Terps Prep for NCAA Championships

March 17, 2010

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After a stellar showing in the Atlantic Coast Conference championships, four Maryland swimmers will compete in a total of ten events, including the 400 free relay, at the 2010 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, beginning Thursday.

Annie Fittin, Ginny Glover, Megan Lafferty and Laura Wright will represent Maryland at the upcoming championships, held at Purdue University.

Individually, Fittin will compete in the 50 free, 100 back, and 100 free after qualifying for the championships in the 100 back last season. Wright, a fifth-year senior, joins Fittin in the 50 free, and Glover's trio of B-cut showings qualified her for the 200 free, 100 back and 200 back. Lafferty, a freshman, will compete in her first championships in the 100 back and 100 free.

All four swimmers helped the Terps qualify for the 400 free relay (3:17.79) where they boast the 14th best time in the group. Their NCAA B-cut times in the 200 free relay, 800 free relay and 200 medley relay also landed them a spot in the championships.

"These four ladies absolutely earned the opportunity to go NCAAs and compete with the best," head coach Sean Schimmel said. "They have been so tough all year during their competitions and backing it up with their training. They have the desire and willingness to win and get things done, and I am looking forward to a great week at the NCAA championships.

"After having Annie and Jen (Vogel) represent Maryland last year at NCAAs, we had a goal to bring more student- athletes and relays to the championship. This year we have Annie, Ginny, Megan and Laura representing Maryland and our team. The ladies accomplished that goal and we are continuing to build a great program here at Maryland."

Below is a rundown of Maryland's four NCAA participants.

Annie Fittin
Sea Girt, N.J. • Junior
Peddie School

Events/Qualifying Times: 50 free - 21st - 22.48; 100 back - 14th - 53.06; 100 free - 28th - 49.22

Fittin Q & A:
Q: You qualified for the NCAA championships a year ago, how do you think that has prepared you for your return trip this season?
Fittin: Last year was definitely a learning experience for me. I swam one event and learned a lot from being on the deck and watching other swimmers handle themselves, including my teammate, in a high pressure situation. This year I'm going into the meet with more confidence and understanding of what to expect.

Q: You guys had a great ACC championships and certainly accomplished one of your team goals by qualifying more swimmers for NCAAs than last season. What do you attribute that to?
Fittin: Day in and day out, we constantly prepare ourselves for ACCs, whether it's in the pool or not and we always have our goals in mind. The girl's team has awesome dynamics. We love seeing each other succeed so we push each other to do great things. I think that has a lot to do with our success because we're not just swimming for ourselves, we're swimming for everyone on the team.

Q: Now that you have qualified, what are some of your goals at this year's NCAAs?
Fittin: I would love to become an All-American in both the relays and individually. To be eligible to become an All-American, you have to make it back and swim at night. I would absolutely love to have that opportunity.

Q: Laura, Ginny and Megan are all making their first trip to NCAAs as Terps this season. As a veteran of the NCAAs, what one piece of advice would you give to them?
Fittin: A piece of advice is to stay calm, know that you are an accomplished great swimmer and you've worked just as hard as everyone else to be there, so don't be intimidated. Also, I live by the words, "Try your hardest, and that's all that matters!"

Ginny Glover
Ellicott City, Md. • Sophomore
Wilde Lake HS

Events/Seeding/Qualifying Times: 200 free - 30th - 1:46.55; 100 back - 29th - 53.63; 200 back - 39th - 1:56.65

Glover Q & A:
Q: You had a good year coming in as only a freshman, but this year it seems like you have really had a breakout season. What did you do in the offseason to get you to this point?
Glover: Over the summer, I swam about four times a week and then would run and do core work about five times a week. I was trying to focus more on staying fit and in-shape, rather than train for swimming. I'm a strong believer in giving the body a break from a sport for a brief season. After getting a mental and physical break from swimming over the summer, I came back in the fall ready to hit the pool and train hard.

Q: Which event are you most looking forward to?
Glover: I'm most looking forward to our 200 free relay and 400 free relay. The four of us are all strong sprint freestylers and it's really thrilling when we all get together to represent our team.

Q: What is it like to know you will be representing your home state of Maryland at the national level?
Glover: I think it's really exciting to represent my home state because I know that all of my friends and family are going to be home watching after being able to come to all of my home meets throughout the season.

Q: Now that you have qualified, what are some of your goals at NCAAs this season?
Glover: My goal for NCAAs is be able to qualify for finals and be named an All-American.

Megan Lafferty
Willow Grove, Pa. • Freshman
Upper Dublin HS

Events/Seeding/Qualifying Times: 100 back - 48th - 54.78; 100 free - 68th - 50.12

Lafferty Q & A:
Q: You are heading to NCAAs as only a freshman. A year ago, when you decided to come to Maryland, did you think that was a possibility?
Lafferty: I always hoped it would be a possibility, but knowing that it's one of the fastest meets in the world I was not going to get my hopes up. It was definitely something I was shooting for though.

Q: Annie (Fittin) qualified for NCAAs last season. Has she given you any advice as to what to expect?
Lafferty: She basically has just told us to get ready for some fast swimming. She also said the girls at this meet are going to be doing unbelievable things so just stay focused and have fun.

Q: What event are you most looking forward to?
Lafferty: I would say that I am most looking forward to the medley relay. We've never swam with this combination of girls in this relay before but I think that the results are going to be surprisingly good.

Q: You are on the 400 free relay with Laura, Annie and Ginny. Describe each one in one word.
Lafferty: Laura- strong Annie- impressive Ginny- dependable

Laura Wright
Longmont, Colo. • Senior
Skyline HS

Events/Qualifying Times: 50 free - 51st - 22.88

Wright Q & A:
Q: After injuring your shoulder two years ago, were you concerned that getting to NCAAs may no longer be a possibility?
Wright: Not really, a lot of swimmers have come back from shoulder injuries and been fine.

Q: Being the oldest of the crew, do you take it upon yourself to be a leader in practice and during competition?
Wright: The other girls are great leaders by nature and so there is equal leadership being spread around the group. We help each other make the most of the training because swimming with only three other girls is not easy.

Q: Which race are you looking forward to the most? Wright: All of our relays are so great but I think the 200 medley relay will be fun because we get to mix up the strokes and swim a stroke we wouldn't normally do.

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