Women's Swimming & Diving

2007-08 Season Recap

The Clark University women’s swim and dive team polished off the 2007-08 campaign with a 5-6 overall record and an 8th place finish (184 points) at the NEWMAC Championships. The Cougars fared well against a tough line-up of competition this season with the addition of strong first-year swimmers, Britney Wigley and Elizabeth Rosen leading the way. The team posted wins over UMass-Dartmouth and Gordon College; experienced success over conference foes Babson College, Mt. Holyoke College, and WPI; and defeated WPI and Assumption College en route to a second place finish at the Worcester City Meet at Holy Cross, where first-year Elizabeth Rosen won two events to earn the swimmer of the meet runner-up nod. She took first in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a new meet time of 18:18.22 and won the 400-individual medley.

Rosen also set new Clark records in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.01), the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:47.70) and the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:53.52) at the NEWMAC Championships. Rosen, along with classmate Brittney Wigley were amongst the top-10 swimmers in the NEWMAC for the 500, 1,000, and 1,650 freestyle this season.

Six of the Cougar women made the NEWMAC All-Academic team, including seniors Kara Bochicchio, a three-time recipient, and Caitlin Hanson, and juniors Jessica Baker, Korin Danchise-Curtis and Kayleigh Lagasse and sophomore Corri Stewart.

By Sarah Hunsucker, Sports Information Intern

2007-08 Season Outlook

After a banner year, the Clark University women’s swim and dive team return with high hopes for an even better 2007-08 campaign. The Cougars, who finished last year with a 7-5 dual meet mark, not only posted their second consecutive winning season, but also claimed its highest finish at the NEWMAC Championships (7th) in four years and increased their point total from the previous season by 62 points.

“Our schedule is going to be a bit tougher this season,” said head coach Paul E. Phillips, entering his fifth season at the helm. “We added Wellesley College, Coast Guard Academy and Vassar College – all solid programs that will help us get to the next level.”

Although the Cougars lost six seniors to graduation, depth certainly won’t be a concern for this year’s squad. “Our roster is more defined in terms of people’s roles this season,” Phillips said. “Some members of the team have developed over the past couple of years and have matured into their natural events, whereas before, they would compete in a variety of races. Now we are at a point where they can focus on their specialty stroke.”

Leading the list of returnees are senior breaststrokers Kara Bochicchio, Marjorie Whalen and Jessica Moise, as well as seniors Cassie Crawford, a sprinter, and freestyler Caitlin Hanson. Both Bochicchio and Whalen are steady and experienced veterans expected to provide leadership in and out of the pool, while Moise, a tri-captain, blossomed late last season with her first-ever NEWMAC finals appearance in the 200-yard breaststroke. Crawford and Hanson, also tri-captains, should flourish in their final campaign.

“We’ve got a strong group of seniors,” Phillips said. “They each bring something different to the table and are going to provide a great brand of leadership this year.”

Clark is well-armed in the backstroke competition; where sophomore Dana Akerfelds, who was just .01 seconds off a new school mark in the 100-yard back, broke records in the 50- and 200-yard backstroke, and junior Jessica Cullen scored key points in two individual events (100/200-back) at last year’s conference meet. Additionally, second-year swimmer Corri Stewart will look to make her mark after an all-time top-five backstroke performance leading-off the 200-yard medley relay. Junior Korin Danchise-Curtis and first-year Tracy Lindboe from East Brunswick, N.J. will also be in the mix.

Junior Kayleigh Lagasse and sophomore Alicia Roman will provide a strong tandem in the butterfly, while improving sophomore Chelsea Hyatt will also be a factor. Junior Lindsey Stone and sophomores Laura Banulski and Katie MacDowell are expected to boost the up-and-coming sprint group, and second-year Maggie Broad will add her talent to the cause. “It’s going to be very important for our sprinters to continue developing,” said Phillips. “Their growth is going to be a core piece of the puzzle this year.”

With a year under their belts, sophomores Chelsea Foley and Nicole Rogers look to make an impact in mid-distance and distance events. Promising newcomers Elizabeth Rosen from North Attleboro, Mass. and Newport Beach, Cali., native Britney Wigley give the Cougars added strength to mid-distance and distance races, respectively.

Junior Jessica Baker will play a pivotal role as the team’s lone diver. She tallied points on both boards at last winter’s NEWMAC meet on the way to a third place finish on Clark’s all-time list.

Not to be overlooked in the mix is first-year Emily Rouleau, an improving breaststroker with the potential to have a superb season. Newcomers Lauren Smith (freestyle), Jennifer Aballo (freestyle), Gabrielle Asay (Fly/IM) and Annie Gieseker (freestyle) should also all be contributors once they adjust to the college pace.

