Season Preview - Fly and IM
10/16/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 16, 2009
This is part four of a five-part series previewing the Maryland women's swimming and diving season.
Tuesday - Freestyle
Wednesday - Backstroke
Thursday - Breaststroke
Today - Fly and IM
Monday, Oct. 19 - Diving and Overview
The Maryland women's swimming and diving team arguably returns its best bunch of swimmers in the fly and IM events in 2009-10.
"The fly and IM are two great events for us because we have team record holders coming back in all those events," head coach Sean Schimmel said.
Jen Vogel is the defending ACC champion in the 200 fly after winning the event at the championships last season. Vogel established three individual team records as a junior in the 100 fly (52.95), 200 fly (1:55.81) and 200 IM (1:59.65). She also qualified for the NCAA Championships in all three events and earned All-America status with a 14th-place finish in the 200 fly.
The talent doesn't stop with Vogel. Maryland is thrilled to also return Patty DeScenza, Nina Rossi, and Meggie Schmidt.
DeScenza was an individual point scorer at the championships after finishing fifth in the 200 fly (1:58.62) and tenth in the 100 fly (54.41) and joins Vogel as a co-captain for the second-straight season. Rossi had top-25 finishes in the fly events at the conference championships. Schimdt picked up top-25 finishes in the ACC Championships in the 200 fly and 400 IM as only a freshman.
"It's not just Jen but we have the strength of Patty and Nina and then Meggie as well," Schimmel said. "It really adds to our depth there."
Senior Laura Wright will also add a veteran presence in the IM event as well as newcomers Addison Koelle and Chelsea Eberwein.
"With the 200 IM, Jen's our team record holder and NCAA qualifier, it's a strong event for us," Schimmel said. "But we have to make some gains there. We need people like Laura, Patty and Nina, with their third event being that IM, to have that be more impactful at dual meets and at the NCAA level."
Schmidt sits at the top of the depth chart in the 400 IM with Hamilton and Rossi close behind.
Jess Crawford is also poised to improve on her sophomore campaign in the 100 fly as well.
