On Thursday, the UConn women’s swim and dive team will begin their season at home against state rivals, Southern Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart University.
The Huskies are coming off a dominant 2023-24 season, where they finished with a 7-3 record. The Huskies also have momentum from last year’s second-place finish at the Big East Championship with a score of 1461.5, just behind Villanova with a score of 1482.5. All eyes will continue to be on the Huskies to continue this level of dominance into the 2024-25 season.
Senior captain Maggie Donlevy will continue to be a key swimmer for the Huskies after her outstanding performance last season. Donlevy set a new school record for the 100-yard backstroke at the preliminaries of the Big East Championship and won first-place in the event at the finals. She is an impressive sprinter, finishing third in the 50-yard freestyle at the Big East Championship. Donlevy also dominated in the 400-yard medley relay, setting a new school record in the event, along with senior Angela Gambardella, junior Ella Epes and sophomore Claire Lippert.
Senior Katelyn Walsh will also be a key swimmer for the Huskies in breaststroke events. Walsh was the Big East champion in the 100-yard breaststroke last season and a second-place finisher in the 200-yard breaststroke. Walsh holds the second-fastest time in school history in both events. She is a five-time Big East medalist, with medals in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 individual medley, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. Walsh also contributed to and holds records in the 200 and 400 medley relays.
Sacred Heart University’s Rosemary Nieto will provide some competition for Walsh, as she holds the school record for the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke, which she broke at the Northeast Conference Championship last season. She placed third in both these events. Last season, she also swam the breaststroke leg of the 400-yard medley relay, helping secure the school record.
Southern Connecticut State University senior Hailey Nyquist will provide some competition for Donlevy in the 100-yard backstroke. Nyquist was the 2023 Northeast 10 Conference 100-yardbackstroke champion. She also was part of the 2023 Northeast 10 Conference champions in the 400 and 200 medley relays.
Last season, the Huskies dominated against Southern Connecticut State in their season opener. They earned their first victory of the season with a score of 163-90. The Huskies will hope to bring the same energy against Southern Connecticut State this season.
This matchup will not be a Big East Conference matchup, as Southern Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart University are not part of the Big East. However, exciting matchups between key swimmers will make this a must watch meet.