University of Massachusets Athletics
2001-02 Season Preview
October 15, 2001 | Women's Swimming & Diving
As the Minutewomen embark upon the 2001-02 season, they have set their sights on capturing their second Atlantic 10 championship. UMass won its first-ever A-10 title last season and hopes to find itself on the championship stand next March.
"Last season went by like a breeze because we had great team chemistry," said head coach Bob Newcomb. "Everyone was on the same page and focused on the same goal and it led to a great finale. We hope to create a similar atmosphere this season." Shaking up the conference will be the addition of the University of Richmond, known for producing a talented swim program. "Richmond puts a lot of emphasis on its swim program and its addition will change the whole dynamics of the conference," said Newcomb.
"Right now we are defending champions and we are looking to defend that title, but there are a lot of unknowns and we'll have to see how the season begins to unfold. Our toughest competitors will be Richmond, George Washington and St. Bonaventure."
Leading the Minutewomen in their pursuit for the A-10 title are senior captains Andrea Kazanjian (Troy, N.Y.), Anne Dettloff (Barrington, Ill.) and Becky Hunnewell (Sandwich, Mass.). All three are defending A-10 champions and Newcomb will look to them to swim fast and keep the team focused on winning the conference title.
"We have a senior class that is just outstanding," said Newcomb. "The captains are all A-10 champions and are very talented in the pool. These women are really going to be able to keep the team focused in the locker room and help us accomplish our goals."
Newcomb also brings a strong freshmen class into the mix including Jenny Jones (Bakersfield, Calif.), Lynette Sweeney (Plymouth, Mass.) and Colleen Wasson (Harleysville, Pa.).
"Jenny is an outstanding freestyler in the 200 and 500," said Newcomb. "I see her filling in a lot of places to give us some versatility within those particular events. This will allow me to move around some other people and be able to play with the line-up a little bit in dual meets. She's also going to add strength to our relays.
"Lynette is very versatile and an IM-er which is exciting since that was one of our weakest events last season in terms of depth," noted Newcomb. "She has a great collection of strokes and I've been really impressive with what she's done in practice so far. I'm really looking for her to step right into the line-up.
"Colleen has a good backstroke and is also a good IM-er," said Newcomb. "She's going to take a little time to develop, but I believe when it comes time for the A-10's, she's going to be there for us."
Also joining the Minutewomen are newcomers Danielle Chipego (Larksville, Pa.), Megan McKenzie (Kinnelon, N.J.) and Jay Yankowski (Turners Falls, Mass.).
"These women will take a little while to develop, but I've been really impressed with their work ethic and the way they've blended into what we've done so far," said Newcomb.
Following is an event-by-event breakdown of the 2001-02 Minutewomen swimmers and divers.
50-yard free
UMass returns defending A-10 champion Kazanjian in the 50-free. Last season, she swam a team-best 24.54 and she ranks fifth on the UMass all-time list with a 24.51 mark. Joining Kazanjian in this event will be juniors Lizzy Boyle (Darien, Conn.) and Molly Buckley (Taunton, Mass.). Boyle swam the second-fastest time for UMass last season behind Kazanjian with a 24.70 mark. Buckley ranked third on the team with a time of 24.85 which was fast enough for a fifth-place finish at the 2001 A-10's.
100-yard free
In the 100-free, UMass returns a solid group of swimmers headlined by Hunnewell, Kazanjian and Dettloff, who each placed in the top six in the conference last season. Hunnewell won the conference title with a time of 52.91, followed by Kazanjian tied for third (53.55), and Dettloff in sixth (53.87). Other possible contenders in this event will be Buckley, Boyle and Jones, who each can put up a fast sprint time.
200-yard free
The 200-free will see a number of women who can swim fast times. "Anne Dettloff, Becky Hunnewell and Jenny Jones are going to be three very formidable people in this event," said Newcomb. "We also had great meets last year from Catherine Getty (Wayne, N.J.) and Shauna Nielsen (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who are more distance-oriented but stepped up for us last year. Between these five women, we should put together some great swims."
