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BY MELINDA PETRE

In print | Published February 28, 2008

The men’s (6-4, 5-1) and women’s (6-5, 4-3) swim teams concluded an impressive season with second place finishes at the Centennial Conference Championships, held Feb. 22-24. Both teams brought home 24 medals and numerous records, and the women’s team will send two swimmers, Anne Miller ’10 and Jennie Lewis ’08, to the NCAA Division III championships.

“Swimming is not a traditional team sport, but there is no way that we could have gotten second place without all of the team there. Every race matters, and I’m really proud of how the team rose to the occasion,” Doug Gilchrist-Scott ’09 said. “It shows the conference that we are a force to be reckoned with,” added Sterling Satterfield ’11.

Gilchrist-Scott (6 medals, 2 school records) led the men’s team with a 50-yard freestyle gold medal and school record. “I really wanted the 50 freestyle record. I had been so close the last two years, and this year I finally got it. Also, because it was the first day, it was great motivation for the rest of the weekend,” he recalled. Gilchrist-Scott also took bronze in the 100-yard freestyle, his second school record.

Satterfield (5 medals) also brought in big points for the men’s team, winning the silver in the 200-yard breaststroke and the bronze in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley. “It is always good to see the hard work that you put in pay off, especially when you have a medal to show for it,” he said.

Distance swimmers Stephen Shymon ‘09 (2 medals) and Andrew Frampton ’08 (2 medals) contributed with a two-three finish in the 1650-yard freestyle. "I am wondering why a merciful God would ever make me a distance swimmer. I would kill to have Doug’s schedule. [Nonetheless] I am really glad with my performance last weekend. Add to that my love of big, shiny objects and you have a recipe for a great time," Frampton added.

The men’s team picked up big points with bronze medal-winning finishes in four relays, the 200-yard freestyle relay (Santiago Lombo ’11, Tom Kelleher ’09, Michael Ahn ’10 and Gilchrist-Scott), the 200-medley and 400-medley relays (Lombo, Satterfield, Brian Roth ’09 and Gilchrist-Scott) and the 400 freestyle-relay (Ahn, Frampton, John Heagy ’08 and Gilchrist-Scott).

Additionally, the women’s side picked up silver medals in the 200-yard freestyle relay (Franny Zhang ’08, Julia Wrobel ’10, Chelsea Brett ’11 and Jennie Lewis ’08) and the 400-yard medley relay (Allie Jordan ’09, Stephanie Su ’11, Anne Miller ’10 and Brett). They won the bronze in the 800-yard freestyle relay (Allison Bishop ’11, Zhang, Brett, Miller) and the 200-yard medley relay (Jordan, Su, Miller, Lewis).

Miller said that she enjoys the cooperative element of relays, which she described as her favorite events. “Swimming is viewed as an individual sport, but the team comes through [in relays]. To time your starts so you don’t get disqualified, you really have to know your teammates,” Miller said. Jordan said that the team’s energy was immediately visible. “From the start, we were all on fire,” she said.

The women’s team was led by strong individual performances from Miller (6 medals, 2 school records, 2 Centennial Conference Meet records, 1 Centennial Conference record and 2 NCAA qualifying times) and Lewis (4 medals, 1 school record, 1 Centennial Conference Meet record, 1 Centennial Conference record and 1 NCAA qualifying time).

The two stars tied for the gold in the 100-yard butterfly, an outcome that was thrilling for both swimmers. “The best part [of the meet] was tying Jennie. I think after [the race] we were giggling for ten minutes,” Miller said.

“I’ve exceeded my goals and expectations for myself - sharing the victory and records and NCAA qualifying time in the 100 fly with Anne was an amazing feeling, highlighted by the moments after touching the wall at the end of the race when Anne grabbed me into a hug and seconds later Casey and Allie joined the group hug,” Lewis said.

“I’m especially proud of Jennie,” Casey Osborn ‘10 said. "She doesn’t know this, but I’ve been looking up to her since probably before I even got to Swarthmore and read about her in the brochures," she said.

Their time qualifies both Lewis and Miller to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships. Miller also qualified with her gold medal winning, Conference Championship record setting time in the 200-yard butterfly for the second consecutive year. The women’s team continued to dominate in this event, sweeping the medals, with Osborn and Lewis finishing 2-3.

“There are two results in a meet that I’ve always wished for: tying for the top spot with one of my teammates and sweeping the top places in an event. We did both this weekend, placing 1-2-3 in the 200 fly and tying for first in the 100 fly. These as well as uncountable other team successes this weekend made for a perfect finale for my last conference championship,” Lewis said.

“This year [going to Nationals] will be fun with Jennie. Training alone last year wasn’t so fun. I was excited to have Jennie with me at a 6:45 a.m. practice [on Tuesday],” Miller said.

“I hope to be in the office to witness [coach] Sue [Davis]’s frustration as she tries to fit two more All-American plaques on her wall,” Osborn said.

Allie Jordan ‘09 (4 medals, 2 school records) contributed silver medals in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke. "As coach Chris [Daly] said this weekend, ’rip your heart out and throw it into the pool.’ That’s what every single person did in every single race. I’m really proud to be part of the Swarthmore swim team," Jordan said.

“Centennial Conferences is the highlight of the season, three days with the team, your best friends on campus, everyone behind your lane cheering, it makes you realize how much these people mean to you,” Miller said, adding that the championships successes were rewarding “individually and for the team as a whole.” Frampton expressed his hope that subsequent swim seasons will be as fulfilling as this one. “Swat swimming has been a blast, and I can only hope that the people who come after me can say the same,” Frampton said.

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