Q&A With Swimming and Diving Head Coach Jen Wallace
1. WHAT ARE YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS ON HOW THE SEASON HAS STARTED
AND WHERE YOUR TEAM STANDS RIGHT NOW?
The season thus far is going quite well. We are going into winter break with a 4 and 1 record on the men's side and 3 and 2 for the women. We finished out this semester's meets with great finishes at the Blue Devil Invite. The meet also included two team records and numerous top ten performances, not to mention the personal bests from a variety of team members.
2. WHO IS PERFORMING WELL FOR THE TEAM?
We have a number of people who are performing well. For the men, Anthony Spoto and Dustin Fairchild are swimming faster at this point in the season then they have as freshman or sophomores. Joe Reese and Chirs Dunleavy have really stepped up as freshman leaders in and out of the pool. Missy Pilewski has provided consistent points in the breaststroke events and won both the 100 and the 200 at the Blue Devil Invite. Leah Haller continues to score points in the free events. Newcomers Colby Seibert and Sara Breese are setting the bar high in their respective events, both setting team records.
3. HAS ANYBODY REALLY SURPRISED YOU WITH WHAT THEY BROUGHT BACK FROM THE OFFSEASON/PRESEASON?
Jason Hall has worked hard to get back to competition form after 3 years off, and has impressed the coaching staff with current performances. Mary Baumer has also come back from a sabbatical from swimming to swim a number of personal bests.
4. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE HEADING INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON?
The biggest challenge we face moving into the second half of the season is the break from school. With student-athletes going home for part of the winter break we do not have control over their practice. After a week in Florida with the team we come back to school and face some of our toughest dual meet competition. And are only back three and a half weeks before championships!
5. WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION FOR THE END OF THE SEASON AT THE AMCC CHAMPIONSHIPS?
It is my expectation to not only produce multiple individual AMCC Champions, but to win the Championship for both the men and the women. On top of which it is our goal to prepare the athletes to swim personal and season bests. We also aim to qualify individuals and relays for ECAC Championships.