Women's Swim & Dive Takes on MSU in Opener
10/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 9, 2013
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Though some may argue it never truly ends, swimming and diving season officially begins this evening when the Pirates travel to take on in-state foe Montclair State in the 2013-14 opener.
The Seton Hall women's swimming & diving squad is coming off one of the most successful seasons in recent memory - one in which the team recorded victories in its first seven dual meets of the year, posted its best finish at the BIG EAST Championships in nearly two decades and set more than 10 new school records.
Eight of those record-breaking performances came on the championship stage as The Hall earned an eighth-place finish in a stacked conference. Standout Kerrie Kolackovsky (Franklin Square, N.Y.) was at the center of it all, contributing to five of the eight landmark efforts and finishing the season with her name next to a total of 10 school records on the board that hangs in Arthur E. Imperatore Natatorium.
Kolackovsky, who will serve as a team captain in this, her senior season, has set the standard in six individual events and been a part of the fastest quartet in program history in four different relay events.
She is not the only current school record holder on the roster however as fellow swim captain Kelly Markwell (Old Bridge, N.J.) combined with a pair of Pirates returning for their second year in the program in Rae Congdon (Ottawa, Ontario) and Gabi Levine (Garwood, N.J.), and class of 2013 member Alie Zelenky to set a new program-best mark in the 200-free relay on day two of the conference championships.
Zelenky was one of four Pirates who completed their collegiate careers in 2012-13, all of whom contributed to a new school record during their time at The Hall. Andrea Shuba stands as the Pirates' top performer in both backstroke events while classmates Marielle O'Connor and Brenna O'Keefe were each a part of relay squads that surpassed a previous standard.
To fill the holes created by the departures of a decorated group of seniors, 13th year head coach Ron Farina will look to a combination of proven returnees and talented newcomers.
Kate Dwyer (Freehold, N.J.) and Jane Ehret (Florida, N.Y.) return for their fourth season at The Hall, rounding out senior class that includes four swimmers. Both have established themselves as steady competitors over their first three seasons and Ehret still holds the fastest 400-IM time in school history, a feat she achieved during her sophomore campaign.
Sarah Dougherty (Waterford, N.Y.) and Megan Mostoller (Cheshire, Conn.) make the jump to upperclassmen after qualifying for the conference championship in each of their first two years at SHU while backstroke artist Cora Meehan (Noblesville, Ind.) and Megan Mallon (Glen Mills, Pa.), who came on strong towards the end of her debut season, join Congdon at the head of a sophomore class that features seven swimmers that qualified for the BIG EAST meet a year ago.
On the diving board, SHU welcomes back both Katie Riley (Newburgh, N.Y.) and Gabby Signorelli (Massapequa, N.Y.) who will comprise one of the most talented tandems in the league.
A senior, Riley will serve as the captain of all five divers in the program, male or female, after registering scoring efforts in the one-meter as well as the three-meter competition to close out last season. Signorelli heads into her second season at SHU after qualifying for the conference meet from both boards as a freshman; finishing in the top-16 from three meters.
Recently, the three female captains, Kolackovsky, Markwell and Riley, Sat down to discuss the start of their farewell campaigns.
The Pirates also welcome aboard a group of seven heralded freshmen that will provide added strength in each stroke.
The third Ontario native to join the program in two years, Melody Bush (Guelph, Ontario) will team with Meehan in an effort to replicate the 1-2 punch that she and Shuba provided in backstroke competition.
Erica Naumann (Middletown, Conn.) follows in the footsteps of her brothers Nick and Tyler by signing on to swim for the Pirates and will primarily compete in freestyle events.
Annie Bucca (New Brunswick, N.J.), Kelsey Buonaiuto (Miller Place, N.Y.) and Maddie Harris (Ocala, Fla.) will provide an additional boost in the freestyle in addition to the breaststroke and backstroke.
The duo of Cece Henry (St. Charles, Mo.) and Tessa Lindner (Sun Prairie, Wisc.) will aid Seton Hall's efforts in the butterfly and individual medley events.
Before it even begins, the 2013-14 season is a landmark one for the Seton Hall swimming and diving teams given that it will be their first as a part of a revamped BIG EAST. The regular season schedule includes six head-to-head meets beginning with tonight's meeting with the Hawks, as well four trips to multi-squad events.
The Pirates will make two home appearances on the year - one in the fall against local rival Rider (10.17.13) and one following the winter break; a January 26 showdown with Connecticut that will serve as senior day. The full schedule can be viewed HERE
Assessing the new, six-team landscape, Farina believes his squad is poised to leave a monumental imprint on the history and direction of the program.
"The dual meets are always important but I think they take on a different role for us this year," said the Pirates' head man. "I think in the past, it was important for us to build some energy and confidence going into the conference meet but now we will use them almost as tune-ups. Obviously we want to win but there is more of a focus on getting used to being prepared to race and we'll use those meets as barometers throughout the year."
"We have the expectation that everyone on the roster will qualify for the BIG EAST Championship," he continued. "For the first time ever, we will be in a position where we have to decide who our best 20 performers are and the dual meets are going to be an important part of that process as we try to put together the squad that gives us the best chance to achieve our ultimate goal of winning a team title."
The meet at MSU is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. Seton Hall will host the diving portion which will start simultaneously.
