After a four-day event, the Jays Varsity women's swimming team finished on top to seize their third straight Blue Grass Mountain Conference Championship Saturday, Feb. 16 over the Wingate Bulldogs. The team took it to a new level at the championship event, having many of the swimmers breaking not only season bests, but career records as well.
Junior Kate Hansen, freshman Michele Palopoli, junior Megan Zepp and junior Elissa Stautner captured first place in the 800 freestyle relay, for a season record time of 3:36.71. According to Hansen, "It was a really great meet for our team and it was a lot of fun."
The Blue Jays dominated in the 400 individual medley, taking gold, silver and bronze in the event with Hansen cutting her career best time to 4:38.45 also earning her one of her two first Blue Grass Championship titles. She was followed by freshman Mary Claire Kozlowski, who also set a career best time of 4:41.80. Freshman Caitlin Dennis finished third with a time of 4:42.02.
Other Lady Blue Jay events with outstanding results included the 200 backstroke where, on the last day of the championship, junior Erica Pakkala won the 200 for the third straight time at the Blue Grass Championships with a time of 2:07.12. Behind her were Hansen, sophomore Robin Schaffer and junior Megan Zepp to take third (2:09.38), fifth (2:12.38) and sixth (2:21.41), respectively.
The individual 500 freestyle event was another strong showing for the Lady Jays, who secured second through fifth with a season best time from Stautner (5:04.65), career best times from Hansen (5:10.54) and freshman Kathleen Heslin (5:14.25) and a season record breaker for Zepp (5:14.57).
Stautner won yet another title as well, claiming the 200 freestyle event a career best time of 1:54.60, leaving Zepp (1:58.13) and sophomore Katie Vance (2:00.36) to take seventh and eighth, respectively.
Freshman Meagan Heslin also had a great weekend; she won the 200 fly (2:07.96), followed by fellow classman Michele Palopoli in second (2:08.86). Among the many other stellar freshmen finishes at the BGMCC, Kathleen Heslin, sister of Meagan Heslin, won the 1000 freestyle event with a career best time of 10:39.36, followed by fellow freshman MaryClaire Kozlowski who finished second, also in career best fashion with a time of 10:45:23. Kathleen Heslin also took second place in the 1650 free with a time of 17:40:88. Freshman Michele Palopoli continued the impressive freshmen representation at the BGMCC with a second place finish in 58:65 in the 100 butterfly.
Though this meet was particularly impressive in comparison to last week's not-so-hot performance, overall the weekend blended well with a season of solid performances by the Jays. Though their 6-5 record this season may suggest otherwise, one has to keep in mind that the Division-III Jays have faced Division I opponents including the University of Maryland, Navy and the University of North Carolina.
Junior Megan Zepp said, "Because we swim against some teams that are not in our division or even our conference, our dual meet record doesn't reflect upon the overall success of the season."
The steady incline of the women's team is in part due to a quality coaching staff which includes five-time NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year, George Kennedy. Next to Kennedy stands assistant coach Ted Bresnahan and first year assistant coach Allie Foster.
Foster, a former Blue Jay, is a record setting, four-year All-American. Zepp expressed her confidence when discussing the newest addition to the coaching staff. "She [Foster] really understands the women's team and gives great balance to the program."
The upperclassmen also credit the team's success to the freshmen who have added depth to the team.
"The freshmen are all really fast swimmers and made the upperclassmen really step up for some healthy competition this season," Zepp said. "They hold a very promising future for the women's team."
As for the near future, the next stop for the Jays is Oxford, Ohio, where Miami University will host the NCAA Division III Nationals at Corwin Nixon Aquatic Center from March 14 to 16. Elissa Stautner, Meagan Heslin and Erica Pakkala have qualified for the meet, while others are still waiting to hear back.
