Women's swimming qualifies for NCAA championships
Heather DeSantis
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Sports
The Wittenberg Swimming and Diving Team has seen great success this year, breaking 15 records at the NCAC championship. In addition to breaking those records, one Wittenberg swimmer automatically qualified for the national NCAA Championship meet, and six more individuals and six relay teams make "B" cuts, which are provisional and still may qualify them for nationals.
Last year, junior Taylor Smith qualified for Nationals; this year, junior Adeline Brym has qualified for Nationals with an automatic qualifying time in the 200 meter backstroke of 2:11.90. Brym's family, and sister, who also went to Nationals during her time at Wooster, anxiously waits for the day to cheer her on.
To automatically qualify for Nationals one must make the A cut. A cuts are standard qualifying times set by the NCAA. Any swimmer who qualifies for the meet may swim a maximum of three individual events and four relay events.
B cuts are at large bids, ranked fastest to slowest.
"I was a lot more focused this year. My first two years I was really learning the ropes," said Brym. "This year I had a much stronger desire to make Nationals."
Brym worked with her coaches, Natalie Koukis and Alex Dolgov, staying after practice and having them carefully watch her turns and stroke. With critique from her coaches, a stronger sense of diligence, and support from her teammates, Brym had qualified for Nationals.
"Adeline worked extremely hard this year and was able to put all of the pieces of her preparation together to have several amazing conference performances, highlighted by her automatic qualifying time in the 200 backstroke," said Koukis. Brym will spend an extra four weeks training, which will consist of running, swimming, and strength training.
She is more than happy to extend her season and represent Wittenberg.
"I am just one person on the team. The team as a whole did phenomenal at conference with earning 15 records. My success is based off of my training and teammates," said Brym.
"Her dedication to the program and her team, extra attention to detail, and motivation to reach her potential really paid off, and it was a very exciting highlight to one of the most successful conference meets in the program's history," said Koukis. "We are looking forward to the NCAA Championship meet next month, and hope that some of our other team members who have met provisional qualifying standards might be invited to the meet as well."
Last year, junior Taylor Smith qualified for Nationals; this year, junior Adeline Brym has qualified for Nationals with an automatic qualifying time in the 200 meter backstroke of 2:11.90. Brym's family, and sister, who also went to Nationals during her time at Wooster, anxiously waits for the day to cheer her on.
To automatically qualify for Nationals one must make the A cut. A cuts are standard qualifying times set by the NCAA. Any swimmer who qualifies for the meet may swim a maximum of three individual events and four relay events.
B cuts are at large bids, ranked fastest to slowest.
"I was a lot more focused this year. My first two years I was really learning the ropes," said Brym. "This year I had a much stronger desire to make Nationals."
Brym worked with her coaches, Natalie Koukis and Alex Dolgov, staying after practice and having them carefully watch her turns and stroke. With critique from her coaches, a stronger sense of diligence, and support from her teammates, Brym had qualified for Nationals.
"Adeline worked extremely hard this year and was able to put all of the pieces of her preparation together to have several amazing conference performances, highlighted by her automatic qualifying time in the 200 backstroke," said Koukis. Brym will spend an extra four weeks training, which will consist of running, swimming, and strength training.
She is more than happy to extend her season and represent Wittenberg.
"I am just one person on the team. The team as a whole did phenomenal at conference with earning 15 records. My success is based off of my training and teammates," said Brym.
"Her dedication to the program and her team, extra attention to detail, and motivation to reach her potential really paid off, and it was a very exciting highlight to one of the most successful conference meets in the program's history," said Koukis. "We are looking forward to the NCAA Championship meet next month, and hope that some of our other team members who have met provisional qualifying standards might be invited to the meet as well."
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