“The team’s depth adds competitiveness and character,” said Phillips. “No one person on the team is the same, but everyone has something in common – great attitudes and work-ethic. If everyone contributes in their own way, we have the potential for one of our best seasons yet.” ”

Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Paul E. Phillips, Clark’s men's and women’s swim and dive team has resurfaced as one of the emerging programs in New England. The women look to build on a successful season in which they celebrated their best finish since 2001 at the NEWMAC conference championships, moving up three spots from the previous year. The up-and-coming Cougar squad also produced two school records, 15 all-time top-five performances, and Clark’s best dual meet record in five years.

The men's team look to build on a successful season in which they finished sixth at the NEWMAC championships - 26 points behind fifth place - closing a gap of more than 130 points from the previous year. The young Cougar squad produced two school records, 11 all-time top-five performances, and an impressive 75 career-best marks. Season highlights also included a live web cast of the final home men's and women's dual-meet.

The swimming and diving program at Clark is designed to provide a platform for success without minimizing the student-athlete experience. “Our goal is for swimmers and divers to excel in the pool and appreciate the unique elements of college life,” states Coach Phillips. “We strive to provide the best of both worlds – the opportunity to compete at the highest level of Division III, and a well-rounded experience in a supportive, family atmosphere.”

Accomplished athletes, Cougar swimmers and divers are also among the University’s leading scholars. Last year, Clark once again earned the College Swim Coaches Association’s Team Academic All-America Award for the fall (3.25) and spring (3.27) semesters. Five women were named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team, and more than half (14) were recognized as Clark Scholar Athletes (3.5 semester GPA and/or cumulative).

Swimmers train 5-8 times per week, taking advantage of 10 workouts to design individual practice schedules that are conducive to their academic achievement and personal swimming goals. Clark’s diving coaches offer six practices per week, and both groups utilize dry-land and video. All practices emphasize personal attention in an interactive team-oriented environment. The Cougars have traveled to Puerto Rico, Florida, and Southern California in recent years for training during the semester break.

Facility

The Kneller Pool, renovated during the summer of 2004, is a six-lane 25- yard facility with 1 and 3-Meter Duraflex diving boards, Colorado Timing, non-turbulent Competitor lane lines and seating for 200 spectators.

Clark Swimming & Diving History

• At the 2002 NCAA Championships, L. Parker Barnum ’04 finished 14th in the 100 Breaststroke (58.35), earning All-America Honorable Mention Honors. Jeffery Rivkin ’05 earned NEWMAC Diver of the Year honors by winning the 1-Meter diving event and finishing third in the 3-Meter event at the NEWMAC conference championship meet.
• In 2002, Jaime Armstrong ’03 won the 100 Fly at NEWMAC Championships, earning all-conference honors and establishing new school and conference records. Katie Calabrese ’02 finished third in the 100 Breast, and fourth in the 200 Breast at NEWMAC’s, establishing school records in both events.
• At the 2001 NCAA Championships, L. Parker Barnum ’04 earned All-America Honors after finishing fourth in the 100 Breast. His prelim time of 57.50 broke his own school record, and established a NEWMAC Conference Open record. At the NEWMAC Championships, Barnum earned all-conference honors by winning both the 100 and 200-yard Breaststroke events. He also represented Clark at the Division I Husky Invitational where he won the 100 Breast.
• At the 2001 NEWMAC Championships Jaime Armstrong ’03 placed second in the 100 Fly, and set a new school record with her Backstroke leg on the 200 medley relay team that finished sixth.
• Doug Shea ’00 earned NEWMAC all-conference honors in 1999 and 2000 by winning the 200 Back and 200 IM at the 1999 Conference Championships, and the 400 IM at the at the 2000 NEWMAC Championships. He also finished second in the 200 Back and third in the 200 IM in 2000.
• In 1999 Katie Calabrese ’02 earned All-Conference honors, winning the 100 Breast at NEWMAC Championships.
• In 1998 Megan Farmer ‘98 competed in the NCAA Division III Diving Championships in Atlanta, GA, placing 21st in the three-meter event and 34th in the one-meter event, to finish 24th overall.
• At the 1995 New England Championships, Charlene Wilk earned Clark’s highest finish (5th in the 100 Fly).
• In 1988, diver Beth Ferraro ’88, was the one-meter board runner-up at the NCAA Division III Championships. Ferraro was a four-time All-America selection, who twice finished among the top 10 at the National Championship Diving Meet.
• In 1986 Peter Locke ’88 and Rob Carr ’88 became Clark’s first male swimmers to compete in the NCAA Championships. Locke was an All-American in 1988 and was inducted into Clark’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Carr was inducted into the Clark Hall of Fame in in 2002.
• Catherine Desrosiers '82 was Clark's first four-time All-America athlete, and she was the 1982 NCAA National runner-up in the 200 Breaststroke. She was inducted into Clark's Athletic Hall of Fame in the University's inaugural induction in 1994.