The Jeffs had several outstanding swimmers take individual victories on each of the three days of the tournament, but there were not enough swimmers near the top of the list to tip the balance in Amherst’s favor for the championship title. First-year standout Kendra Stern received NESCAC Swimmer of the Meet honors for her performance throughout the weekend, becoming the second first-year to ever do so. Captain Brittany Sasser ’08 earned the Four-Year Swimmer High-Point Award for tallying up the most points scored in the NESCAC meet by a senior swimmer.
Winning the 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyles, Stern claimed individual victories for the majority of the freestyle events at the meet. Her times automatically qualified her for the NCAA Championships. In addition, her times in the 100- and 200-yard freestyles broke NESCAC records.
Sasser’s winning performances in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes automatically qualified her for the NCAA Championships also. Furthermore, Sasser led each and every one of her group efforts to claim victories in the 400-yard medley relay and the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay. The 400-yard freestyle relay squad consisting of Stern, Sasser Lisa Pritchard ’08, and Kendra Stern ’10 established a new NESCAC record and broke the Wesleyan Naratorium pool record.
Despite the successful performances of a few stellar swimmers, the Jeffs could not overcome the depth and the consistency of the Ephs, nor could they edge out Middlebury. The Amherst women claimed a place on the podium, taking third place at the NESCAC Tournament.