Women
Junior Brittany Sasser set two NCAA records last year in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke. Sasser, Julie Kim '08, tri-captain Margaret Ramsey '07 and Meaghan Stern '09 were national champions in the 800- meter freestyle relay. The women are looking to repeat as champs and break the NCAA record they missed by mere tenths of a second last year.
With the strength of last year's squad returning and the addition of strong first-year swimmers, the women are in perfect position to continue their success. "[The diverse first-year squad] is expected to have big showings in the distance freestyle, sprint freestyle and all the distances of breaststroke and butterfly," said tri-captain Piper Pettersen '07.
The first-year squad includes Anna Haring, who has "been standing out in practice and should be a great distance swimmer this year," according to Ramsey. Led by Head Coach Nick Nichols, who was named NCAA Women's Coach of the Year at nationals last March, the women are aiming to break the streak Williams College holds of never having lost at their home pool.
"It was only three years ago that we ended their 18-year winning streak which was the longest standing streak of any Div. III sports team, male or female,"Patterson pointed out.
"Everyone across the board is stepping up and working their tails off which is great to see and huge for team morale," added Ramsey. The women look to compete in their first home meet on Nov. 20 against Colby College, with the meet beginning at 2 p.m.
Men
With their only regular season loss coming against Williams last year, the men are returning from a strong season and gaining a few talented first-years this winter. Tad Homchich '10 is "one of the hardest working sprinters I have ever seen," according to team captain Ethan Treat '07. "[I know] full well that this kid will have records in the near future."
Homchich is joined by first-year Hunter Mims who is also looking strong and should make a difference in the pool this year. Standout swimmer Darryl Weimer '10 "is one of the fastest backstroke and butterflyers on the team coming in," added Treat. With a strong group of returning swimmers and many promising first-years stepping in, the team is looking confidently to the future.
For now though, the men are looking at short-term goals, and taking it one step at a time. "I want all of the swimmers to focus on their performance, not just in the meets, but in every practice and dry-land," said Treat. "The outcome of our efforts will be seen when we win Little Threes."
The men will also host their first home meet on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. against Colby. This season marks the 100th anniversary of men's swimming at Amherst.
NESCAC Notes
Williams claimed the NESCAC Championship for both the women's and men's team, and Amherst took home a third-place finish in each last season. Middlebury narrowly took second place in the women's competition and Tufts University placed second in the men's.