Swimming #7 at Miami (OH), just like Roethlisberger

Author: Jake Cohen

The members of the Middlebury women's swimming and diving team returned from the University of Miami (Ohio) this past Sunday evening after their most successful showing at the NCAA national swim meet in the College's history.

The women placed seventh overall out of 52 teams, just a few spots behind fellow NESCAC competitors Amherst and Williams - which placed second and fifth respectively.

"It was an unprecedented weekend of success for the NESCAC," said Middlebury head coach Peter Solomon.

The star of the meet, once again, was Marika Ross '08, who defended her national championship in the 200-yard butterfly, successfully capturing her fourth title in four years. Ross placed second in the 100-yard butterfly as well, only behind a NCAA record-setting finish by Ava Kiss from The College of New Jersey.

Katie Soja '10 had tough competition from her fellow teammate Ross, but swam an impressive race to earn 13th place in the 200- yard butterfly and Honorable Mention All-American honors.

Kenyon College set the tone at the start of the competition by winning the first relay, and eventually dominated the remainder of the competition. The Kenyon Ladies captured their 22nd title in the last 25 years and 50th overall.

The four Middlebury swimmers who made up the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relay teams - Emily MacDonald '11, Pam Chatikavanij '08, Katie Remington '10 and Ross - each received All-American honors.

The 200-yard relay finished seventh overall in the opening race of the meet. Meanwhile, the 400-yard relay barely missed the podium by capturing fourth position.

Seven other Middlebury swimmers had strong finishes to cap off a historic season. Alanna Hanson '08 finished 10th in the one-meter dive and 11th in the three-meter dive and was named an Honorable Mention All-American.

Sara Cowie '08 ended her college career with a 16th in the nation in the grueling 1,650-yard freestyle distance event.

It was not just the seniors with impressive finishes, though. First-years Jessie Ward and Annie Friedlander swam the 200-yard medley relay along with Catherine Suppan '09 and Chatikavanij and came in 10th - good enough for All-American honorable mentions.

Suppan also headed the 400-yard medley relay and captured a 10th-place finish with teammates Katie Chambers '08, Ross and MacDonald.

The 800-yard relay team of Chambers, Cowie, Ross and MacDonald also had a solid contribution to the team's success by placing ninth overall in the field of 15.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of the championships was the strength of the NESCAC conference.

A total of 12 national titles out of 20 events were won by NESCAC teams or individuals and every single national award, including NCAA Swimmer, NCAA Diver, Swimming Coach and Diving Coach of the year, all went to NESCAC athletes and coaches.

Though the meet was a success, it is always sad for many of the swimmers to reach the end of the season, and for some the end of their careers.

"We had so much fun but it is sad to think that our seniors won't be with us next year," said Remington. "We will miss them, but we have learned so much from them and will do everything we can to fill their shoes."

After the women went first, now it is time for the men's team to compete on the national stage. Peter Bell '08, John Dillon '10, Kevin O'Rourke '09 and Zach Woods '09 will compete this Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the men's NCAA championships back in Oxford, Ohio at the University of Miami's (Ohio) swimming complex.