University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Swimming And Diving Selected To Finish Third
October 12, 2010 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 12, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's swimming and diving team has been picked to finish third this year in the Atlantic 10 behind Richmond and Fordham, as the coaches poll was released to today. Head Coach Bob Newcomb and his squad finished third last year behind URI and A-10 Champ Fordham.
Fordham captured their first Atlantic 10 crown finishing with 676 points. The Rams will be led by junior Courtney Collyer, who won gold in the 200-yard butterfly (2:01.52). URI, who finished second a year ago, is predicted to finish tied for eighth with George Washington.
The 2010-11 Minutewomen will have a bunch of young talented faces along with seasoned veterans. The squad will be lead by senior Jessica Starosielec, junior Chelsea Downing, and sophomore Amina Meho. Diving Coach Mandy Hixon will be bringing back junior Hannah Swift and sophomore Michaela Butler.
Starosielec ranks first in UMass history in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:04.67), third in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:22.16) and seventh in the 200 IM (2:09.44). She was also a member of the school-record setting 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams.
Downing holds three all-time UMass records in the 400 IM (4:30.47), 1650 free (17:10.78) and 500 free (4:58.58) while also ranking second in the 1000 free (10:21.71). She is also a member of the school record holding 800-meter free relay team (7:32.42).
Meho capped off a great rookie campaign and now holds the all-time UMass school record in the 50 free (23.55), while also ranking second all-time in the 100 free (51.21), fifth in the 200 free (1:52.99) and eighth in the 100 backstroke (59.26). She was also a member of the school record-holding 400-meter medley relay team (3:51.47).
Swift ranks 10th all-time at UMass in the one-meter dive (251.40). She finished third last year in the A-10 Championship (243.75).
Butler also had a great rookie year and now ranks eighth all-time in the three-meter dive with a score of 259.75 at the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championships.
The Minutewomen open up their season this Saturday Oct. 16 at Boston University. The first home meet of the year is Oct. 23 against Army at Joseph Rogers Pool.
The 2011 Atlantic 10 Championships will be held February 23-26 at Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y.
2010-11 A-10 Women's Swimming & Diving Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. Fordham
2. Richmond
3. Massachusetts
4. Duquesne
5. La Salle
5. St. Bonaventure
7. Xavier
8. George Washington
8. Rhode Island
10. Saint Louis
Players Mentioned
