Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
In one of their best meets of the 2011-2012 season, the Swarthmore Garnet (6-2, 4-2) were narrowly edged out by the Gettysburg Bullets (7-0, 5-0) by a score of (110-95) on Saturday afternoon at Ware Pool in a contest that came down to the final relay of the afternoon.
The women were fired up from the start of the meet when the team was graced by a senior-sung national anthem and kept up their energy until the final seconds of the 400 freestyle relay.
“The women had an absolutely fantastic meet. It was the closest that the team has come to beating Gettysburg in ten years,” Head Coach Sue Davis said.
Several swimmers swam season-best and career-best times including Rosalie Lawrence and Naomi Glassman ’12, Alice Wong ’13, Laura Fitzgerald ’14, and Supriya Davis ’15.
The team had several clutch victories in the meet, including double winners Davis, who smoked her opponents in both the 200 butterfly (2:07.54) and the 200 IM (2:12.13) and Kate Wiseman who had crucial victories in the 50 freestyle (25.17) and the 100 freestyle (54.44).
“Kate Wiseman is a machine,” Coach Davis said. “I hope she can win the 50 [freestyle] and the 100 [freestyle] at the conference meet.”
Two victories that were equally as important were wins by Erin Lowe in the 500 free (5:23.44) and Maggie Regan in the 200 breaststroke (2:30.82).
The women’s 400 medley relay (the team of sophomore Becky Teng, Regan, Davis, and Wiseman) was also very impressive, besting its Gettysburg counterpart easily with a time of 4:06.32.
Although the team was narrowly beaten, the team remained upbeat and positive thanks to the myriad great swims.
“I think it was really exciting, we came way farther than anyone expected us to. It was the narrowest point gap in the ten years. When we were a couple points ahead during the meet, we began to see our races in a different way and it gave us confidence,” Amelia Possanza ’12 noted.
Jackie Scala ’12 agreed.
“[Staying with] Gettysburg was a good thing to happen to us. They were a strong team, but it shows that we are also a very strong team,” she said.
The seniors also weighed in on their experiences as a class and what they were most proud of over their swimming careers.
Lawrence noted that “it has been a wonderful four years on Swat swimming. I have never met another team that could come close to matching the level of energy the team brings to swimming and to life. We are composed of a phenomenal group of people – everyone’s interesting both in and out of the pool.”
As for the coaches, they were extremely proud of the class of 2012 and acknowledged that they will be sorely missed next year.
“All of the seniors have improved, matured and given such great leadership over the years and I am eternally grateful to them,” Coach Davis said. “Coach Shaffer and I will miss them a lot.”
The work certainly isn’t over yet for the team though, as they will face Centennial Conference opponent Dickinson next Saturday in what looks to be another challenging meet.
“As the last duel meet, it is the last chance to get times going into Conferences,” Supriya Davis said. “I think a win would boost our confidence for Conferences, but I also think that no matter what the outcome of the meet is, we will still be ready to swim fast.”
And they will need to do just that. Several seniors, including Scala and Lawrence, believe that they can place within the top three teams at Conferences.
The women return to action on Saturday, February 4th against Dickinson College. Action is slated for 2:00 p.m.
