Wooster alumna Elizabeth Roesch captured a national championship in the 1,650 freestyle at the 2005 NCAA Div. III Championships.

Welcome back to the Scot Rewind, where WoosterAthletics.com is taking a look back at a big win, a monster individual performance, or a significant milestone corresponding with each week of the 2020-2021 academic year. Sixteen years ago, The College of Wooster's Elizabeth Roesch won the 1,650 freestyle at the NCAA Div. III Championships, becoming the third national champion in program history. The following is the recap from Roesch's national championship.

College of Wooster senior Elizabeth Roesch edged Emory University's Sam White by one-tenth of a second in the 1,650 freestyle during Saturday's NCAA Div. III Championships at Holland, Michigan, setting off Wooster's first national championship celebration in any sport since 1989.

It marked the fifth national title in the school's athletic history, as Roesch joined fellow swimmers Brooke Henderson (50 freestyle; 1989) and Stan McDonald (100 butterfly; 1979) as well as track & field's Lu Wims (discus; 1961) and the 1975 men's golf team.

Roesch's may go down as the most thrilling. Not only did she win the race by the slimmest of margins, but she passed up two of her competitors during the final 500 yards.

White held a three-second lead after 1,000 yards (10:21.70 to 10:24.69), when Roesch began to make her move.

"(Elizabeth) went out very controlled. Then at about the 1,000, she started sprinting under 31 seconds per 50," described Wooster swim coach Rob Harrington from the Holland Community Aquatic Center. "She started to catch up with them … kept catching them … and it came right down to the wire."

The key stretch for Roesch may have come between 1,100 and 1,200 yards, as she cut the gap by over a full second.

Roesch took her first lead at the 1,400-split (14:31.59 to 14:31.83), however, White had a lot of fight left in her. The two swimmers were actually dead even after 1,500 yards (15:33.55). Roesch regained the lead over the next 50 (16:03.80 to 16:04.28) and held off a charge from White over the final 100, as Roesch touched the wall in a school-record 17:03.70 to White's 17:03.80.

It took a moment for Roesch, who was in lane three, to realize she had outstretched White in lane one.

"I saw yellow going crazy," explained Roesch. "Emory also wears yellow. Then, I looked up and saw it was the Wooster group that was celebrating, and knew I won."

Although it could not be confirmed immediately, it is believed to be the closest finish in the 1,650 free at the NCAA Championships.

"It's got to be the closest mile ever in NCAA history," said Harrington. "We're pretty confident that it's the closest. I'm really proud of her."

Roesch's championship may also go down as one of the most unexpected, as she had struggled in her two previous events at the 2005 national meet, placing sixth in the 500 free (5:02.73) and not qualifying for the finals in the 400 IM (4:38.77) after entering as the No. 4 (5:01.20) and No. 3 seed (4:31.94), respectively.

Considering the meet she was having, Harrington was simply hoping for a top-eight finish Saturday.

"In my mind, it's probably the most inspirational swim of this meet, of my (coaching) career, and her career, and in Wooster swimming (history). To turn completely around over the last 24 hours, it's just absolutely amazing. I think she did the unthinkable."

Roesch's former coach and current Wooster athletic director Keith Beckett was on hand and added, "It was a privilege to have the opportunity to see Roesch conclude her Wooster swimming career with the ultimate achievement."

Roesch, who in February was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Year after winning three events at the conference meet, credited her national championship to a variety of people.

"I want to thank a lot my teammates for coming in and practicing with me over the last couple weeks, when they didn't have to. They also were sending me e-mails and communicating with me throughout the national meet. It was really neat that they were able to do that."

"Between the coaching and my family, they all made it happen together," she continued. "It's been a very nice group of people … very supportive."

Roesch's win boosted the Scots to a 24th-place finish with 41 total points over the three-day meet, while Emory University (399.5) knocked off Kenyon College (313) for the team championship.

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