1972...Aquanut Water Shows formed by Gary Borowski, Karl Schuberth and Kent Yunker.
1973...Our first eight show are performed at Edgewater Beach. Dues for membership set at $5.00.
1974...Swampy area next to Lance Park Beach is approved by the Village Board for conversion to the Aquanut's future show site. First Hydrodyne hull is purchased for $300.00 from the Min-aqua Bats by Ted Borowski and Don Kaelber Sr. Two 115hp engines were purchased by Ed Kaelber Sr. An equipment storage trailer is donated by Jack Fitzgerald. An old aluminum fishing boat (of questionable origin) was converted into our safety boat.
1975...Munson Marine sponsors the club with a few pair of skis. Dr. Pepper sponsored programs for which we sold ads. We enter tournaments for the first time and place 11th at State and 8th at Nationals. We are the first team to utilize background musical soundtracks, an innovation quickly copied by other teams. Aquanut's own Gary Borowski is the first amateur skier to perform the "flying dock barefoot start" in competition.
1976...Tournament standings improved to 2nd at State and 5th at Nationals. Costuming became much more elaborate. 14 Shows were scheduled plus Venetian Festival at Lake Geneva.
1977...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.
1978...Another Aquanut innovation! A boat is converted into a 'spaceship' that the jump team and clowns come skiing out of, much to the surpass and delight of our spectators! Ballet line was awarded 'Best in Competition'. We retained 1st at State and 2nd at Nationals.
1979...Mercury Outboards became the club's sponsor, supplying engines and accessories for all team boats. More seating is added to the show site by terracing 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 1st at State, and Ballet line was again awarded 'Best in Competition'. At Nationals we placed 3rd.
1980...Three jump boats are purchased from Mercury ant the crowed is amazed when the show opens with them sailing over our jump ramp! A new jump and show pier are built and e\we add bleachers to increase our seating capacity. We placed 2nd at State and Barefoot line was awarded 'Best in Competition'.
1981...Site improvement continues with a paved walkway and more bleachers. New clown fliver boat is purchased. 2nd place at State, 3rd at Nationals. Ken Borowski and Kent Yunker, "Bub and Bobo" are awarded the #1 Clowns at the National Show Tournament.
1982...The team wins 1st place at Nationals for the first time! "Hooray for Hollywood" is the theme and show director is Adam Yunker. A permanent equipment storage building is erected. ProLine sponsors us with ski rope and handles. Aqua backer Association is formed, Junior Team performs their 1st shows. State Barefoot tournament is hosted by Aquanuts at Lance Park. Portable jump is built and loaned to us by Bill Nowak Sr.
After winning State the team went on to capture the National title in style by making a clean sweep in the special awards category. #1 Boat Driving Team, Brian Schaufel and Tig Kerkman; #1 Announcer, Larry Anderson' #1Pick-Up Boat, Mike O'Toole and Darren Rohde; #1 Dock Crew, Dave Bruyn JR; #1 Clowns, Kent Under, Ken Borowski, Jim Wagner; Willa Cook Award for Best Female Skier, Michelle Kerkman-Cook.
1983...Aquanuts win highly coveted Triple Crown of Show Skiing! Garrett Adams was the Show Director as our"Saga of Rock Ridge' western theme cleaned house at every tournament we entered. The show opened with a live country western band and had live chickens and hay bales on the new floating stage for props. Colorful screen backdrops depicted the town of Rock Ridge. Our choreographed western dance intro and swivel/ballet outscored all other teams in their respective categories at all three tournaments.
1984...Can you top this? To date no other team has! The legacy that began in July, 1982, when the Aquanuts first won State and Nationals back to back came to a climax in 1984 when we retained the much sought after TRIPLE CROWN OF SHOW SKIING for the 2nd year in a row, thus accumulating a grand total of eight consecutive first place titles. Under the guidance of Show Director, Michelle Cook, the 'New Roaring Twenties Review' added a new dimension to the concept of show skiing. Highlights were a seven girl swivel line, Ramp master's triple flip and gainer, the Aquanut's first 4 high pyramid, #1 Clowns Ken Borowski, Kent Yunker, and Pat Coffey; Willa Cook Award for Best Female Skier, Audrey Dunteman. What a year!
