Nov 11, 2013
Coming out of a season full of both unsettling defeat and ultimate triumph, the Williams women’s swim team looks ahead to the upcoming year with excitement and determination. With their freshly minted batch of 11 freshmen, the Ephs reflect upon their last season, while also eagerly awaiting the intensity of the new one.
The 2012-2013 season witnessed huge successes on the women’s side, as the team dominated traditional opponents such as Amherst and Wesleyan during the dual meet season. After posting a 9-1 dual meet record, with the only loss coming at the hands of Division I opponent Fordham, the team approached NESCACs with confidence. Unfortunately, despite the team’s best efforts, the title went to Amherst for the first time in thirteen years. However, the Ephs put in significant work between February and late March and took fourth at NCAAs in Shenandoah, TX, beating out Amherst (6th).
The Eph women bid farewell to a powerful senior class, all of whom will be missed for their contributions both in and out of the pool. Caroline Wilson, whose dominance on both the NESCAC and national scale has become somewhat legendary, finished her career last year with a total of 11 NCAA titles. Her absence in the distance freestyle and IM events this year will not go unnoted by coach, team, and fans alike. The squad also lost other top performers such as Kate O’Leary and Kelsey Roggensack, both of whom graced NCAAs with their presence all four years of their careers. The loss of their consistent dominance in the butterfly events, along with their classmate KC Ha’s, is certainly to be taken into account during the upcoming season.
While the graduation of class of 2013 cannot be overlooked or taken lightly, the squad has both maintained and gained a solid set of heavy hitters. Two of this year’s captains, Aly Levine and McKenzie Murdoch, made notable contributions to last season’s fourth place NCAA title. Levine placed 9th in the 100-yard butterfly last year in Shenandoah in her NCAA debut, while Murdoch placed 7th in the diving competition. Their leadership both in the pool and on the boards will be key during the rapidly approaching competitive season.
Junior Michelle Higgins an NCAA qualifier a year ago returns to combine with Murdoch for a potent diving duo.
Junior Sarah Thompson will also return to the Williams swimming stage, coming off of her second NCAA title in the 200-yard freestyle as well as a host of other individual and relay victories. Thompson’s power in the pool and as a team leader will provide extra fuel to the team’s intensity, already sparked by last year’s loss to Amherst at NESCACs. A strong junior and sophomore class, complemented by the large influx of talented freshmen, will solidify the team’s continued depth and potential for winning.
Head coach Steve Kuster notes that overall, this year’s team is a very young one: “We graduated one of the best classes to ever swim at Williams. This team has some areas of strength, but ultimately we will need to rely on team depth, every member contributing, if we have any chance of regaining the NESCAC title.”
Kuster also commented on his careful selection of competitive Division I opponents for his team during the 2013-2014 dual meet season. This year, the women will be competing against programs such as Boston College, Boston University and Fordham, as well as outside-the-NESCAC competitor and Division III powerhouse MIT. “The idea about competing against Div. I teams is to get out of the league and see some different, and most of the time, more difficult and experienced competition. I like the idea of being pushed, even if the result is a loss. I believe it prepares us well for the rigors of championship competition, especially at NCAAs.”
Such preparation will indeed be necessary for the team’s reclaiming of the coveted NESCAC title. Still scalding from last year’s loss, both staff and team are willing to commit themselves to a long and challenging season to be ready for the championship. Amherst will be considered the clear favorite after winning the NESCAC title last year, and after graduating a class that in no way matched the Williams one in talent or points. The Ephs have a battle ahead of them.
Says Kuster, “I believe the team is motivated to start a new NESCAC winning streak, but will need to bring that motivation to practice every day. The road will not be easy, but I look forward to an exciting year.” And an exciting year it promises to be, with the constant threat of Amherst pushing the team to new heights in both the dual meet and championship seasons.
After a week and a half of grueling practice capped by the annual intra-squad meet, the team eagerly approaches its first dual meet of the season. The meet will be held at Springfield College on Friday, November 15th at 6:30 PM.
The above is a press release taken from the Williams Athletics Website.
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