Williams College Ready for Breakthrough At D3 NCAAs

Photo Courtesy: Hayley Good

By Lauren Williams, Swimming World Intern

With this year’s swimming season drawing to a quick close, the New England Small Colleges Athletic Conference sees a record 41 women and 34 men compete this year’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at the Conroe ISD Natatorium in Shenandoah, Texas. The meet begins tomorrow and ends on Saturday.

The Williams College Lady Ephs are the only NESCAC team to hold NCAA Championship titles with back-to-back victories in 1982 and 1983. Since then, the trophy has been traded between Denison, Emory and Kenyon. The latter team has held it for a record 22 times, while Emory has taken it home within the last three years.

On the men’s side, the first-ranked Kenyon looks to defend their title and add to their 32 NCAA Championships. This year the no. 8 Williams women’s team is in a good position to break into the top five teams. The Lady Ephs take 10 women, eight of whom are in individual events.

Sophomore Megan Pierce defends her 400 individual medley title. This year’s top seed with a 4:21.19, Pierce has Mount Holyoke junior Cathleen Pruden knocking at her door with a 4:21.83. Pierce enters this year’s meet slightly slower than last year’s NCAA 4:19.94. Pruden however, comes off her strong finish from her conference meet (NEWMAC).

Williams distance specialist Sarah Thompson also looks to defend her title in the 500 freestyle. Thompson has to fight from ninth place and roughly five seconds slower than event leader Campbell Costley (4:49.85). Thompson (4:56.40) is also roughly six seconds off her winning time, 4:48.19.

“I’m hoping that I will be able to finish my collegiate swimming career with some best times,” Thompson said. “Hopefully the excitement of the meet will get me excited and help me swim fast.”

Williams College senior Thad Ricotta

 

On the men’s side, the Ephs hold top seeds in four races. Senior Thad Ricotta enters the 500 freestyle with a 4:25.93, his fastest time to date. John Hopkins sophomore Andrew Greenhalgh follows closely behind with his lifetime best, 4:26.08, as well as Kenyon sophomore Arthur Conover, 4:26.11.

“I consider Williams to be one of the top swimming schools in the country so getting to race against other top schools is a great chance for us to prove that we deserve to be considered in that group,” Ricotta said in an email. “Nationals is where we can really prove ourselves against all the competition.”

Relays are where the teams will pick up the most points. Here a place can make a difference in the final standings of the day. The women follow closely behind number one seed Emory (3:44.11) in 400 medley relay. The Lady Ephs clocked 3:44.22 at their conference meet in February and with Kenyon (3:44.78) rounding out the top three, this will be a close race.

Williams men currently hold the top spot in the 200 Medley relay, boasting 1:29.05. This race will come down to the finish as Denison follows .55 seconds behind (1:29.55) the Ephs and College of New Jersey rounding out the top three spots with a 1:29.68.

“[We] hope to make it out of nationals with a top four team finish,” said Ricotta. “[We] haven’t been able to break the top five, but this year I think we have a fantastic chance to place solidly in the top four. We certainly have the talent and have put in the work, and now we just have to make it happen down in Texas.”

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