The UConn swim and dive team kickstarts their season today in West Point, N.Y. to face Army, Marist College and Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). This meet is a sprint competition – distance races will begin for the Huskies at their home opener against Villanova, on Oct. 18.
The Huskies are impressively undefeated against Army and CCSU, boasting a 13-0 record amongst the two programs. UConn has historically attained high success in these battles, putting up dominant point averages of 185 (versus Army) and 199 (versus CCSU). This afternoon will be their first faceoff against the Marist Red Foxes.
This meet also marks the first time that the UConn swim and dive team will take the pool together since their outstanding performance at the Big East Championship in February.
The Huskies placed second overall in the conference and earned several silver and bronze medals on the weekend. They also had one first place finish for the now sophomore, Sydney Perkins, who championed the 200 breaststroke (2:12.52).
Five seniors have since graduated, but UConn still puts up a contending roster.
The Huskies’ sophomore class will be tonight’s toughest competition. Jessica Sheng sets a high bar in all freestyle events. At the Big East Finals, she took home second place in the 50-yard freestyle (22.67), 100-yard freestyle (49.39) and 100-yard backstroke (54.09). Additionally, Perkins followed up her 200-yard victory with a second-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.97). She is also an instrumental piece to many of UConn’s relay teams.
UConn is heading into the meet with a well-rounded group: they have high-performing sprinters at each stroke. Juniors Ella Epes and Maggie Rhodes have sharp times in short-distance butterfly. Nadine Amin, the sophomore out of Cairo, Egypt, has established herself in sprint breaststroke, as well as many freestyle events. Molly Rogers is a backstroke specialist and finished fifth in the 100-yard backstroke (154.55) at the conference finals.
There will be some worthy opponents to look out for tonight. Army’s standout sprinters, Molly Webber and Angie McKane, were both named to last season’s first team All-Patriot League. Webber has recorded stellar split times in the 50-yard freestyle (22.43) and 100-yard freestyle (49.63), while McKane specializes in butterfly and has achieved success in the 50-yard butterfly (24.56) and 100-yard fly (52.51). For CCSU, it’s Katrine O’Leary and Lauryn Cowing who led in the short distance events. Marists’ frontrunner for the sprint team is junior Rian Dickman.
The meet will begin today at 4 p.m.