If ever there was a doubt about it, Cardinals can swim, and they do so in record time. The women’s swimming and diving squad has started off its season on a high note, beating NESCAC rival Bates 122-121.
After the close finish against Bates, the Cardinals dropped 80-163 to the Amherst Lord Jeffs, but not without making history first. Showing true determination, Joanna Tice ’07 broke a twenty year-old team record in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25:13, .09 seconds faster than the previous record. The Cardinals season record stands at 1-1
“We’ve had an awesome start to the season so far. Our first meet with Bates showed that we already have what it takes to pull together as a team. We knew our relays had to get first and second in order to win the meet, so that’s what we did,” said tri-captain Katherine Clark-Spohn ’05, “All the excitement and support on the deck got our relays going, and we showed Bates that we were serious about wanting the win.”
The Cardinals were trailing in this meet until the end, down 119-107 through twelve events. It was up to the two 400-yard freestyle relay teams to decide the meet. Chris Andrews ’07, Laura Ouimette ’06, Clark-Spohn and Sarah Myksin ’06 came in first and with a time of 3:50.26. Eliza Jones ’07, Laurel Daen ’05, Mikki Columbus ’05 and Tice finished in a close second with a time of 3:50.95.
Other top finishes for Wes were Stephanie Lasby ’06, with an 11:20.26 in the 1000m freestyle; Tice with a 25.59 in the 50 m freestyle; Columbus, with a time of 1:02.70 in the 100m backstroke; Andrews with a 5:26.83 in the 500m freestyle; and Amanda Gordon ’07, with a 1:11.96 in the 100m breaststroke.
“The team is off to a strong start. This is the first time in many years that the women won their competition against Bates. Overall the teams are looking much stronger and deeper and we anticipate great improvement and growth this season,” said women’s and men’s swimming Head Coach Mary Bolich.
Against Amherst, however, the Cardinals did not find themselves in such a victorious situation. Second and third place finishes hindered the Cardinals standings.
Only the 200 Medley Relay consisting of Columbus, Gordon, Jones and Tice and Tice’s record breaking race were recorded as first place finishes for the Cardinals.
The Lord Jeffs went on to improve their record to 2-0.
“The most remarkable thing about this meet was that is was a sure loss, numerically there was no way to come out on top, but everyone swam like it was a close race, as a result we had many people significantly beat their times from two days ago, said tri-captain Katie Schoendorf ’04.
”However, the highlight was watching Joanna Tice destroy the team record for the 50 free. She absolutely deserves all the success she is garnering she works so hard and she is damn fun to be around.“
”It is very exciting having such a powerful team. We have a core of speedy upperclasswomen reinforced by some incredible new [freshman], which combines to make Wesleyan women’s swimming and diving a force to be reckoned with this year,“ said tri-captain Bryn Sewell ’04.
The next meet for the Cardinals is Dec. 5 at the Freeman Athletic Center against Williams.
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