Oct. 5, 2007
Records are meant to be broken, which is something the Missouri women's swimming and diving team has taken to heart as of late. Between the men and women's programs, an unprecedented 26 records were broken this past season. This is a vast improvement over the one record broken during the 2004-05 season and the 15 set the following year.
"We made history last season rewriting the record books," Head Coach Brian Hoffer. "Given the talent and commitment level of this team, there is no reason we shouldn't repeat this success again this year."
Junior and 2007 NCAA qualifier Jill Granger, who owns three distance records (500, 1000 and 1650 free) and the 400 IM mark at MU, will be a force for the Tigers this season and one to watch for a possible return trip to the NCAA Championships. Fellow junior Lori Halvorson, who holds the school record in the 200 free and 200 IM and is second all-time in the 200 back, will be a major contributor as well.
Yet another junior will be stealing the show in the diving well. 2007 NCAA qualifier Kendra Melnychuk is looking to add to her school record on the tower this season and certainly has the ability make it happen.
Sophomore standout Colleen Gordon, who ranks second all-time in five events after her first season with the Tigers, looks to clinch a record of her own in 2007-08.
On the whole, there is no lack of talent or depth on the Mizzou roster. Eleven Tigers sit in the MU all-time top-five in at least one event and three others rank in the top-10. This depth will give Hoffer an incredible number of options during the dual season and beyond. The team's loaded arsenal, in addition to its sincere commitment to success, will make for another exciting year for the Tigers.
"With all that we have going for us right now, there is no doubt in my mind that we can build on what we accomplished last season. The challenge will be living up to our potential. If we can do that, watch out," Hoffer said.
Sprint Free Now that Shannon Hogan has departed from the Tiger ranks, a number of returners will be counted on to replace her speed and consistency in the sprint events. Top-10 all time senior Katie Gates will be relied upon to add her veteran presence in the 50 free, as will junior Lauren Cox. Junior Allie Bennett improved significantly during the 2006-07 season and both she and Kristin Viger, who is swimming well after fighting back from a shoulder injury last year, will be expected to contribute. Hoffer will look to talented freshman Margaret Eppright to create some waves here as well. In the 100 free, Cox will be the go-to-woman followed by Bennett, Halvorson and the ever-versatile Gordon. Newcomer Francie Szostak can also step in to offer her speed if necessary.
Mid-Free According to Hoffer, there is quite possibly more depth in the 200 and 500 free in the program now than ever before. School record holder Halvorson and her second-place counterpart, Gordon, are the unquestionable leaders in the 200 portion of the event. Other returners that can serve as difference makers include top-10 all-time junior Carly Sullivan and classmate Caroline Bellis. Szostak will afford Hoffer further flexibility in the event. Granger, the program's record holder, will lead the Tiger charge in the 500 free, a race she participated in at this past year's NCAA Championships. Second on the all-time list is Gordon who, along with Sullivan and junior Kirsten David, will look to complement Granger's efforts. Lauren Lavigna, who boasts top-five all-time caliber times in both events, will add even greater depth to the Tigers' mid-free line-up.
Distance Free The Tigers' triple threat of Granger, Gordon and Sullivan will surely make headlines in the distance events this season. Granger owns the MU mark in both the 1000 and 1650 free, with Gordon standing in second on the all-time lists. Helping balance the attack will be David, who made solid strides in the pool this summer, and junior Coralie Baumann. Hoffer will also be able to utilize the versatility of Lavigna and fellow freshman Anastasia Sotiropoulos, who is perhaps the most multi-talented newcomer on the team. While this is not the strongest event depth-wise, the aforementioned swimmers are very solid and can go the distance for the Tigers this season.
Back Hoping to build on the success she garnered during a strong junior campaign, including a top-five all-time finish in the 100 back, senior Taye Patterson will take to the pool as Mizzou's leading backstroker in 2007-08. Classmate Sarah Menefee and Cox will also be counted on for their experience. Given her status as second all-time in the 200 back and seventh in the 100 portion of the event, Halvorson will be able to leverage her talents to aid in the Tiger cause as well. Lavigna and Szotak's versatility may provide Hoffer additional options in the 100 and 200 back, respectively.
Breast Senior and Olympic trial qualifier Jill Bastien is by far the team's leader in the breaststroke category. Given her solid results throughout the 2006-07 campaign, Hoffer can rest assured that the proven senior's consistency will serve him well this season. Juniors Erin Yeager, who like Bastien is top-three on the all-time 200 list, and a speedy Kayla Bowcutt will be key here as well. Redshirt sophomore Amy Hukill is also expected to be a strong option. Sotiropoulos and fellow newcomer Morgan McCleery round out the breaststroke line-up for Mizzou. The event is a strong one for the Tigers, but it will be up to Hoffer to decide who can come in and make the necessary difference after the solid two and three spots.
Fly A senior coming into her own in the 100 fly and poised to give the Tigers a decisive edge in 2007-08 is senior Arica Jacinto. She will have quite a bit of help though in Gordon, who is also top-five all-time in the event. Given her talent level, an individual Hoffer expects big things out of is sophomore Molly Bollen. The clear-cut leader in the 200 fly is the multifaceted Granger, although classmate Baumann improved considerably this past season and always came up big when it counted. A triad of juniors, including Bennett, Bellis and Sullivan, can step in to challenge the competition as well. Look for newcomer Melissa Jamerson, who owns the fastest time in the 200 of anyone on the team coming out of high school, to also make a splash.
IM Given his athletes' versatility, Hoffer will have multiple options at his disposal in each of the IM events. School record holder Halvorson will shoulder a lot of the muscle in the 200 portion of the race, as will Gordon and Bastien. Sotiropoulos, whose best event may indeed be the IM, has the capability to produce for the Tigers as well. On the 400 side, Granger laid claim to the school mark this past season and is the undeniable favorite to take the lead again in 2007-08. Bastien and Halvorson, who join Granger in the top-10 record books, are also expected to put their versatility on display in lighting up the pool. Baumann, Menefee and Sotiropoulos round out Mizzou's stacked list of possibilities.
Diving On the diving front, Mizzou will have its ace and one of the program's best-ever divers, Kendra Melnychuk, back in the diving well this season. Diving coach Jamie Sweeney feels the 2007 NCAA qualifier, who is only a junior, is twice is good as she was at the end of her sophomore campaign. Sweeney can also take comfort in the fact that Melnychuk will be able to share her expertise with the team's three newcomers: Colleen Burke, Jenny Franzone and Abby Zepeda.