 2017 Aquanut version centered around Daisy Duke and capitalized on the female Aquanut talent, titled “The Nuts of Hazard.” Because of the “slow no wake” status on Lake Mary, the team practiced at Mars Resort and Wonder Lake sites prior to state. The team put together a crowd pleasing show on Lake Wazeecha at State and came in third place. Our 26 lady strong Ballet Line was once again State champions. Outstanding Trick Skier award was presented to Ethan Shulda, for the second consecutive year. Kailey Koehler was award the Jennifer Dibble-Woods/Michelle Cook Award for the third time in five years. Swivel star, Grace Gurda placed second in the individual swivel competition, and Ethan Shulda captured the second place trophy at the individual Free Style Jump competition. This years Nationals were held in Loves Park, IL which also struggled with high water and safe water conditions all summer. The Aquanuts placed fifth. Both the 26 and 32 lady ballet line wowed the crowd at the show site during the competition. Another highlight was our 12 man pyramid supporting, 18 girls above their shoulders. Four of our team members were named to Team USA. Swivel stars Kendall Krieger and Grace Gurda will compete on the team, with jumper, Ethan Shulda and barefooter, Kailey Koehler. The 2018 USA Water Ski Show Team at the 4th IWWF Show Ski World Championships, Sept. 7-9, 2018, on Peninsula Lake at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada.

In 2019, the Aquanuts had a great year finishing 2nd at State and 2nd in Nationals. Show directors Pete Rzonca and Lexi Bokos presented "Life's a Beach" theme. Announcers Andy Amore and Mark Gurda were out on a cruise, Andy bumped his head and thought he was on a deserted island instead of a luxury resort. Aside from the 2nd place finish in both tournaments, the Aquanuts won several awards. Ethan Shulda won the Skip Gilkerson award for MVP-Male of the National tournament, and Kailey Koehler won her 2nd Willa Cook award for MVP- Female. In addition, the 28-Girl ballet line won for the 6th time in the past 9 years, as well as the #1 Pickup boat team. Grace Gurda took home 6th at Nationals in Swivel and Ethan Shulda took home 7th in Freestyle Jump.