WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – Williams College is sending 15
student-athletes to the 2009 NCAA Division III Men’s and
Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, which will be held
at the University of Minnesota’s University Aquatic Center in
Minneapolis.
Hosted by Macalester College, the national championships are set
to begin Wednesday, Mar. 18 and conclude Saturday, Mar. 21. Live
results, Web casts, and photos are available at the Macalester
College Website.
Head coach Steve Kuster has 11 women competing at this
year’s national meet one year after finishing 5th in the
nation. Senior Amanda Nicholson, the defending national
champion in the 400 IM, is one of the Ephs back for more. She is
seeded first in the 400 IM after winning the NESCAC championship in
that event last month. The Ephs are stack in the 400 IM, as
sophomore Ellen Ramsey is seeded fourth and first-year Bonnie
Patchen is seeded second. Ramsey finished fifth in the nation last
season.
First-year Logan Todhunter set a national Div. III record in the
200 fly at the NESCAC championships, becoming the first Div. III
swimmer to break the two-minute mark. She is seeded first in that
event, and second in the 100 fly. Patchen is seeded second in the
200 fly.
“While we have some people seeded very high, I think holding
seed places in this meet will be a challenge,” Kuster said.
“There are too many variables to offer a solid prediction,
but I think our women will be striving to finish in the top four.
All of our relays have a chance to be very competitive.”
Others competing for the Ephs include senior Courtney Asher (100
and 200 breaststroke), junior Lisa Cucolo (200 IM, 100 breaststroke
100 fly), junior Christina Metcalf (500 free, 200 free, 200
breaststroke), junior Sophia Sequeira (200 free), sophomore Erin
Altenberger (500 free, 1650 free, 100 backstroke), sophomore
Jillian Hancock (100, 200 and 500 free), and first-year Carolyn
Geller (50, 100 and 200 free).
On the men’s side of the ledger, Kuster brings just four
student-athletes to the pool. Senior Norman Scott, who two years
ago won the national championship in the 100 fly, will swim in that
event as well as the 50 free. Senior Tyler Bonewell will
participate in the 100 and 200 breaststroke as well as the 200 IM.
Senior Tim Ryan, participating at nationals for the first time,
will swim the 100 and 200 butterfly, while sophomore Gary Roberson
will swim the 200 free, the 500 free and the 1650 (mile).
“We have four good individual swimmers going there, but I
think scoring at this meet is at a while new level and will have to
challenge each one to perform their best,” Kuster said.
