University of Massachusets Athletics
1998 Women's Swimming & Diving Outlook
August 02, 1999 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Despite the loss of two outstanding swimmers and arguably the
best diver in school history, the UMass Minutewomen look to compete
with the upper echelon of the Atlantic 10 Conference in the 1997-98
season. Head Coach Bob Newcomb enters his 14th season at the helm of
the Minutewomen program, and looks to improve on the fourth-place
finish at last year's Atlantic 10 Championship meet.
With the loss of Jessica Farley to graduation, this year's
sprint free corps of swimmers is wide open. Sophomore Andrea Spencer
will look to pick up where Farley left off. As a freshman last year,
Spencer posted the third-fastest 50 free time in school history
(24.60). Freshman Julie Dragon could be a big surprise this season
as she gains valuable experience this year. Also making an impact
this year for the Minutewomen will be junior Amy Mullen and sophomore
Marci Hupp, both of whom have marks on the school's top 10 list.
An experienced group of seniors are the forte of this group.
At the front of the class is senior Karen Sonnwald. Sonnwald, who
holds the school record in the 500, 1000 and 1650 free, finished in
first or second place in dual-meet events on nine occasions last
year. Senior Barbara Hickey is also a standout in the UMass record
books. Hickey is currently second, trailing Sonnwald in the same
three categories. Junior Shana Strothers will also score points for
the Minutewomen in the distance events. Three others that will be
vying for points will be senior Suzanne Schuler and freshmen Michaela
Cohen and Alison Whitney.
Junior Julie Alexander and sophomore Amy Stephens will try to
fill the shoes left behind by former standout Jodi Walters.
Alexander last year set the fourth-best time in the 100 and 200
breast and looks to improve on those times. Stephens also has a top
10 time under her belt in the 200, ranking sixth on the list. Highly
touted freshman Sarah Newell also could make a big splash on the
Minutewoman roster.
A trio of experienced swimmers will head the group of
backstrokers. Senior Irina Kossenko has the eighth-fastest mark in
the 100 breast in UMass history. She finished either first or second
on seven occasions in dual meets last year. Junior Meghan Matacera
owns the fourth-fastest mark in school history in the 100 back.
After an impressive freshman campaign which saw her record 10 top two
finishes, Lyndsay Crenshaw returns for her sophomore year. With the
addition of freshman Shannon Rowell, the backstroke group will be a
formidable one.
In the 100 fly, sophomores Marci Hupp and Andrea Spencer will
look to score points for the Minutewomen. Spencer will try to
improve on her sixth-place finish in her first Atlantic 10
Championship meet last year. Newcomb looks to tab sophomores Tricia
Argentina and Lia Lansky for the 200 fly event. At the A-10 meet
last year, Lansky finished third, the highest non-diver finish for
UMass in the 1997 championship. Senior Sarah Allery and junior Shana
Strothers round out the returnees among this group. Newcomer Sharyn
Harrison will also have the opportunity to see time.
Andrea Spencer will be a formidable threat in this category as
well. Last year at the Atlantic 10 Championship meet, she finished
in seventh place and holds the third-fastest time in the 200 IM in
UMass history. Talented freshman Sarah Newell will also score points
for the Minutewomen in this area as well. In the 400 IM, Irina
Kossenko, Lia Lansky and Shana Strothers have done well in the past.
Strothers finished fifth at the Atlantic 10 meet last year in the 400
IM, while Kossenko owns the fourth-fastest time in the school history
in the same event.
The corps of divers was affected the most with the loss of
UMass standout Angelique Rodriguez, who swept the Atlantic 10
competition last year at the championships. Junior transfer Stacie
Haymes will debut for the Minutewomen in 1997 after setting diving
records at East Carolina. Also competing for time will be senior
Cortney Fletcher along with juniors Leanne Hayes and Kim Schadt and
freshman Robin Velona.Sprint Freestyle
Distance Freestyle
Breaststroke
Backstroke
Butterfly
Iindividual Medly
Diving
