Women's Swimming Prepared for First Annual Dartmouth Invite

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Women's Swimming Prepared for First Annual Dartmouth Invite

1/26/2011 2:20:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Dartmouth

Event: Dartmouth Invitational
Teams Competing: Dartmouth, Boston College, Bryant, Maine and UMass
Location: White River Junction, Vt. - Upper Valley Aquatic Center
Dates: Friday, Jan. 28, 5 p.m. & Saturday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m.

HANOVER, N.H. — On Jan. 28 and 29, the Dartmouth women's swimming and diving team will be hosting the Dartmouth Invitational at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center. It is the first annual Dartmouth Invitational and four schools will be competing besides the Big Green; Boston College, UMass, Maine and Bryant. The event starts Friday at 5 p.m. with five events, and will continue on Saturday at 10 a.m. The diving portion of the competition will take place at Karl Michael Pool in Alumni Gym.

Scouting the Big Green
Dartmouth enters the weekend with a 3-4 record in dual meets this season. Last weekend, the Big Green suffered a 131.5-106.5 loss at Princeton, and a 159.5-139.5 loss at New Hampshire. The team has not competed against any of the four incoming schools. Dartmouth has multiple swimmers to keep an eye on at the Invitational. The swimmers to watch in the freestyle are Christine Kerr (Gainesville, Fla.), Kirstin Hocheder (Tucson, Ariz.) and Mary Van Metre (Edina, Minn.). In diving, Katy Feng (Westford, Mass.) is the Big Green athlete to watch. In the individual medley, Danielle Kerr (Gainesville, Fla.) is Dartmouth's top performer. In the backstroke, Meredith Sweeney (Hinsdale, Ill.) is one to watch. Charlotte Williams (Boca Raton, Fla.) is the swimmer to watch. In the butterfly, Kelsey Pinson (Portland, Ore.) and Caitlin Nicholson (Ithaca, N.Y.) are the Big Green's best.

Scouting the Eagles
Boston College has competed in 12 meets this season. The Eagles have already gone head-to-head with Bryant and UMass. Against Bryant on Oct. 15, Boston College earned a 149-108 victory. Andrea King was named the outstanding performer for her first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle. In the meet at UMass on Jan. 21, the Minutewomen won convincingly, 216-78. Overall, the Eagles are 7-9, and haven't earned a victory since defeating Providence on Oct. 27. Tom Groden is the head coach, and is in his 36th season.

Scouting the Minutewomen
UMass enters the weekend with a 3-2 mark in dual meets, and has competed in nine events overall. The Minutewomen earned wins over Army, Stony Brook and Boston College. The team lost to Boston University and Northeastern. On Jan. 21, the Minutewomen hosted Boston College and earned a 216-78 victory. Senior Jessica Starosielec led the team, winning the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke. She also placed third in the 200 IM. The team is coached by Bob Newcomb who is in his 27th season.

Scouting the Black Bears
The Maine squad enters the weekend with a 5-5 mark on the season. The Black Bears won their last two meets, beating Bates and Providence. The team already competed against Bryant twice this season, winning both times. In the first meet on Oct. 23, senior Caitlin Shelley won the 50-yard breaststroke, setting a new school record in a 163.5-124.4 victory. A week later on Oct. 29, the Black Bears won by a score of 146-116. Sophomore Jennifer Trodden led the team with a pair of wins in the 200 IM and 200 breaststroke. Susan Lizzotte is in her second season coaching the team.

Scouting the Bulldogs
Bryant comes into the weekend having won two of its last three dual meets. On the season, the squad is 5-9-1. The Bulldogs have already competed at Boston College and against Maine twice. In their first meet of the season the Bulldogs competed at Boston College and lost, 149-108. Freshman Taylor DeBever was a bright spot, winning the 100 freestyle and placing second in the 100 backstroke. Maine won both meets against Bryant. DeBever is one to watch for the Bulldogs. She has already set the all-time Bryant mark in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Sophomore Casey Ostrander also is one of Bryant's top swimmers, holding five school records. Katie Cameron is in her sixth season coaching the team.