University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Swimming & Diving Season Preview
10/07/2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond women's swimming & diving team opens its 2011 campaign this weekend when it takes on Old Dominion and host UNC Wilmington at the Seahawk Natatorium in Wilmington, N.C. The two-day tri-dual meet is set to begin on Friday at 4 p.m. and concludes with the second day of action on Saturday at 10 a.m.
With the season now upon us, we take an in-depth look at the Spider swimming & diving squad by academic class and preview the team's rigorous 2011 slate as it vies for its 10th Atlantic 10 title in 11 years. We also feature a video preview that includes interviews with both coaches and players to get their take on the Spiders and the challenging season that lies ahead.
SENIORS
The senior class is largely comprised of a strong corps of freestylers.
Charlotte Brackett (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) will highlight the class in
the sprint and middle-distance free events. The program record-holder in the
200 free who is also top-five all-time in the 50 and 100 free, Brackett will
not only be key in the individual races but in the Spider relays as well. She
has consistently anchored four of the Spiders' five relays since her freshman
campaign and will continue to be a force on the final leg once again in
2011-12.
Liz Cohan (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) and Michelle Johnson (Levittown, Pa./Nazareth Academy) will look to build on their strong junior campaigns in the mid-range free events after establishing themselves in both the 100 and 200 a season ago. Lexi Kuska (Westfield, N.J./Westfield Senior), who is currently No. 4 in the program record books in the 500 free, will bolster the team's efforts in the mid-range free races. After clocking top-five times in the 1000 and 1650 free, she will also serve as an asset in the distance free events as well as in the 800 free relay.
Aiding the Spider cause in the fly events will be Jill Smaniotto (Millville, N.J./Millville), who has particularly asserted herself in the 100 fly. She has also emerged as a force in the 100 back and will contribute in the medley relays. While classmate Mary Anne Lerro's specialty has traditionally been in the breast events, she has the ability to offer further versatility in other events her senior season as well.
Head Coach Matt Barany on the seniors: "The seniors have been one of our strongest classes to date. They have consistently brought us good results and have really stepped up as leaders when it has counted. As one of our larger classes, they are quite versatile and will be especially strong in the freestyle events. We will look to them to continue leading us not only by their efforts in the pool, but as leaders in other ways as well."
JUNIORS
While only two swimmers make up the junior class, the proven tandem of
Mina Vucic (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson) and Lauren Hines (Roanoke, Va./Hidden
Valley) will be key for the Spiders this season. Vucic had a breakout sophomore
campaign this past season, finishing the year ranked eighth in the 50 and 100
free. She will look to continue climbing the program charts this season as she
helps anchor the Spider sprint free and fly corps while also making continued
contributions in the 400 free relay.
The Spiders will also look to Hines to light it up in the lanes once again this year. Hines has added immense depth in the sprint- and mid-free events as well as in the backstroke. The 2011 NCAA qualifier and reigning A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Performer owns the Spider records in the 100 and 200 back and is ranked among the program's all-time top three in the 50, 100 and 200 free.
Barany on the juniors: "Mina and Lauren are an incredibly strong pair. Mina had a breakout sophomore year. She ended last season by getting her name on the record board in the 400 free relay, and we've seen the same excitement from her throughout training this fall. I think her confidence and determination has grown immensely from then until now. And Lauren's young career already speaks for itself, as she's qualified for NCAAs and made Olympic trial cuts. She continues to get stronger and better each day, and we know that we can count on her in the back and free events."
SOPHOMORES
The Spider sophomores have quickly set themselves apart as an
exceptionally versatile group. Laura Jordan (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep) currently
ranks ninth all-time at Richmond in the 100 fly and will be featured in both
the sprint free and sprint fly events. She will also provide added depth to the
relays moving forward this year.
Mariel Kush (Souderton, Pa./Souderton) returns for her sophomore season primed to further make her mark in the mid-range events, specifically the 200 fly and 400 IM. Kush clocked the third-fastest time in program history in the 200 fly and in the process also set a new freshman record in the event.
After breaking each of the program's distance records a year ago as a freshman, Jessie Krebs (Towson, Md./Towson) will look for continued success again this year. Despite being a distance specialist, Krebs can also step in to swim the IM and mid-free events.
Perhaps the squad's most versatile swimmer, Mali Kobelja (Fort Wayne, In./R. Nelson Snider) rounds out the Spider sophomore class. Crowned the A-10 Championship's Most Outstanding Rookie Performer this past year, Kobelja swam to seven golds at the conference meet, including individual wins in the 200 IM and both breast events. She enters the season second all-time in the 200 breast and 200 IM, while also holding freshman records in both events. She is currently in the all-time top 10 in the 100 breast, 100 back and 400 IM as well.
