Badgers Set to Open Season
October 05, 2007 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Last season, the Badgers finished in 24th place at the NCAA championships. Ninth-year head coach Eric Hansen wants to see Wisconsin improve in the NCAA standings.
'We will have a solid mix of returning veterans that are coming off a very successful summer season combined with a very talented group of incoming freshmen, ' said Hansen. 'I'm excited about the versatility of our athletes in the coming year. We look to improve our relays and move up in the NCAA standings as well.'
Relays
All five of UW's relay teams competed at last season's NCAA championships and three of these relays earned points for the Badgers.
This year's team returns a number of veterans from last year's relay squads, including seniors Jackie Vavrek, Hannah McClurg and Kristy Brager, as well as juniors Christine Zweigers and Jen Illescas and sophomore Rosie Morahan.
The coaching staff will count on all of the relay teams, but look to the sprint relays to be large point contributers.
Freestyle
Coach Hansen sees Jackie Vavrek, a U.S. Olympic Trial qualifier in the 50-meter freestyle and Hannah McClurg as the main competitors in the sprint freestyle races. Jen Illescas and Gabby Maddelena will lead the distance freestyle.
The Badgers also will seek contributions from freshmen Maggie Meyer, Kelsey Gergen and Karlyn Hougan.
Backstroke
Even with the graduation of Susan Johnson, Coach Hansen still sees a lot of depth in the backstroke, 'We see sophomores Sara Goff, Kasey Carpenter, Candice Peak and incoming freshman Maggie Meyer scoring points for us in this stroke this year. '
Goff placed eighth at last year's Big Ten Championships and Meyer was the 2004 Minnesota State Champion in the100-yard backstroke.
Breaststroke
The Badgers will count on sophomore Rosie Morahan in the breaststroke. Look for sophomore Libby Brooks to also make contributions in the 200-yard breaststroke.
Butterfly
All-American Jenny Gelden and Katie Imhoff-Smith will guide this year's butterfly event. Imhoff-Smith finished sixth at the Big Ten Championships last year.
Hansen also sees junior Jen Illescas contributing points for UW in the 200-yard butterfly as she is coming off a very successful summer nationals meet.
Individual Medley
The Badgers expect contributions from Rosie Morahan, Jen Illescas and Libby Brooks in the individual medley.
Diving
Second-year diving coach Tom Michael will look to sophomore Jenny Hawkins to lead the diving squad. Hawkins competed on all three boards at the Big Ten Championships last year.
The rest of the team is made up of five newcomers'Jamie Hood, Darian Pearlmutter, Ciara Rinaudo, Sadie Rothstein and transfer Emily Cheffins. Hood was the 2007 Section Champion, Rinaudo was the 2005 Arizona Diving State Champion and Rothstein was a three-year lllinois Diving State Champion qualifier.
Wisconsin opens its season on Friday, Oct. 5 against UW-Green Bay in Green Bay, Wis.
