Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Women's Swimming and Diving Open Up 2010-11 Season Friday
10/26/2010 2:22:12 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Eagles will kick off the season hosting Ohio this Friday.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University women's swimming and diving team is looking to improve upon their fourth place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships last season.
The Eagles lost to six seniors to graduation, but will welcome back all four of its All-MAC selections, as well as bring in nine freshmen to the squad. Head Coach Peter Linn will focus on improving as a team and as individuals in their hopes of bringing home a MAC Championship in 2010-11.
“Our goal is to be the best,” said Linn. “We are always seeking to be on the top of the podium at the season's conclusion both individually and as a team. It is always a great challenge and one we approach by focusing on the individual and the process of fully realizing every athlete's potential.”
Not only does Linn want his athletes to achieve their potential physically, but he encourages academic excellence as well.
“We want them to reflect the programs commitment to academic success and to welcome challenges against which we can test ourselves,” said Linn. “Our athletes have sought that challenging environment and thrive in it.”
Some new faces should have an immediate impact for the Eagles this season, as Linn expects Jacquelyn Swartz (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville), Ansley Crenshaw (Marietta, Ga.-Lassiter), Paige Copeland (Fishers, Ind.-Hamilton Southeastern), and Alexa Piranian (Brentwood, Tenn.-Ravenwood) to contribute early.
Also joining the incoming class are Jennifer Bichsel (Westerville, Ohio-Westerville North), Kaitlyn Buckwell (Rochester, N.Y.-Spencerport), Meghan Richardson (Midland, Mich.-Hebert Henry Dow), Heather Saule (Linden, Mich.-Lake Fenton), and Melynee Saya (Nashua, N.H.-Nashua).
SPRINTS
Senior Sarah Kowalski (Muncie, Ind.-Yorktown) was named to the All-MAC first team squad and also earned Division I Mid-Major All-American first team honors after her Division I-B qualifying time (50.20) was good for a third-place finish in the 2010 MAC Championships.
“Kowalski will bear the brunt of the sprint responsibilities for the women coming off of a stellar 2009-10 campaign,” said Linn. “And in the 200 freestyle, freshman Ansley Crenshaw should also offer assistance.”
DISTANCE
The 2010 All-MAC selections Briana Emig (Sewickley, Pa.-Ambridge) and Samantha Partridge (Carmel, Ind.-Carmel) are both coming into the year after being championship finalists last season in the 500 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle. Katie Simmons (Yorktown, Ind.-Yorktown) and Wesley Blassneck (Marco Island, Fla.-Lely) will also look to contribute for the Eagles.
RELAYS
Kowalski, Partridge, and Sarah Maraskine (Midland, Mich.-Dow) return from last season's third place 400 free relay, looking to improve at this years MAC Championships.
“Relays are always a strong point for us,” said Linn. “But the additional balance this coming season should contribute to strong performances in across the board.”
BACKSTROKE
Maraskine and Amanda Kiefer (Piqua, Ohio-Lehman Catholic) will look to lead the Green and White after setting records in the 100 and 200 backstroke, respectively. Maraskine placed second in the 100 backstroke while turning in a Division I provisional qualifying time of 55.03 at the 2010 MAC Championships, helping land her an All-American second team nod as well as Academic All-MAC honors. Linn added that Lauren Kalinosky (Novi, Mich.-Novi), Michele Gingher (Boalsburg, Pa.-State College), and Tracy Morgan (Strongsville, Ohio-Strongsville) have all posted scoring times at the MAC championship level and will look to play key roles throughout the season.
BREASTSTROKE
Linn expects team co-captain Chelsea Allard (Walnut Creek, Calif.-Lake Forest, Ill.) and senior Lindsey Kolar (Makanda, Ill.-Carbondale Comm.) to mentor sophomore Vanessa Weidner (Greenville, Ohio-Greenville Senior) and freshman Alexa Piranian.