1985...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
1986...#1 at Lamb's Farm and National with our 'Time Machine' theme under the direction of Garrett Adams. #1 Boat Driving Team at all three tournaments was Brian Schaufel and Pete Renn! Scott Stevens is the #1 announcer twice and Ballet Line wins 'Best in Competition' at State. The jumpers dominated at Nationals and were awarded 'Best Jump Act' in the Nation!
1987...Fifteen men 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 wins Best Female Skier Willa Cook Award for the second time! #1 Boat Driving Team at Nationals: Brian Schaufel, Mike O'Toole, and Todd Forsgren. Once again the jump team dominates and captures another national award.
1988...Yamaha Outboards sponsors the team. A new Hydrodyne and pick up boat are purchased. Munson Marine continues their generous support with the use of two boats, skis, ropes, and vests. 3rd place at all three tournaments.
1989...Gotham City was the seeing for our new show featuring the Dynamic Duo. Batman and Robin scored big with the youngsters, in fact so big that the skiers often had to stay an extra half an hour 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. George Mantoan was Show Director. 4th at Lamb's, 3rd at State, 4th at Nationals.
1990...Comic book character "Dick Tracy' scores a hit as our theme this year. Two new Watercraft boats add speed and excitement, complementing the twin rigged Yamaha 200's on our Hydrodyne. Show Director was DJ Kaelber. 5th at Lamb's 3rd at State, 11th at Nationals.
1991...Changes for this year include a new jump and a brand new sign out in front of Lance Park. Peter Renn Jr. is Show Director as the team heads into it's 'Top Gun' season. A first for the Aquanuts is a 4-high pyramid at Lamb's Farm. At State we ski in the fog and the crowd goes ballistic as we emerge from the mist with yet another 4-high, this one glowing as the neon costumes reflect light. We move back up to a 5th place finish at Nationals. 5th at Lamb's, 3rd at State.
1992...Twenty years of show skiing! The Aquanuts make history again with their biggest pyramid ever, a 4-high flanked on each side by three high pyramids! That's a total of 24 people on the water behind the Hydrodyne! Peter Renn Jr. directed the team as they placed 5th at Lamb's, 3rd at State, and 6th at Nationals. The year ended with a reunion of the Aquanut Alumni as they celebrated the 20th anniversary in style! A special show brought in the biggest audience of the summer as people came from all over the country to watch the "old timers"ski. The alumni proved they still had it as they beat the "young" Aquanuts in a football game the next day.
1993...A new look for the Aquanuts! Major improvements include landscaping, a 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 adds a new dimension to the jump act. With Carrie Michael as the Show Director, we finished a solid third at all three tournaments with the "Ultimate Game Show" as our theme. At Lamb's Farm our barefoot line won the award for the highest scoring barefoot act. Kevin Michael became the first Aquanut to win the "Skip Gilkerson Award" for the Outstanding Male Skier at Nationals.
1994...Highlights of our show were "Robo Driver" Brian Schaufel and the grand finale twin four tier pyramids. Built four levels high and 24 people strong, only one other team at the national tournament was able to successfully complete a pyramid with this degree of difficulty! Directed by Carrie Michael, the team finished 3rd at State and 5th at Nationals. Sponsors were Mercury Outboards & Hydrodyne through Twin Lakes Marine, and Connelly skis through Munson Marine. Our futuristic theme was narrated by Scott Stevens, the mad scientist/inventor who saved the day with his invention of "Robo Driver".
1995...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. Our 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 3rd at Lamb's, 3rd at State, & 5th at Nationals. Our 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 our team-a 4-high comprised of 28 people! Our pyramid was the only "mega 4-high" to perform without any major falls! CONGRATULATIONS!!
