Bigelow announces squad for NESCAC meet

Last season, the women's swimming and diving team finished in sixth place at the year-end NESCAC championship meets. They were led by then-junior Mika Sumiyoshi, the only Jumbo to qualify for the national meet, then-sophomore Erika Wietz, and then-freshman Meghan Wallach, both of whom missed nationals by fractions of a second.

This season, the squad looks to improve its standing in the conference and send multiple women to nationals for the first time since 2001, with Sumiyoshi looking to qualify for the fourth consecutive season.

After a season of watching her swimmers in their respective races and determining their niches on the squad, coach Nancy Bigelow made her decision yesterday afternoon as to which 24 women she will bring to NESCACs. The group is well rounded with multiple swimmers from each class, including six from this year's freshman class. The freshmen include sprinters Dierdre Cannell and Alaina Thiel and distance racer Jess Bollinger, all of whom have consistently won all of their races this season, along with classmates Eva Johnson, Angela Chou and Shanti Sattler.

The sophomore class will be represented by sprinters Wallach, Katie Mims and Beth Lopez, distance swimmer Kristen Hyland, and diver Jessica Schwartz.

The juniors heading to Connecticut will be Suzi Ascoli, Katherine Ferguson, Sarah Ferranti, Alicia Flanagan, Kate Sweeney, Hollen Spatz, and Wietz, and the seniors making their final trip to a NESCAC meet will be tri-captains Sumiyoshi, Amanda Bloom and Kierstyn Thayer, along with classmates Bridie McElroy, Roxanne Kritzer, and diver Beth Wecksell.

The Jumbos begin "shaving and tapering" this week, when they will gradually reduce the amount they swim over the next 12 days in order to be completely relaxed for NESCACs a week from Saturday.

"We are just starting our taper now," Sweeney said. "This is probably the hardest point in our entire season."

Aside from doing well at the meet, one of the Jumbos' major goals this season was team unity; they want to be the most spirited team in the conference.

"We've made some team goals, and most people are in agreement that we want to be the most spirited team on deck, making sure to cheer for everyone who's up at the blocks," Sumiyoshi said. "I think being aware of what people are swimming, and what their goal times are is important as well, and of course, many of us want to achieve our own best times."