Elms, Norwich University Swimmers Demonstrate Sportsmanship During Time Trial

NORTHFIELD, Vermont, February 20. ON January 27, 2012, Elms College junior swimmer Tricia Ruell (Chicopee, Mass.) and Norwich University senior swimmer Felicia Jones (Sherburne, N.Y.) participated in an act of sportsmanship that is not uncommon among athletes but offers a glimpse at life's larger picture.

Elms College junior swimmer Tricia Ruell needed one final race to make the cut for the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championship in the 200-yard backstroke. It is often the case that swimmers need to make the cut at the end of the season and at times the races that an individual may need are not scheduled during a regular meet. This was the situation for her on Jan. 27 when the Blazers faced Norwich University in dual action.

"I approached [Norwich coach Laura Dunn] with a request that even though we weren't going to be swimming the 200-yard backstroke, I asked her if it would be possible for us to swim that event as an exhibition heat and if she might have one of her female swimmers that might be interested in doing that," Blazers head coach Bill Tyler explained.

"She said to hold on for just one second and that she would check with her swimmers, and lo-and-behold, one of her senior swimmers was more than willing to do the 200-backstroke."

That swimmer was Jones.

"[Coach Tyler] told Coach Dunn and I he had a swimmer who was really close to making the cut for the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association in the 200-yard backstroke, and they wanted to know if I would swim with and pace her in that attempt," Jones said. "I said ‘yes' right away. I've always tried to live my life by being a good sport and helping others out. When it came down to it, it was the right thing to do."

Though they were on separate teams during the dual meet, there is a familiarity that exists between the two.

"She's a backstroker, I'm a backstroker," Ruell explained. "You usually see who you're swimming against and we have always communicated, especially at [the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships]."

Once on the starting blocks, Ruell was well aware of the act of sportsmanship that was on display at Goodyear Pool.

"She said, ‘this is my time, all you have to do is pace off of it'," Ruell noted. "To know that she was supporting me and we're not even friends is more sportsmanship than even just letting me swim it with her. I thought having the opportunity to swim it with her was more excitement than even making the cut."

Ruell kept herself near Jones throughout the race.

"I kept looking at the clock to see where we were," Jones said. "She did a great job of staying right with me and, even towards the end when there was some separation between us, she kept up a good speed. I kept thinking to myself when we hit the wall ‘I hope she made it'. We had to wait a little while for the time to come up, but it was awesome to see her get the mark (2:36.89) she needed."

"When I finished I didn't even know that I had made it because her time was on the board," Ruell explained. "I was so grateful to have had another opportunity that the only way I knew how to thank her was to give her a hug and show how supported it made me feel."

Jones also offered her take on the finish.

"We high-fived and had a little hug after the race," she added. "I'm just glad I was able to help her. Swimming and diving is an individual sport, but I like to see others succeed in it. It's all about hoping everyone, even your competitor, swims well on a given day, because that makes you even better."

Though Ruell had made her cut time, Coach Tyler was cognizant of the larger picture that had been painted during the race.

"Tricia was very happy with her swim; I was very proud of her for that but I was even more proud of how she reacted to making the cut. Her reaction right away was to give Felicia a hug just in thanks for allowing her to have that extra opportunity and for supporting Tricia in that event," Coach Tyler said.

"I found out after the meet that not only was Tricia very pleased with the support she got from Felicia, but she was also very pleased with the way the Norwich coach was very amenable to allowing that race to occur. When we were shaking hands at the end of the meet, Tricia actually gave the Norwich coach a hug as well. It was just great sportsmanship all around. The two schools get along very, very well in swimming, so this was kind of a nice way for us to cement our sportsmanship with each other."

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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