BUTTERFLY
“Co-captain Elisa Torres (Antioch, Calif.-Deer Valley), Samantha Nameth (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor), Morgan, and Gingher will be joined by freshmen Copeland, Swartz, and Richardson in the 100 butterfly,” said Linn. “Elisa, Paige, Jackie, and Meghan will be the 200 butterfly representatives for the team in 2010-11.”
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEYS
MAC finalists Emig and Partridge will return in the 400 IM. Swartz, Copeland, and Kalinosky all seem poised to contribute in the 200 and 400 IM according to Linn.
DIVING
Last year's Diving Coach of the year, Head Coach Buck Smith, will return four divers for the 2010-11 season, while bringing in one freshman to the roster. Melynee Saya will be the lone rookie for the Green and White. Smith expects her to utilize her gymnastics skills to develop into a successful diver.
“She was a high level gymnast that hasn't had much diving experience,” said Smith. “She has a lot to learn, but she can spin fast. She will be a strong contributor to the team in the future.”
The Eagles return All-MAC second team selection Danielle Hulvey (Pickerington, Ohio-Pickerington Central), who took second in last years MAC Championships in the one-meter diving event. She will be joined by teammates Kelly Hendricks (Schaumburg, Ill.-Conant), Christina Nunez-Wood (Denver, Colo.-Bear Creek), and Lesley Vizurraga (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Central), who all placed in the top-eight at the conference championships last season for the one-meter event.
“All of our returning athletes are expected to have a strong season,” said Smith. “All of our divers worked very hard in the offseason to come back in shape for the long diving season.”
The women's swimming and diving teams will face a competitive schedule this year to help prepare for the conference championships. The schedule includes the usual strong MAC component, plus powerful non-conference foes such as Purdue, along with a challenging line-up for the EMU Invitational. The 2011 MAC Swimming and Diving Championships will be hosted by Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. The three-day event is slated to start on February 23, 2011.
EMU will kick off the 2010-11 season this Friday, Oct. 29 at Jones Natatorium when they host the Bobcats of Ohio. The MAC dual meet is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
The Eagles lost to six seniors to graduation, but will welcome back all four of its All-MAC selections, as well as bring in nine freshmen to the squad. Head Coach Peter Linn will focus on improving as a team and as individuals in their hopes of bringing home a MAC Championship in 2010-11.
“Our goal is to be the best,” said Linn. “We are always seeking to be on the top of the podium at the season's conclusion both individually and as a team. It is always a great challenge and one we approach by focusing on the individual and the process of fully realizing every athlete's potential.”
Not only does Linn want his athletes to achieve their potential physically, but he encourages academic excellence as well.
“We want them to reflect the programs commitment to academic success and to welcome challenges against which we can test ourselves,” said Linn. “Our athletes have sought that challenging environment and thrive in it.”
Some new faces should have an immediate impact for the Eagles this season, as Linn expects Jacquelyn Swartz (Centerville, Ohio-Centerville), Ansley Crenshaw (Marietta, Ga.-Lassiter), Paige Copeland (Fishers, Ind.-Hamilton Southeastern), and Alexa Piranian (Brentwood, Tenn.-Ravenwood) to contribute early.
Also joining the incoming class are Jennifer Bichsel (Westerville, Ohio-Westerville North), Kaitlyn Buckwell (Rochester, N.Y.-Spencerport), Meghan Richardson (Midland, Mich.-Hebert Henry Dow), Heather Saule (Linden, Mich.-Lake Fenton), and Melynee Saya (Nashua, N.H.-Nashua).
SPRINTS
Senior Sarah Kowalski (Muncie, Ind.-Yorktown) was named to the All-MAC first team squad and also earned Division I Mid-Major All-American first team honors after her Division I-B qualifying time (50.20) was good for a third-place finish in the 2010 MAC Championships.