Dettloff placed second at the A-10's in this event last year with a time of 1:55.54, followed by Nielsen in seventh (1:58.49) and Getty in eighth (1:59.77). Hunnewell ranks second all-time on the UMass list (153.99) and Dettloff ranks third (154.40).
500-yard free
The 500-free is UMass' deepest event with seven different women expected to contribute. "Anne Dettloff should lead this group, and Jenny Jones is going to be right there with her," said Newcomb. "I believe we have a good, versatile group including Shauna Nielsen and Catherine Getty, who both had great meets at the end of last year and really showed what they could do. Carly McMahon (Cortland, N.Y.) should also swim well for us. She is coming off an illness from last year and we are looking for her to come back and pick up where she left off after her freshman year. We also have two freshmen that could put up some fast times for us in the 200-free and 500-free in Danielle Chipego (Larksville, Pa.) and Jay Yankowski (Turners Falls, Mass)."
1,000-yard free/1,650-yard free
The Minutewomen return four strong long distance swimmers in Dettloff, McMahon, Nielsen and Getty. "I foresee Anne, Carly, Shauna and Catherine swimming our long distance events this season and switching off when we get to the A-10's," noted Newcomb.
Last season, Dettloff recorded the fastest 1,000-free (10:29.85) and 1,650-free (17:30.00) times for UMass. Nielsen ranked second for the Minutewomen in those events and placed eighth at the A-10's in the 1,650-free with a time of 17:59.30. Getty placed 10th in that event with a time of 18:06.21. McMahon's top time in the 1,000-free last season was 11:08.05 and the fourth-fastest on the team. Breaststroke
In the breaststroke, the Minutewomen return double school-record-holder Dexter, as well as Lauren Bulkeley (Virginia Beach, Va.) and McKenzie. "Christen Dexter is returning for her sophomore season and has looked great in the preseason. She has more than picked up to where she had left off last season," said Newcomb. "With the loss of Sarah Newell and Julie Dragon to graduation we will be hurting a little bit on depth, but we do have Lauren Bulkeley, who was in the top four in the A-10's in both breast events last year, behind Christen who was second in both. Megan McKenzie should also be able to come in and step up in some of these events."
Butterfly
Leading the list of 100-yard butterflyers is Kazanjian, who placed second in the event at the A-10's last season (58.02). Diana Alberti and Lauren Briggs also return this season after placing 10th (1:00.11) and 14th (1:01.82) in the event at the A-10's. In the 200-fly, Alberti was the top UMass finisher at the A-10's, placing sixth with a time of 2:10.83. Briggs placed 12th (2:13.33) and Kim Robbins placed 13th (2:14.13). Sweeney will also be a factor in the 200-fly.
Backstroke
In the backstroke, the Minutewomen return defending A-10 champion Hunnewell, Rowell, Boyle and add newcomers Wasson and Sweeney.
"Becky Hunnewell will swim both the 100-back and 200-back for us," said Newcomb. "We also return Lauren Rowell who has excelled in the 100 and leading off in the short medley relays. With a good group of people including Colleen Wasson, Lynette Sweeney and Lizzy Boyle, we have four or five people vying for different positions within each one of these events."
Individual Medley
UMass lost A-10 200-IM finalist Dragon to graduation but returns Rowell, and adds Wasson and Sweeney to the IM line-up. Last season, Rowell placed ninth in the 200-IM (2:11.97) and 12th in the 400-IM (4:51.46) at the A-10 meet.
Diving
The Minutewomen return three solid divers this season led by Kate Allery (South Hadley, Mass.). She was the top finisher for UMass at the A-10's last year, placing third in the three-meter dive (428.25) and fourth in the one-meter dive (331.10).
"She trained great last summer and has looked awesome in preseason," noted Newcomb. "She's going to lead our diving program and she's definitely one of the top two or three divers in the conference."
Allery is followed up by Kalyn Knopf (Taunton, Mass.) and Joanna Walsh (Spencer, Mass.). "I believe Kalyn is ready to step up big for us this season and Joanna is going to be right behind her. We are returning a good trio of divers this year."