We’re only a couple weeks into the season and I’m already impressed with this year’s women’s team.  Many are in mid-season form and the performance and effort level in practice has never been higher.  Everyone can hardly wait to get the competition season started and show the rest of our conference and Division III that we are a force to be reckoned with!

This season we return practically all of our record setting UAA conference team.  Leading the way for the Maroons will be all-around sprinter Tara Levens (So) and butterflier Ellie Elgamal (Jr).  Tara has the potential to bring home UAA titles in the backstroke events and qualify for NCAA Championships, while Ellie is primed to regain her All-American status and reclaim her two UAA fly titles she ran away with her freshmen year.

Some other returning swimmers looking to make a big impact at conference and possibly at NCAAs include Senior Team Captains Cassie O’Neill (breast) and Alicia Bushman (back) and Sophomores Laura Biery (free and IM) and Jackie Trudeau (free).

The 11 incoming freshmen this year are probably the deepest, most talented class that has ever joined the Lady Maroons.  Virtually every member of this class can make a huge impact in multiple events at conference championships and possibly NCAAs.  Our mid-distance and distance freestyle group will include Katherine Crain, Kate Taylor, Kelly Runyan and Hannah Loek.  Our Sprint events will get a huge boost from Grete Grubelich in free, Tatum Stewart in fly and back and Andrea McPike in free, fly and back.  Our stroke events will be vastly improved with the addition of Julie Pendleton (fly and IM), Joyce Du (breast and IM) and Olivia Mapes (breast).

Diving will be one of our strong points this season as Senior Team Captain Carla Penicka and Sophomore Maryclare Griffin are joined by the talented freshmen diver Becky Schmidt.  Look for our divers to sweep a number of boards this season and score some big points for the team.

This year we’ve got the depth and the talent to break into the top-3 of our conference and top-25 at NCAA Championships.  Look for some fast swimming at our first competition Saturday, October 24 at Wheaton College.

GO MAROONS!

-Coach Weber