NORTH TONAWANDA — The Town of Tonawanda Aquettes have spent more than nine months gearing up for what was expected to be a busy summer — one which included hosting the 2010 United States Synchronized Swimming’s eSynchro Age Group Championships at the Town of Tonawanda Aquatic and Fitness Center.

For Aquettes Alexis Clune, Cassandra Migliore and Anita Alvarez, the summer couldn’t have gone any sweeter.

The trio placed the cherry atop the sundae over the weekend, adding a third gold medal — a triple crown of sorts — as part of the synchronized swimming open division squad that captured its 32nd straight team gold medal on the final day of the 32nd Empire State Games at Buffalo State College’s Kissinger Pool.

Western’s score of 156.807 earned gold.

“It’s overwhelming,” said Clune, 17, captain of the Aquettes’ 18-19 team. “I couldn’t have picked a better way to end the year.”

The Aquettes garnered national prominence in front of the home crowd, winning the 18-19 age group team event gold on July 3.

The team then continued its excellence at an international invitational meet in Puerto Rico the following week, topping synchro squads from around the globe — including teams from Canada, Columbia and the Dominican Republic — to take home golds in the 16-19 team, combo and solo events, as well as a silver and bronze in the duet.

“I thought we could do it,” said Migliore, 16, of Kenmore. “I really believe in the team and I feel that we’re really strong when we’re together.”

The Aquettes entered the summer with lowered expectations because the team had only two returning members from the top team of a year ago. But Clune, a Mount St. Mary grad, said the team worked extra hard over the course of the year.

“We had a young team, so we wanted to make sure that we would be strong enough,” Clune said. “We put in extra hours and we made sure, and it paid off. It was all worth it.”

For Aquettes head coach Karen Alvarez of Kenmore, it was equally satisfying to watch her team and daughter, Anita, strike gold this summer.

“It was really overwhelming,” coach Alvarez said. “Our expectations were down a little bit, but as the year was progressing, the girls worked really hard and we saw huge improvements. At nationals, it all clicked at the right moment. They peaked.”

The pressure was squarely on the Western squad at Empires to not only continue dominance in the synchronized swimming in their home pool, but also do so without one of the area’s top swimmers — Julia Grizanti, and 15-year-old Aquette who is a member of the 13-15 national synchro team.

Nonetheless, the Western team — which included Alvarez, Clune, Migliore and Kahle Bostaph (reserve) of the Aquettes, as well as Tonawanda’s Courtney Christman and Laurie Wakelam — squeaked by an Adirondack squad that finished second at nationals, too.

The Aquettes will wrap up their golden year at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 at Brighton Pool. All are welcomed and the performance is free of charge.

Contact sports reporter Brandon Koch at 693-1000, ext. 117.