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| Junior Kalla Sturonas is one of several Scots with NCAC championship-heat experience on this year's roster. The butterfly specialist has a pair of top-nine showings in the stroke, and Wooster's butterfly specialists combined for six championship-heat showings over the last two years. |
If the last two years are any indication, The College of Wooster women's swimming and diving team has returned to its consistent roots at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships as the Fighting Scots have turned in back-to-back fourth-place finishes, and for the first time since the 2003 and 2004 seasons, surpassed the 1,000-point mark at the league meet. Now, 15th-year head coach Rob Harrington will look to blend a mix of talented veterans with a deep first-year class, as the Scots are in search of their first top-three finish in the conference since 2012.
"We have a strong core veteran group that should have continued success and do a great job leading the young talent," summer up Harrington. "In terms of first-years, this is one of the strongest top-to-bottom classes we've brought in in a long time."
From the returnee standpoint, junior Emma Fikse leads the way, and the freestyle specialist has her sights set on a spot at the Div. III Championships, which would give Wooster a representative for the first time since 2014. Last year, Fikse turned in a remarkable NCAC meet with championship heat (top nine) finishes in the 100, 200, and 500 freestyles. Fikse, who broke Wooster's records in the 200 and 500 freestyles – and had NCAA Div. III "B" cut times in both – was just the second swimmer in program history to hit the wall in under five minutes in the 500-yard race.
Behind Fikse, butterfly specialists Maggie Layde and Kalla Sturonas give Harrington two swimmers capable of challenging for spots in the prestigious championship heat in both the 100- and 200-yard races. Layde's versatility carries over to other facets as well, with the senior contributing in the 500 freestyle and in relays.
In the freestyle events, Wooster had success in the distance events, thanks to strong showings by Fikse and Layde in the 500. Senior Sarah Padrutt complemented the duo well with a pair of 13th-place showings at the conference level, while classmate Samantha Wigley gives the Scots plenty of depth, especially when the 1,650 freestyle is on the schedule of events. Padrutt and Wigley will serve as the Scots captains for this year.
Last year, the backstroke and the breaststroke events were ones to keep an eye on, and that could very well be the case again this year. Sophomore Alison Hsu emerged as Wooster's top backstroke specialist last year, and her first-year culminated with a win in the consolation final of the 200-yard race at the NCAC Championships. In fact, Hsu's time of 2:09.41 ranked as the fourth-fastest in program history. Junior Rachel Mandel led the way in the breaststroke events, and her rapid improvement led to a championship-heat start in the 200-yard event with her 2:35.44 stacking up sixth in the league.
Among the returnees, Hsu will be backed up in the backstroke events by sophomores Sara Fikse, Nell Kacmarek, and Sarah Stutler, while sophomore Caleigh Balon will shoulder quite a heavy load in the breaststroke events during the fall semester. In January, the Scots will welcome back junior Allison Clough, who is currently studying abroad. Clough provided key points with top-16 showings in the breaststroke events at last year's conference meet, including a 12th-place outing in the 100-yard race.
In the sprints, Harrington projects to turn to sophomore Megan Gross, junior Annabelle Hopkins, and sophomore Avery Pearson to lead the way among the returnees. Gross and Pearson delivered breakthrough performances in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays respectively, while Hopkins came through with key points in the inaugural 100 individual medley, among other performances.
Sophomores Mady Ferguson and Vienna Howard round out the returnees on this year's roster, both of whom give the Scots significant depth across the board.
Wooster's talented first-year class is comprised of Anne Bowers, Brooke Brown, Claire Cerne, Leah Jorn, Larissa Lamarca, Hannah Langer, Gabija Liffick, Heidi Likins, Kate Murphy, Lexi Riley-DiPaolo, Michelle Sayre, Kera Sells, and Paige Sogandares. Additionally, sophomore Cleo Potter has joined the team as a diver.
Wooster's season opens with the Kenyon College relays on Oct. 14. The Scots will host five dual meets this season, and the annual three-day Wooster Invitational, set to take place Nov. 30 – Dec. 2.