1996...New sponsors Munson Ski & Inboard Water Sports of Volo, IL, provided us with 2 Malibu boats; Baker Marine Support of Antioch, IL, provided the outboard power of Evinrude motors. Jeff Welling directed the senior team in "Gone Fishin", featuring Bruce Brenner as 'Earl" the clown and his sidekick Luke Welling. The audience enjoyed the antics of Bruce and Luke during the ongoing preshow conflict between the clown fisherman with their rowboat and Brian Schaufel with his twin rig. The team finished 3rd at Lamb's where Brian and the driving crew were awarded 1st place. We finished 3rd at State and 6th at Nationals.
1997...Aquanuts celebrate their 25th Anniversary with an all-star alumni show only to have mother nature intervene and forced postponement until the weekend of July24-25, 1998. The first ever Triple Rigged Hydrodyne in amateur competition makes 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.
1998... Aquanuts enter the 21st Century by going onto the web with their own website, www.aquanutwatershows.com . 25th Anniversary show takes place under beautiful weather.
1999...Junior Team, under direction of Brenda Genengles grows to over 45 members. The Senior Team, having lost several members to the pro ranks, go on to perform Aquanut Fever placing in the state and national tournaments.
2000...Current and Alumni members are invited by the government of China to participate in a joint presentation of shows. Fifteen members leave for a 21 day visit to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Aquanuts roll out Bo Bo's Beach Bar under the leadership of Ken Meyer. Aquanuts Place fifth at state and Tenth at Nationals.
2001...Aquanuts take a trip back to the past using a show theme that won the triple crown in 1984, The Roaring Twenties. After placing 3rd at State, the team advanced to Nationals, where the team placed 8th. More importantly, the repeated show theme won the Sea Worlds "Best presentation of a Show Theme" award.
2002...Ken Meyer in his 3rd year as show director takes the team to a little western town called Consumption Junction. The Aquanuts celebrate their 30th Anniversary. In June we competed in the Mercury Invitational for the first time, placing 3rd. The Wisconsin state tournament was a very successful showing for the Aquanuts, placing 4th and winning the Best Ballet Line and the #1 Trick Skier award. (Danny Amir)
2003...Our show took us to the Army, where Chris Kadera led our not-so-disciplined group of soldiers prepared for the inspection by the infamous "Major Tweed". In June we competed in the Mercury Invitational, placing 3rd. In July, we were very successful raising money for the MACC fund through our benefit show in memory of Cheri Amore. We were then off to the Wisconsin state tournament, placing 4th. August took us to Love's Park for the Nationals tournament, placing 9th.
2004...2004 Summer Olympic games inspired the Aquanuts to take a trip back to Ancient Greece for a Competition of the Gods. Eric Fauth led the team to State and Nationals as the show director in spite of losing half of the season to the closure of Lake Mary because of record rain falls.
2005...Paul Weiler brings back the Aquanut spirit as show director, leading the team to the best tournament finishes in 20 years, placing 2nd at State and Nationals as we ventured back to the 70's at P Dubs Car Wash. Awards won during tournaments were #1 Ballet Line (State and Nationals), #1 Jump Act (State and Nationals), #1 Trick Skier (State), and #1 Rope and Dock (State).
2006...Eric Fauth show directs theme "Aquanut Vice". Based on the 80's hit show, Miami Vice, the Aquanuts placed 4th at State and 5th at Nationals in one of the most competitive years showskiing has seen. Once again Danny Amir won the Best Wisconsin State Trick Skier award.
2007...Veteran show director and skier Ken Meyer resurrects an Aquanut classic, "Charlie Tuna," with the sequel, "Charlie's Revenge."
2008...First-time show director Jordan Shulda rocks the waters with "WNUTZ".
2009...Bringing back another Aquanut favorite, "Aquanut Laboratories", show director Andy Amore carries the team through it's 'growing year!'
2010...Village of Twin Lakes provide major renovations to the seating area of Lance Park. Second-year show director Andy Amore brings another year of young skiers through a fun season. Ballet line finishes FIRST IN WISCONSIN STATE with it's 22 beautiful ladies!