Jamie Cacciabando has been involved with the synchronized swimming program as an assistant or volunteer coach since its inception in the fall of 2008. She is part of a staff that quickly established Lindenwood as one of the top programs in the country.
The Lady Lions completed a highly successful 2014-15 season by earning the program’s first overall U.S. National Championship title and gold medals in four of five events at the U.S. Collegiate Championships. Along the way, Lady Lion athletes earned repeat national and collegiate titles in solo, duet, and trio.
The spring 2015 campaign came on the heels of a record-setting 2014 effort that saw the Lindenwood A squad go undefeated for the entire season, earning the first overall collegiate title in the program’s history. Lindenwood became the first program other than Ohio State or Stanford to win the collegiate championship since 1980, and the first non-Division I program ever to earn the crown.
In 2013, Lindenwood earned a then-record five medals at the U.S. Collegiate Championships, won every event it entered at the U.S. National Championships, and sent three athletes to the 2013 FINA World Championships.
Two milestones occurred for the program in 2012 with the help of Cacciabando. Lindenwood became the first university to ever defeat Ohio State University in the team event at the North Region Championships. Two weeks later, the Lady Lions earned their first medal in a national competition, placing third in the duet event, and finishing third in the overall standings.
The 2011 campaign began with victories over Incarnate Word and the University of Florida. The Lady Lions finished runner-up at the North Collegiate Regional for the third straight year, inching closer to perennial national champion Ohio State. At the collegiate national championships, Lindenwood topped one of Ohio State’s teams and came within a half-point of capturing fourth place in the overall standings. The Lady Lions advanced to the U.S. National Championships and finished third overall – the team’s highest placement ever.
After a solid inaugural year for the program, Lindenwood showed improvement in its second season under Cacciabando. The Lady Lions finished runner-up at the North Collegiate Regional for the second straight year. At the collegiate national championships, Lindenwood finished in the top five with a fifth place showing, its highest rating ever at the time. The top highlight during the regular season came when the Lady Lions defeated Ball State and Miami (Ohio) in a tri-competition.
Cacciabando volunteered during Lindenwood’s inaugural season. The Lady Lions opened the year by winning the Lindenwood Invitational, which included a victory over the eventual national champions Ohio State. After finishing second in the North Collegiate Regional competition, the Lions closed the season with a sixth-place finish in the program’s first-ever collegiate national championships marking the highest placement of a new varsity program in the sport’s history.
Cacciabando currently serves as the head of the St. Louis Gateway Synchro, and filled the same capacity for the St. Louis Synchronicity from 2003-2006. She was a member of the Wheaton College synchronized swimming team from 1999-2003.
Dec 2016
