Women's Swimming & Diving 2006-07 Season Preview
10/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 18, 2006
Led by a strong senior class, the Air Force women's swimming and diving team looks forward to a successful 2006-07 season.
The Falcons are looking to improve upon a 2005-06 season, where the team went 7-10 in dual meets and an eighth-place finish at the Mountain West Conference Championships. Coming off one their best off-season training regimens ever, head coach Casey Converse envisions a competitive squad that looks to finish amongst the top teams in the MWC.
"We've tried some new land-training techniques with our strength coach, Nate Beard, and I believe we are seeing very positive results from it," Converse said. "This may be the best shape our team has ever been--fitness level-wise--coming into the season. The team's commitment to improving has been off the charts."
Converse will look to his veteran senior class to lead the team this season.
"Our strength is our senior class," Converse said. "Blair Leake is our record holder in the 200 breaststroke and Stephanie Hirst has gotten better every year," Converse remarked. "Lauren White has had the best off-season training of her career and we expect big things from her in the distance freestyle events. We also get Lindsey Kirchhoff back over the winter break and we know she will be ready to contribute immediately."
The Falcons' strengths are in the distance freestyle and breaststroke events, which feature White and team captain Leake.
White ranks amongst the top-10 list at the Academy in the 500, 1000 and 1650 yard freestyle events. Leake is the school record holder in the 200 breast and second in the 100 breast.
In addition to White, junior Tiffany Biddle will also contribute in the distance free events. Biddle ranks ninth at the Academy in the 1000 free and 10th in the 1650 free.
"Lauren's in the best shape of her career and we expect her to swim well for us this season," Converse said. "Tiffany has been solid for us and will also do well for us in the distance free events."
White, who missed most of the 2005-06 campaign recovering from an injury, looks to regain her form when she was the team MVP as a sophomore.
The sprint free events will be led by sophomore Laken Stogner. Freshman Megan Wildner has also swam well in the preseason and will also be counted on to contribute.
"Laken had an excellent freshman year and is in a great place right now," Converse said.
Junior Kallyn Johnson and sophomore Robbie Nitzberg will also contribute to the sprint free events.
"Both Kallyn and Robbie continue to get better, so we are expecting good things out of both of them," Converse said.
Leake and Hirst lead the way in the breaststroke events. Leake earned all-conference honors in both breaststroke events as a junior. Hirst has shown steady improvement through her three years with the program and will be counted upon to score points.
"Blair is one of our best ever in the breast events and we feel she will have an excellent senior year," Converse commented.
Freshman Solange Eddy, a Denver native, also looks to contribute in the breast events.
"Solange has not trained year-long in swimming, with other sports obligations in high school, so we feel she has a lot of room for growth," Converse remarked.
The medley events will be handled by sophomore Jane Hwang. Hwang had an excellent freshman year, already reaching the Academy top 10 in three events, including the 200 yard medley.
"Jane had an excellent freshman year and has trained well over the summer," Converse said. "We will also see her swim some fly and all our relay events."
Freshman Becky Gleason has been a pleasant surprise for the Falcons and will also contribute in the medley and freestyle events. Freshman Lindsay Brown is also in the mix in the medley events and will also swim some butterfly.
In the butterfly events, senior Lindsey Kirchhoff and Hwang will lead the way. Kirchhoff is currently in the CSEAP (Cadet Semester Exchange Abroad Program) in Spain and returns to the team over the winter break. She ranks fifth all-time in the 100 fly and was an all-conference selection in the 100 fly as a junior. Kirchhoff will also handle backstroke duties.
In addition to being a top-flight medley swimmer, Hwang is also very strong in the fly events, ranking amongst the top 10 in the 100 and 200 fly events at the Academy. Sophomore Robbie Nitzberg and Katelyn Hunter will also see time in the fly events.
Along with Kirchoff, freshmen Angela Reuter and Hunter will also handle the backstroke events.
"Although Angela and Katelyn are freshmen, who look for them to compete right away," Converse said.
Junior Danielle Dowds and senior Lauren Bursey lead the way for the Falcon divers. Dowds was a first-team all-MWC performer in the platform dive and Bursey is the diving team captain.
"Danielle has a shot at competing for the platform title this year and Lauren has been a solid veteran for us her first three years," Converse remarked.
Juniors Amy Get and Emily Shanes, along with sophomore Ashleigh Peck and freshman Chelsea Tompkins.
"Amy and Emily have been solid for us and we envision Ashleigh and Chelsea having a breakout year."
"We look to start the season on a strong note and build up towards a successful Mountain West Championships in the Spring," Converse said. "We've had a great off-season work ethic and it should pay off once the season starts."
Air Force opens the season, Friday, Oct. 20 at the Early Bird Invitational in Fort Collins.
