The women's swim team will be looking to move up from the No. 4 position they've occupied the last two years when they host the 2001 New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday through Saturday (Feb. 15-17) at Alumni Pool.
This year's title is wide open as defending champion Hamilton will not be attending the meet. The Lady Continentals will be competing in the New England Small College Athletic Conference championships at Wesleyan. Ithaca, which finished second last year, Hartwick (third), Union (fourth) and Rensselaer (seventh) are the four teams expected to challenge for the crown in this year's 14-team field.
Le Moyne and Nazareth, which placed fifth and seventh, respectively, a year ago, are considered dark horses. “This is a wide open meet,” said Union head coach Judy Wolfe. “The top six teams have a nucleus of strong swimmers but none of them have an overpowering lineup.” Union, which won the title in 1990 and again in 1994, has finished fourth the last two seasons.
swims the backstroke and butterfly
The Dutchwomen's championship hopes will depend on the performance's of the team's middle distance freestylers. According to Wolfe, her team should do wellin the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle events as well as in the 200, 400 and 800 free relays. “The relays are worth 64 points each while an individual winner earns 32 team points,” Wolfe explained. “How well we finish will depend on the outcomes of the freestyle events.”
swims the backstroke and butterfly
Senior co-captain Rachel Miller (Auburn, NY/Auburn) and sophomore Lauren Wander (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill) along with freshmen Kathryn Stevens (Clinton, NY/New Hartford) and Seana Phillips (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) will make up Union's three freestyle relay teams and provide most of the point production during the individual events. Wolfe also expects junior Sara Ellman (Waylen, MA/Wayland) to do well in the one and three meter dives.
swims the freestyle events
Trials begin each day at 10:30 a.m. with the finals starting at 6:30 each evening. An all-session pass is $15.00 with a $3.00 charge for single-session passes. Tickets can be purchased at the door.