Head Coach Mike Clark of the Marymount swim teams has announced the latest addition to his coaching staff, naming Sarah Hitchens an assistant coach entering the 2017-18 season.
“We’re excited to have Sarah,” Clark said. “She’ll be a great addition to the program. She brings a wealth of knowledge and competitive swimming experience to the Saint program as a two-time Olympic Trial Qualifier and seven-time NCAA Division I Honorable-Mention All-American.”
Hitchens comes to the Saint program after a successful collegiate career at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. A seven-time NCAA Honorable Mention All-American and 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier, she graduated with marks in program history that will hold for years to come.
In her final season, she set times in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle to land her second in program history in both races, notching a time of 21.99 in the 50 free and 48.36 in the 100 free. She also completed the 100-yard backstroke in 52.65 this past year to move her into fifth place in program history.
In her sophomore season, she cracked the top 10 in the 200-yard backstroke (no touch) with a time of 1:56.98.
Beyond her success in the pool, she was a three-year member of the Carolina Leadership Academy where she served as a mentor/counselor to a small group of freshman student-athletes as they adjusted to college life, athletically, academically, and socially.
“I want to thank Coach Clark and the rest of the staff for the opportunity to coach at Marymount University,” Hitchens said. “I am honored and excited to work with the student-athletes to help them reach their full potential in and out of the pool.”
Hitchens graduated from UNC in May with degrees in both English and Communications with a concentration in Media and Production. She was also a two-time member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Honor Roll in 2016 and 2017. A West Chester, Pennsylvania native, Hitchens attended Villa Maria Academy for high school where she was an eight-time PIAA State Champion, holds four state records, and was a member of teams which won three state high school championships.
Press Release courtesy of Marymount Athletics.
