University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Swimming and Diving Seeks First Atlantic 10 Title
October 11, 2000 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 11, 2000
The UMass women's swimming and diving team heads into this season with a legitimate chance of winning its first Atlantic 10 Championship.
"The thing that has stood out is the dedication as a team in a individual sport like swimming," said Newcomb. "Our saying is, `what have you done today to win A-10s,' and they are working as a team to do that."
Newcomb's team does not have any superstars that will go out and win a race every time, but he has a team with a lot of depth that will need everyone to contribute. "For us to win at the Atlantic 10 Championships, all of our swimmers and divers are going to have to step up and perform well because teams like George Washington and St. Bonaventure have superstars that can dominate," said Newcomb. "It is kind of fun this way because it is nice to see a team have to pull together to reach its goals."
This year's team is confident it can reach its four goals of winning the Atlantic 10 Championship, earning a team GPA of 3.25 or better, beating George Washington and having fun. UMass will use the dual meets to prepare for A-10s without focussing on one particular dual meet as a make or break meet, but its meet with George Washington will be a great measuring tool for the Atlantic 10 Championships.
UMass has seven juniors and seniors that are the team leaders. Newcomb has a freshman class coming in that he expects to contribute immediately and make them a better team than last year. "We have a well balanced team that is ready to win the A-10 Championship," said Newcomb.
Sprint Freestyle
Junior Andrea Kazanjian will lead the sprinters along with junior Anne Dettloff who had season-best times in the 50y-free (23.93) and the 100y-free (53.53).
Distance Freestyle
Newcomb looks to Dettloff to lead the Minutewomen in these events. Last season she had team-best times in the 200y-free (1:54.40), 500y-free (5:07.49) and the 1000y-free (10:39.63). Sophomore Catherine Getty, sophomore Carly McMahon and freshman Shauna Nielson will all help out in the distance free events.
Breaststroke
Senior Sarah Newell, who holds the school-record in the 100y-breast (1:06.76) and in the 200y-breast (2:24.28), will lead this group and is expected to continue her success in these events. Newell will be joined by senior Julie Dragon, sophomore Lauren Bulkeley and freshman Christen Dexter.
Backstroke
The team has to replace graduated school-record holder Elizabeth Risotto and Newcomb is confident it can be done. Junior Becky Hunnewell is returning after setting a school-record in the 200y-back at the Atlantic 10 Championship with a time of 2:04.28. Newcomb will use a variety of people to follow Hunnewell, including senior Shannon Rowell, sophomore Lizzy Boyle, freshman Lauren Rowell and freshman Erica Gerlach. "I think we have a very good core of swimmers that will take care of our needs in the backstroke," said Newcomb.
Butterfly
Kazanjian will be a threat in the 100y-fly at the Atlantic 10 Championships, as she had a team-best 57.91 last year. Bulkeley, senior Sharyn Harrison and sophomore Molly Buckley will help out in the 100y-fly. Freshmen Diana Alberti and Lauren Briggs will be able to contribute in both events. Sophomore Kim Robbins and McMahon have both improved in the 200y-fly and should spark the team.
Individual Medley
Newcomb needs some people to step it up in these events because of the graduation losses. Newell will swim the 200-IM along with Hunnewell and Lauren Rowell. The 400y-IM will consist of Robbins, Lauren Rowell, NcMahon and Getty.
Relay Events
The relay events will be a major strength for the Minutewomen, as they set four out of five school records at the 2000 Atlantic 10 Championships. "We want to set all five school records this year and I believe our teams will be stronger from the addition of some of the freshman and from the development of our sophomores," said Newcomb.
Diving
Diving will be a huge strength for UMass with the core of last year's team back. Senior Robin Velona, sophomore Kate Allery and sophomore Kalyn Knopf are expected to have outstanding seasons according to Newcomb. Junior Alyssa Rooney, sophomore Kathryn Baron and freshman Joanna Walsh will add to the depth of the diving team.
