The Town of Tonawanda Aquettes is an elite competitive Synchronized swim team of
girls ages 9 - 19 under the auspices of the Town of Tonawanda Youth, Parks, and
Recreation Department, Dan Wiles, Director.

The club has been registered as an amateur team since 1961, founded by Recreation
Director Franklin J. J. Diemer and head coach Dorothy Sowers . Since that time, the
Aquettes 385 Niagara Figure Championships; 1,226 Niagara Association Solo, Duet,
Trio and Team titles; 116 Empire State Game Titles; 770 East Zone, Regional and
Sectional Titles; and 3 International Titles earned in Denmark and Sweden.

The Team travels all over the country representing the community in local, state,
regional, zone, national and international competitions. They also qualify and attend
annually several National Training Camps held locally, and at various Colleges
around the country. They also attend the US Olympic Training Centers in Lake Placid,
New York and in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Team has produced several US National Team members who have competed at
US Team Trials, US Olympic Team Trials, and Internationally for the Unites States.
Several Aquettes have also gone on to compete at the collegiate level, many receiving
athletic and or academic scholarships.

The Aquettes take great pride in participating in community service projects. They
work with the Ken-Ton Kiwanis collection donations for Meals on Wheels and for the Franklin J. J. Diemer Day. They make holiday cards for the trays for Meals on Wheels. They also volunteer as coaches for the Tonawanda Summer Synchronized Swim Program at all of the local pools and the Tonawanda Aquette Novice Synchronized Swim Program.

The Aquettes, with a great deal of help from their families, also participate in many fund raisers for travel expenses, and host two play days and at least one competition each year.

The synchronized swimming program runs from October through early August. They participate in a winter and summer instructional group which includes lessons, a local competition, and a Town water show. The Aquettes Team is selected at the end of the summer season, with most of the athletes coming from the instructional group.

In conclusion, The Aquette team experience provides young people with the wonderful opportunity of competition, travel, fitness, friendships, responsibility, and fun, while teaching valuable lessons in both life and sport.