POLK CITY, Fla.— Regina Jaquess and Cory Pickos earned USA Water Ski's Female and Male Athletes of the Month honors for June. The athletes are now eligible for the United States Olympic Committee's Male and Female and Male Athlete of the Month awards.

Regina Jaquess became the youngest competitor to ever win the U.S. Open overall title. (Photos courtesy USA Water Ski)

Regina Jaquess became the youngest competitor to ever win the U.S. Open overall title. (Photos courtesy USA Water Ski)



Jaquess, 17, of Suwanee, Ga.,earned USA Water Ski's Female Athlete of the Month honors for the second consecutive month after becoming the youngest competitor to ever win the U.S. Open overall title. Her performance at the 2001 Overton's U.S. Open Water Ski & Wakeboard Championships, June 1-3, in Shreveport, La., netted Jaquess her first career professional victories as she claimed the overall and tricks titles. Jaquess scored 2,866 overall points, winning the event by 108 points to avenge last year's second-place finish. She scored 6,950 points to win the Women's tricks title.

Cory Pickos won back-to-back Men's trick titles in June.

Cory Pickos won back-to-back Men's trick titles in June.



Pickos, 37, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., scored 11,150 points at the U.S. Open to win his seventh career U.S. Open Men's tricks title. Pickos continued his winning ways the following weekend when he won the Men's tricks title at the Malibu Open in Wilmington, Ill. He scored 11,060 points and 11,090 points in the first and second rounds, respectively, to tally 22,150 points on his way to the title.

"Cory and Regina are very deserving of the Athlete of the Month honors," said Steve McDermeit, USA Water Ski's executive director. "They competed against the best water-ski athletes in the world and were able to rise to the occasion with great performances."