North Carolina State University Athletics
2005-06 Wolfpack Women's Swimming Outlook
10/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Oct. 5, 2005
Raleigh, N.C. - Coming off of a winning dual meet season and six wins, the most since 2003, the women's swimming and diving team will look to to build on last season's results after losing just one swimmer who scored points in the ACC last season.
"Our women's team had a great dual meet season," head coach Brooks Teal said. "I think we can continue that trend and keep improving as a dual meet team and hopefully that can carry over and build confidence in the ACC Championship."
SPRINT FREESTYLE
"Kerry Whitson had a very solid dual meet season and was a real leader for us," Teal said. Whitson will be counted on extensively, as she will lead the sprinters along with Jenny Bland. Tons of depth follows in this event, with Shannon Brewer, Emily Clabaugh, Melissa Jamerino, Kendall Smith and three freshmen - Martha Marino, Lucy Lindsey and Christine Craven.
MID-DISTANCE FREESTYLE
One of the stronger and deeper events on the team, the 200 freestyle group is again led by Whitson, with distance guru Lindsay Barwegen coming "down" to swim in her "sprint" event. Amy Baskwell, Clabaugh and Laura Neely will add depth, and it is probably Lindsey's best event. Two freshmen, Erica Smith and Kathyrn Creech, will play a role here as well.
DISTANCE FREESTYLE
Barwegen should once again be among the top freestyle swimmers in the conference. "She has the ability and determination to improve, and she trained well this summer," Teal said of Barwegen. She leads the distance group into the pool, and with Whitson, NC State returns tow returning ACC scorers. Baskwell, Neely, Claire Nicholls, Creech and Lauren Cranston will help in the 500 free as well. In the mile swim (1650 freestyle) Barwegen, Nicholls and Cranston will lead the way.
BUTTERFLY
The 100 butterfly group is deep and will provide some competition in these spots throughout the season. Victoria Niemeyer, Jamerino, Brewer and Lindsey lead the way with Kathryn Pegg providing a spark as a quality flyer. The 200 group will see Barwegen add her talents to the pool, and it is Pegg's best event. Niemeyer will also make an impact in the 200 fly.
BREASTSTROKE
Bland and Marino take the lead in the breaststroke event, which appears to be the thinnest area on the team. Coach Teal will really look to Marino to step up and provide a spark in the event as a freshman.
BACKSTROKE
Smith, the leading sprint backstroker a year ago, returns for her senior season and will lead the 100 back. Bland, Clabaugh, Cranston, Pegg and Erica Smith will provide the depth. In the 200 back, Jess Koenig brings a hard worker mentality to the table to the event, with Kendall Smith, Clabaugh, Cranston, Pegg and Erican Smith leading a hand in the event.
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Koenig leads both the 200 and 400 IM, with Bland and Pegg providing depth in the 200 and Barwegen and Creech holding down the 400 IM.
FREESTYLE RELAY
Because of a wealth of sprinter and mid-distance depth, there is a ton of competition in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, with Whitson playing a big role on every Wolfpack relay. Lindsey and Marino should contribute as freshmen to the 200 and 400. In the 800 freestyle relay, Barwegen, Whitson and Lindsey and many others can earn a spot in what should be the best relay event on the team.
MEDLEY RELAY
After Whitson nailing down the anchor freestyle leg, the other three spots are wide open. Look for coach Teal and the team to piece together the other legs throughout the season.
DIVING
Anytime you have a returning NCAA qualifier, you know diving will be a strong point. NC State has just that. Molly Culberson, the school record holder in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, returns for her senior year. "Going in to a dual meet with Molly, you know you are going to get points from your divers and that really helps your confidence as a team in winning these meets," Teal said. Natalie Swisher and Shelbey Kosova.
