News
Swimming & Diving 2009-10 Season Preview
Date Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Posting Categories: Athletics News;Swimming & Diving
Caitlin Urciuoli '10 and Kaira King '13. ©Risley Sports Photography.
October 29, 2009
Simmons Swimming & Diving is preparing to open the 2009-10 season and return to competition after a successful 2008-09 campaign. Last winter, the Sharks captured the 2008 GNAC Championship—the fifth title in a row for Simmons, and the seventh in eight years for the program. Simmons also finished in 11th place at the NEISDA Championships, after qualifying a record 13 athletes for the meet.
Second-year Head Coach Mindy Williams, the 2008-09 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Swimming Coach of the Year, will look to lead the Sharks to another conference title in 2009, and another strong showing at New Englands. Williams and the Sharks will push for a strong dual meet season, and aim to remain undefeated in the conference.
Swimming
Leading the Sharks are senior captain Brittany Torelli (Waterbury, Conn.) and senior captain Caitlin Urciuoli (Wethersfield, Conn.), along with returning sophomore Stephanie Bitzas (Westfield, Mass.) and junior Nellie Jackson (Dorchester, Mass.).
Torelli, a breast and free specialist, placed 13th in the 200 Breaststroke, 14th in the 100 Free and 14th in the 100 Breaststroke at New Englands during the 2008-09 season. She ranked second on the points list for Simmons during the dual meet season. Torelli was named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team last season, and earned Simmons “Shark of the Week” honors twice for outstanding performance and exceptional spirit. She will lead the team in the breaststroke events this season.
Urciuoli played a strong role on the team last season as one of the Sharks’ top butterfliers. She placed 11th in the 200 Fly at New Englands, and was named to the GNAC All-Tournament team for her role on the winning 800 Freestyle Relay at the conference championships. Urciuoli was the third-highest point scorer for the Sharks during the 08-09 season. In addition to her role in the butterfly, Caitlin is in position to be the top distance swimmer for Simmons this season.
Bitzas returns to the team to lead the backstroke and IM events. Last season, she dropped 8 seconds in her 200 Back, and was able to secure 18th place at New Englands for her performance. Jackson is poised to be one of the top sprinters in the butterfly and freestyle events, and is expected to score significant points this year.
“Our returning athletes are looking as strong in October as they did in January of last year,” said Williams. “And the rookies are keeping up.”
The team will welcome several new faces to the pool. Freshman Alyssa Musket (Lincoln, R.I.) is poised to be one of the top sprinters for the Sharks. She will round out a competitive 200 Freestyle Relay and contribute to the team’s depth in the 50 and 100 Free.
Joining the team is Junior Virginia Bette (Southbury, Conn.), who will make an impact in the freestyle events. Freshman Anastasia Lyapina (Stoughton, Mass.) joins the team with a speedy sprint backstroke. Freshman Liz Zamagni (Chelmsford, Mass.) will be a contributor in the breaststroke events.
The Sharks graduated five seniors (Keri-Ann Arsenault, Jenny Erviti, Erica Boswell, Julia Morrison and Julia Herman) in 2009, all of whom were New England qualifiers and significant contributors. Arsenault was a two-time GNAC Swimmer of the Year and received all-NEISDA honors for several top-6 finishes at New Englands, and will leave tough shoes to fill. “The records that she set during her collegiate swimming career will undoubtedly leave the incoming distance swimmers something to work towards,” said Williams.
“In the first few weeks of practice, I can already see the athletes coming together as a team,” said Williams. “They are pushing each other, encouraging each other and finding rewards in swimming fast.”
Diving
Simmons Diving, led by senior captain Heather O’Connell (Longmeadow, Mass.), will boast tremendous depth. All of last season’s divers will return to compete in 2009-10, including junior Meredith Wish (Brockton, Mass.), junior Amanda Dirksmeier (Marshfield, Mass.), and sophomore Alyssa Rizzo (Attleboro, Mass.).
Wish “has some of the best voluntary dives on the team,” said Diving Coach Erin Rowe, and is aiming to make her debut at New Englands in February. Dirksmeier, a second-year diver, is coming into the season with a strong list, and with one of the best pikes on the team. She finished in the top ten at New Englands last season, and is hoping to improve her finish. Rizzo, also a second year diver, adds even more depth to the team. Her tight tucks and fast flips give her an edge against opponents.
“This is perhaps one of the strongest diving teams in the history of the program, certainly the strongest in my six seasons at Simmons,” said Rowe.
Among the new faces are freshmen diver Curry Girr (South Portland, Maine), the former Maine State High School Diving champion, who will be a threat on one meter. Freshman Kaira King (Las Vegas, Nev.) joins the team with a full dive list on 3-meter, as well as a fearless demeanor. King “will surely surprise coaches and divers in the conference. Watch for her to be a top scorer,” said Rowe.
Simmons Swimming & Diving will open the 2009-10 season on Saturday, October 31, when the Sharks host the Westfield State Owls at 1:00pm at the Holmes Sports Center Natatorium.