03/09/2009
Garcia and Garr Earn NCAA Swim & Dive Championship Berth

WORCESTER, MASS. 3/8/09 - Clark University's Eileen Garcia '12 and Ryan Garr '12 took two completely different paths to the pool. However, one element they share in common is a berth to the NCAA Division III swimming and diving championships held at the University of Minnesota's Aquatic Center in Minneapolis on March 18-21.

"In the program's 35-year history, only a handful of student-athletes have earned selections to the NCAA Championship Meet," said head coach Paul E. Phillips, in his sixth season at the helm of Clark's men's and women's swim team. "To see two freshmen achieve this honor in the same season is remarkable."

Garcia, who had never stepped foot on a diving board competitively, joined the Cougars' swim and dive team on a whim. Initially, she never imagined a qualification for the national meet was within her reach.

"After meeting some people on the (swim and dive) team, I emailed Coach Phillips and asked if I could try it out for a week or so," Garcia said. "The next thing I know, I'm training for nationals."

The New York, N.Y. native looks like a "natural" on the boards, but eight-years of gymnastics certainly helped mold the twists, turns, and tucks into the pool. "Once I realized I had the ability to compete at this level, it sparked the desire to go as far as I could."

Garcia's impulse paid off as she not only became the third diver in school history and the first since 1999 to qualify for nationals, but she also set three new Clark records en route to the Minnesota meet.

Turns out, Garcia almost never made it to the pool. A jack-of-all-trades, she contemplated trying out for the Cougars' women's soccer team after a three-year career and Defenseman of the Year nod from New York City's Lab School.

Instead, she chose to dive into unchartered territory. Provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championships twice this winter, Garcia had to submit tapes of her best dives to determine if she would officially make the cut.

"It was kind of frustrating because I still had to practice, without really knowing if I was going or not," she said.

But after almost a two week wait, Garcia learned she earned a ticket to the Twin Cities last Thursday. "I was so excited."

While Garcia is optimistic about her chances, she will seize next week's experience like any other meet on the schedule. "All I can do is what I've been doing all year," she said. "I'm still a freshman, so I have three more years to go. I'm just happy to go and represent Clark and all the hard work weve been doing this year."

"Our diving coach, Laura (O'Tell) has done an outstanding job with the diving group this year," Phillips said. "I can't say enough about Eileen's tenacity and enthusiasm - what a great story."

Garr, on the other hand, is accustomed to championship caliber swimming. He joined the Cougars' program after a standout career at South Kingstown High School, where he broke state records in both the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle events - surpassing 15 and 25 year marks, respectively.

Originally from Wakefield, R.I., Garr, who holds Clark marks in all three backstroke events and earned All-Conference honors at the NEWMAC Championships, qualified for the national meet in the 100- and 200-back.

"Ryan has had a terrific first year here at Clark," said Phillips. "It's been awhile since we've had a conference champion and National Qualifier (L. Parker Barnum, 2003). I am very proud of how hard he has worked."

"I am very excited to see our student-athletes once again represent Clark University competitively at the national level. It's a testament to the entire team working together to support each other's efforts at accomplishing their individual and collective goals. We hope this is a trend that will continue."