University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Swimming Looks for Consecutive Titles at the A-10 Championship
02/18/2003 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 18, 2003
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UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - After setting ten new program records, the Spiders are ready to defend their Atlantic 10 title. Richmond (8-5), which earned 2002 A-10 Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Student-Athlete of the Year honors, looks to make a stronger mark this weekend, February 20-22, at the 2003 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championships.
"This year is a lot different from last," stated Head Coach Matt Kredich. "I feel like we have a bull's-eye on our backs. We are the team everyone is aiming for. When you are new, you don't really have a personality and everyone is nice and welcoming. Now they just want to beat us. If someone was beside a Richmond swimmer last year they didn't think much of it, this year they are going to do their best to beat the Spider. I really like being in that position, and I think our team is excited about it too."
Of the ten broken records, most are due in part to sophomore Mary Adams (Williamsburg, Va.) and freshman Brooke Boncher (West Newbury, Mass.). Adams has set five on the season along with earning consecutive Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week for the weeks of November 18th and 25th.
In an explosive freshman campaign, Boncher has earned CollegeSwimming.com's Swimmer of the Week twice (Jan. 8 and Jan. 13), along with Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week for February 3rd. For the week of February 3rd, she also garnered A-10 Rookie of the Week to notch her tally to four. Boncher has set five records, sometimes re-breaking her own marks.
Elizabeth Cook (Rockville, Va.) and diver Katie Shipe (Mendon, N.Y.) will also be looked to after having solid senior seasons. Cook has 40 top-five finishes, with most of them in the top-three. Shipe has posted solid dives to help Richmond garner points.
"Mary Adams, Brooke Boncher have been our top performers all year and we are expecting great things from them," said Kredich.
Richmond will defend their title in Buffalo, N.Y. from Thursday, February 20 through Saturday, February 22.
