Oct. 16, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
The 2008-09 Kentucky women’s swimming and diving team may have a new look, but expectations remain high for a team that ranked in the nation’s top-20 last season. UK graduates Heather and Jenny Bradford, two of the most prolific swimmers in Kentucky history, and, gone are veteran leaders Lauren Willis, Lindsay Myhre and Kari Retrum—all of whom earned All-America awards at least once in their careers. However, UK coach Gary Conelly remains optimistic as he looks to both veterans and newcomers to take their turns in the spotlight.
The 2009 senior class is expected to shine in their final competitive season wearing the Blue and White. Junior Megan Pulskamp enjoyed an outstanding sophomore campaign and will be asked to continue to improve upon her roles, and the reigning SEC Freshman Diver of the Year, Jessie Snowden, returns to the squad to lead the diving portion of the event lineup.
Conelly has developed a challenging dual meet season that will test his young squad early with dates against Indiana, Virginia and SEC participants Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama. Additionally, a new dry-land training regimen also has his staff excited about the possibilities of improved times and performances from the athletes this year.
A lot will be asked of the incoming freshman class, as well as a group of veterans who have worked very hard in the offseason to make it five straight seasons of being among the top-20 teams in the nation. “This team is extremely talented and motivated to continue to do well,” said Head Coach Gary Conelly.
“Our expectations remain the same as we want to stay among the upper echelon of our conference, and then have a good showing at NCAAs.”
Sprint Freestyle
“On paper this is where it looks to be that we took the biggest hit to graduation,” said Conelly. “But, we’ve already had some young women look very impressive in practice, and I’m excited to see how they all develop.”
Freshman Kelsi Hall has been tabbed a true sprinter by her coach. Her speed and physical attributes directly correlate to her quick collegiate start in pre-season conditioning and practice. To support the cast, junior Sydney Witzky is coming off a very good season as a sophomore and will have more of an impact this year. Freshman Mandy Myers will see time in the 50-to-200 range in the freestyle events, and will be a major factor in the 100-free. Additionally, Lindsay Lash and Chelsea Peterson will add to the depth of the sprinters in their first seasons with the Wildcats.
“It’s really all going to come down to how quickly the freshmen can adjust,” Conelly added. “I think we’ll do well in the individual races, the question will become whether they can be factors to help the 200-free relay go to NCAAs and compete at a high level again.”
Aiding the cause will be Pulskamp who competes in the 50-free at times, but is a factor particularly on the 200-and 400-free relays. A year ago, she swam the third leg of the 200-team that finished fifth nationally. UK’s most versatile swimmer, freshman Claire Archibald, may also compete for a spot on the 400-free relay.
Middle Distance Freestyle
“Our returning sophomores Kayla Sergesketter and Jenna Newsome are going to be really strong in our middle distance group this season,” Conelly said. “They both trained in the sprint group as freshmen, but we think they are going to major factors in the mid-distance range.”
Returning to the lineup is Kristina Sledge, an All-American with the 400-free relay as a sophomore. Myers will contribute immensely in the 200-free, already coming in with a fast split out of high school. Junior Casey Miller who was a steady force all season as a sophomore will be called upon to continue to improve and make an impact in this group.
“Haleigh Kerns has quietly been solid for us all three season,” Conelly said. “I think this being her senior year; she’ll be really focused to do well.”
Distance Freestyle
“We have several women who are capable to make some significant drops,” Conelly said. “This would be the area where I think we have the least amount of depth, which adds pressure for these women to do well.”
Seniors Kelly Rames and Leah Harms, as well as Sledge and Kerns form the core group of 500-to-1650-free swimmers. Conelly and his staff have put together a new form of conditioning for the distance group, shaving back on weights to focus more on aerobic work and core stability.
Backstroke
Conelly feels that the backstroke events will feature some of Kentucky’s top swimmers. Archibald is a national champion in South Africa, while sophomore NCAA participant, Chatham Penrod, returns to the lineup after suffering a season-ending injury a year ago.
“As a freshman I think Claire has a chance to already re-write our record books,” said Conelly. “She is everything we thought she was, and more.”
Penrod will take time as she works her way back to full-strength, but she will be a factor by the time SECs and NCAAs roll around. Newsome will certainly be in the lineup in the backstroke events after seeing a lot of time there as a freshman. Lash, an incredibly versatile swimmer, will also contribute in the backstroke events for the Blue and White. Adding to the depth in the discipline will be Myers and freshman Amanda Lehotan.
Breaststroke
“Our lineup is thin in this area, however Lindsey Graessle had an outstanding season as a freshman last year, and will now face the pressure of being the primary breaststroker for this team,” said Conelly.
Freshman Jenna Willis has been a pleasant surprise for Conelly’s staff through the first few months of pre-season training. “She has been training really well, and has been pushing Lindsey during practice which can only help our team,” Conelly said.
Lash, Witzky and Miller will add depth to the breaststroke area this season, particularly in dual meet situations.
Butterfly
Pulskamp clearly headlines both butterfly events., as she has been a top contributor in each of her first two seasons. In the off-season she participated in the United States Olympic trials and the U.S. Open, and those experiences will help her make a strong push to score at the NCAAs.
Returning to the lineup is junior Anna Sirmon who quietly put together a quality season a year ago and is more of a factor in the 200-fly, while Lash could be a big contributor in the 100-fly and is just off the NCAA ‘B’ cut. Archibald is also a solid butterflier and will be in the mix, despite it being an event she does not swim that often.
Rames has been a solid contributor in her career, and is a major factor in the 200 race. Kerns also adds experience in the 100-fly, while Miller and Myers will continue to split time in this area.
“This stroke is pretty deep for us, and it will be a really nice situation for us,” Conelly said. “We will have our choice of who we want to swim these events and not have to rely on one or two people to carry us.”
Individual Medley
Archibald enters the season already just shades off of qualifying in the 200-individual medley for the NCAA Championships as a freshman. Miller will also be a big piece in the individual medley races, and held some of the top times in the events as a sophomore.
Lash, who is well-rounded, will certainly be a contributor in the individual medley. Rames has been strong in the 400-individual medley throughout her career. Sirmon and Willis will also see time in these events to help add depth to the lineup.
Diving
Snowden is the lone female diver in the lineup for the Wildcats, but Conelly and head diving coach Ted Hautau expect great things from the sophomore. As a freshman, Snowden was named SEC Diver of the Week after only her first week of competition. She had a strong season all the way to the SEC Championships where she was named SEC Freshman Diver of the Year after placing second on the platform. She will be asked to score at both SECs and NCAAs if UK wants to continue to place in the top-20 in the country.