Barany on the sophomores: "The sophomore made an immediate impact on the program last season and we look forward for more of the same this year. Laura and Mariel have a year of experience under their belts now and will continue to grow this season. Jessie is arguably the hardest worker on the team day to day, while Mali has displayed such versatility in her short time with the program. These four will be big for us this season."
NEWCOMERS
The Spiders welcome eight newcomers to the team this season. The new
contingent consists of seven freshman swimmers, sophomore transfer Erin Brady
and diver Katherine Cook. The team also brings in a new assistant coach in
Travis Stensby this year.
Barany on the newcomers: "There is a definite upside to having such a large incoming class." This is a group that if they stick together can make a lasting impact on our program. While certainly unique as a collective whole, they have already fit right into our culture here. We look forward to what they and Travis will bring to the table this season."
DIVING
Comprising the Spider diving corps are junior returnee Carinne Mettus
((Philadelphia, Pa./Neshaminy) and freshman Katherine Cook (Kenilworth,
Ill./New Trier). After joining the team in what was her first season in 2010-11,
Mettus has gained the experience necessary to continue building on the success
established a year ago. The junior is comfortable on both the 1- and 3-meter
boards and has added to her repertoire with a range of new dives to display in
the coming season.
Cook has the potential to make an immediate impact for the Spiders both in the regular season and looking forward to the conference championship. Her sharp acumen and willingness to work on whatever necessary has set her up for a great deal of potential success in just her first collegiate season.
Head Coach Erika Matheis on the divers: "I am very excited about the upcoming season as we continue to grow as a diving corps. I think that the lessons learned from last year have translated into confidence on the diving board and the drive to learn new dives. We have been fortunate to acquire a new diving board and video equipment, both of which will help our girls excel on the boards. I have been very proud of both Carinne and Katherine in our training up to this point, as their camaraderie and the bond they've formed with the swimmers have been unbelievable."
"Having a season under her belt has boosted Carinne's confidence in her diving ability. She is comfortable on both boards, eager to learn new dives and has served as an excellent role model for Katherine. Her devotion to the team and to diving is refreshing. I think Carinne will be surprised with how much she has accomplished by the end of the season. Like Carinne, Katherine also has a great deal of potential and can really step in and make an impact for us this season. She has a spunky attitude as well as a drive to succeed, evidenced by the fact that at every practice she makes a point to pick out her worst dives and work on them in order to improve. Katherine will grow a lot over the course of the dual season, which will then set her up for what we hope is a lot of success at A-10s. We will use each meet as a learning opportunity to improve for the next."
SCHEDULE
The Spiders have scheduled what is expected to be one of the program's
toughest slates yet. The team opens the season on the road with a tri-dual meet
with UNC Wilmington and Old Dominion in Wilmington, which will take place over
two days from Oct. 7-8. The women then return home a week later to host William
and Mary on Oct. 15 before hitting the road to square off against George Mason
on Oct. 28. After opening the fall in dual fashion, the Spiders wrap up the
first semester of action with their first invite of the season at Maryland's
Terrapin Cup.
The squad opens the second half of the season on Jan. 6 with a dual meet against Rhode Island, which will take place during its training trip to Sarasota, Fla. The Spiders are right back at it a week later in a four-way dual meet at Pittsburgh that features Villanova, Maryland and the host Panthers. After returning to the friendly confines of the Robins Center Natatorium for a home meet against Rutgers on Jan. 21, the team concludes its regular-season slate with a three-way dual against Duke and Clemson in Durham, N.C. The Spiders will then head to Buffalo looking to lock up their 10th A-10 title in 11 years at the conference championship from Feb. 22-25.
Barany on the 2011-12 schedule: "While we always look to be our fastest at season's end, we will swim fast this first semester in what essentially begins as a tour of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). After our meet in Wilmington, we'll look to continue our tradition of performing well at home in a dual against William and Mary. We'll then travel to George Mason before heading up to Maryland for an invite with teams from some of the nation's top conferences.
The second semester is very different, as we'll be equipped to
challenge our top performances and best times. We start with a dual against
Rhode Island on our training trip before beginning one of the most difficult stretches
we've ever had with a big meet at Pitt, back home vs. Rutgers and then duals
against Clemson and Duke in Durham."
Players Mentioned
