STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut women’s swimming and diving team kicks off its 2015-16 season on Friday when it hosts Yale, Central Connecticut and Rhode Island in a non-scoring quad meet at the Wolff-Zackin Natatorium. The action is scheduled to begin at noon.
The Huskies are looking to build off their strong 5-1 overall record and second-place finish at the American Athletic Conference Championships last year. Connecticut won each of its final three meets, which helped senior Taryn Urbanus (Quincy, Mass.) and junior Alexandra Butera (Havertown, Pa.) both earn Female Diver of the Week honors at the end of the season.
Urbanus posted the top score in the B-Final (280.25) in the 1-meter and placed third in the finals of the 3-meter after totaling a score of 314.20 in the championship. Her efforts throughout the year helped her qualify for the 2015 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Greensboro, N.C.
Last season, UConn had nine athletes receive All-Conference honors, including Urbanus and juniors Jaimie Lynn Brookover (Cherry Hill, N.J.), Jordan Drake (Marietta, Ga.), Margot Manning (Frederick, Md.), Sophie Nothnagle (Victor, N.Y.), Tara O’Prey (Ridley Park, Pa.) and Christine Pedersen (Vinterbro, Norway).
Pedersen earned multiple individual championships at the 2015 Norwegian Short Course Nationals in March before successfully defended her titles in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke events at the 2015 Norwegian National Championships in July.
Saturday’s meet marks the second-straight year that CCSU, Yale and URI have made the trip to Storrs for the scrimmage. The Huskies and Bulldogs will also face each other in December during the regular season.
Connecticut’s men’s swimming and diving team will join the women’s squad on Saturday, Oct. 17 at noon for the Huskies’ Alumni Homecoming Meet.
Swimming news courtesy of UConn Swimming & Diving.