“Kowalski will bear the brunt of the sprint responsibilities for the women coming off of a stellar 2009-10 campaign,” said Linn. “And in the 200 freestyle, freshman Ansley Crenshaw should also offer assistance.”
DISTANCE
The 2010 All-MAC selections Briana Emig (Sewickley, Pa.-Ambridge) and Samantha Partridge (Carmel, Ind.-Carmel) are both coming into the year after being championship finalists last season in the 500 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle. Katie Simmons (Yorktown, Ind.-Yorktown) and Wesley Blassneck (Marco Island, Fla.-Lely) will also look to contribute for the Eagles.
RELAYS
Kowalski, Partridge, and Sarah Maraskine (Midland, Mich.-Dow) return from last season's third place 400 free relay, looking to improve at this years MAC Championships.
“Relays are always a strong point for us,” said Linn. “But the additional balance this coming season should contribute to strong performances in across the board.”
BACKSTROKE
Maraskine and Amanda Kiefer (Piqua, Ohio-Lehman Catholic) will look to lead the Green and White after setting records in the 100 and 200 backstroke, respectively. Maraskine placed second in the 100 backstroke while turning in a Division I provisional qualifying time of 55.03 at the 2010 MAC Championships, helping land her an All-American second team nod as well as Academic All-MAC honors. Linn added that Lauren Kalinosky (Novi, Mich.-Novi), Michele Gingher (Boalsburg, Pa.-State College), and Tracy Morgan (Strongsville, Ohio-Strongsville) have all posted scoring times at the MAC championship level and will look to play key roles throughout the season.
BREASTSTROKE
Linn expects team co-captain Chelsea Allard (Walnut Creek, Calif.-Lake Forest, Ill.) and senior Lindsey Kolar (Makanda, Ill.-Carbondale Comm.) to mentor sophomore Vanessa Weidner (Greenville, Ohio-Greenville Senior) and freshman Alexa Piranian.
BUTTERFLY
“Co-captain Elisa Torres (Antioch, Calif.-Deer Valley), Samantha Nameth (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor), Morgan, and Gingher will be joined by freshmen Copeland, Swartz, and Richardson in the 100 butterfly,” said Linn. “Elisa, Paige, Jackie, and Meghan will be the 200 butterfly representatives for the team in 2010-11.”
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEYS
MAC finalists Emig and Partridge will return in the 400 IM. Swartz, Copeland, and Kalinosky all seem poised to contribute in the 200 and 400 IM according to Linn.
DIVING
Last year's Diving Coach of the year, Head Coach Buck Smith, will return four divers for the 2010-11 season, while bringing in one freshman to the roster. Melynee Saya will be the lone rookie for the Green and White. Smith expects her to utilize her gymnastics skills to develop into a successful diver.
“She was a high level gymnast that hasn't had much diving experience,” said Smith. “She has a lot to learn, but she can spin fast. She will be a strong contributor to the team in the future.”
The Eagles return All-MAC second team selection Danielle Hulvey (Pickerington, Ohio-Pickerington Central), who took second in last years MAC Championships in the one-meter diving event. She will be joined by teammates Kelly Hendricks (Schaumburg, Ill.-Conant), Christina Nunez-Wood (Denver, Colo.-Bear Creek), and Lesley Vizurraga (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Forest Hills Central), who all placed in the top-eight at the conference championships last season for the one-meter event.
“All of our returning athletes are expected to have a strong season,” said Smith. “All of our divers worked very hard in the offseason to come back in shape for the long diving season.”
The women's swimming and diving teams will face a competitive schedule this year to help prepare for the conference championships. The schedule includes the usual strong MAC component, plus powerful non-conference foes such as Purdue, along with a challenging line-up for the EMU Invitational. The 2011 MAC Swimming and Diving Championships will be hosted by Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. The three-day event is slated to start on February 23, 2011.
EMU will kick off the 2010-11 season this Friday, Oct. 29 at Jones Natatorium when they host the Bobcats of Ohio. The MAC dual meet is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
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