{"id":117964,"date":"2014-12-19T12:29:17","date_gmt":"2014-12-19T19:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=117964"},"modified":"2014-12-19T12:32:35","modified_gmt":"2014-12-19T19:32:35","slug":"neisda-swimming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/neisda-swimming\/","title":{"rendered":"We Are NEISDA Swimming"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Diana Pimer, Swimming World College Intern<\/em><\/p>\n

KEENE – When NEISDA swimming competitors\u00a0are looking for inspiration, they usually go to their teammates, videos online or old memories. While I also do this, I am lucky to have another outlet for inspiration.<\/p>\n

At least once a year, I am fortunate enough to take a 2-hour drive with my family to Foxborough, Mass. to Gillette Stadium to watch the New England Patriots. While I was obviously pleased with the final score on Sunday afternoon, (43-13 Pats over Miami) a commercial on the big screen caught my attention before the game even started.<\/p>\n

With less than 5 minutes until kickoff, the Miami Dolphins took the field, and the Patriots were about to run out of their locker room. However, before this could happen, an overpowering voice spread throughout the stadium, and everyone\u2019s attention was drawn to the screen. Images of a firefighter, a police officer, everyday citizens and more were shown, as the narrator spoke \u201cWe are all New Englanders. And, we are all Patriots.\u201d<\/p>\n

We are NEISDA Swimming<\/h2>\n

Now while we may not all be Patriots fans in New England, the saying stuck with me. Whether NEISDA swimmers are originally from New England, or they come from different parts of the country or world, there is something special about swimming in New England. It may be our unprecedented bond created by waking up at 5 a.m. in a blizzard to jump into a pool that seems just as cold as the snow outside, or it could be that the majority of us grow up together, where we participate for our own state, but are exposed to greater competition by traveling to pools across the Northeast.<\/p>\n

Just in our conference alone, I have been able to continue competing against my best friend for the last two years. Since I was 11, I have swum with Roger Williams\u2019 Shannon Earley on our club team in New Haven, Conn. And just this past summer, I found myself coaching against Simmons\u2019 senior Alex Vutech in Vermont summer league swimming. No matter where you go in New England swimming, you are sure to find a familiar face, and an incredible amount of support.<\/p>\n

There is something unique about knowing the person you\u2019re stepping up on the blocks next to that makes New England Swimming so special. So far this season, this distinctive competition between NEISDA swimmers has proven successful. As a conference, NEISDA has already achieved 17 NCAA \u2018B\u2019 cuts. While the Keene State men have always had success in December, the NEISDA women have come a long way since this time last year.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s Teams Competitive<\/h2>\n

At the New England championship meet in February, the women achieved 4 \u2018B\u2019 cuts. However, they are already ahead of pace, as Ali Bartlett, Miriam Swisher and Diana Pimer have already made cuts. However, Hope Walsh, (KSC) Shannon Earley, (RWU) Andrea Almandoz, (RWU) and Hailey Martel (RWU) are also within striking distance of achieving cuts in February. In addition, relay teams from both schools, as well as Simmons, will be in contention for NCAA bids come February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Swimmer<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Team<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Event<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Time (\u2018B\u2019 cut)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Bartlett, Alison<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

50 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23.61 (23.89)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Bartlett, Alison<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

51.80 (52.14)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Swisher, Miriam<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Simmons College<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

51.75 (52.14)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Pimer, Diana<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400 IM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4:36.18 (4:36.69)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

During the last few years, the women\u2019s competition in the NEISDA conference has gone through some major changes. When Bentley was in the conference three years ago, they swept the team title and won many relays and individual events. When they left, Keene State and Roger Williams made an impact, as competition between these two teams has always been exciting. However, 2015 has already brought another change. The women\u2019s top times lists are full of a mix of teams, the success on the women\u2019s side is more spread out than it has been in many years. For example, the top 6 swimmers in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke come from at least 4 different schools.<\/p>\n

50 freestyle top times:<\/strong>
\n1. Alison Bartlett, 23.61 (KSC)
\n2. Miriam Swisher, 24.40 (SC)
\n3. Mackenzie Webber, 24.52 (RWU)
\n4. Stephanie Niman, 25.10 (RWU)
\n5. Lindsay McNall, 25.12 (SMC)
\n6. Krystyna Estrada, 25.25 (CSC)<\/p>\n

100 breaststroke top times:<\/strong>
\n1. Diana Pimer, 1:05.82 (KSC)
\n2. Hailey Martel, 1:06.43 (RWU)
\n3. Natalie Giraldi, 1:07.84 (SC)
\n4. Corrina Nickerson, 1:08.87 (KSC)
\n5. Haley Bowen, 1:09.13 (RC)
\n6. Madison Sestak, 1:09.58 (KSC)<\/p>\n

Competition in other events is similar, where the times are close and the teams are widespread. It is not unlikely to see a final heat of swimmers from 8 different schools in Rhode Island this February. The most exciting and anticipated race implied so far may be between Bartlett and Swisher in the 100 freestyle. Both swimmers dipped significantly under the \u2018B\u2019 cut, and are currently separated by .05 seconds. Only time will tell who will come out on top in this race, as well as who will win the overall team title.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s Side Successful<\/h2>\n

The Keene State men\u2019s team has dominated the NEISDA rankings this season, as they have already achieved 13 \u2018B\u2019 cuts so far. The Owls are lead by junior Shahar Resman. Although he travels to New Hampshire from Israel, Resman has made Keene his home, and is just as much of a New England swimmer as anyone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love swimming here because there are different levels of swimmers that can motivate and learn from each other in different ways,\u201d Resman said.<\/p>\n

He put in a successful run at the MIT Invitational last weekend, achieving 5 \u2018B\u2019 cuts, and breaking the KSC 500 freestyle school record previously held by NEISDA legend Drew Ledwith. He is currently third in the event among Division III athletes in the country, and has the same ranking in the 1,650.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Swimmer<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Team<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Event<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Time (\u2018B\u2019 cut)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Youngstrom, Gregory<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

50 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20.74 (20.84)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Boraski, Ryan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

45.30 (45.70)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Resman, Shahar<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

200 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1:39.33 (1:41.04)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Resman, Shahar<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

500 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4:26.33 (4:36.96)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Resman, Shahar<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,650 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15:23.81 (16:16.65)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Deegan, Christopher<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1,650 freestyle<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

16:00.27 (16:16.65)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

McDowell, Robert<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

200 backstroke<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1:51.79 (1:53.27)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Shepard, Nathan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

100 breaststroke<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

56.65 (57.81)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Hogg, Cole<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

200 butterfly<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1:53.45 (1:53.87)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

DiGiacomo, Christopher<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400 IM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4:02.59 (4:07.40)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Resman, Shahar<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400 IM<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4:03.62 (4:07.40)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Resman, DiGiacomo,<\/p>\n

Boraski, Hogg<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Keene State<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

800-freestyle relay<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6:43.12 (6:50.23)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Along with his teammates, Resman and company have swept almost every event on the top times list. The 50-breaststroke, (David Kitchen-RWU) 50 butterfly, (Christian Moran-RWU) 100 IM (Kitchen) and 1-meter diving (Tim Smith-HU) are the only events where KSC swimmers or divers are not ranked number 1. These sprinters, along with Kiet Luong, (RC) Pierce Farrington and (SMC) Jamie Lutze (RWU) will be the top challengers for the Owls.<\/p>\n

Diana Pimer is a senior breaststroke\/IMer at Keene State College who has won 10 NEISCA championship titles in her career. \u00a0Prior to joining KSC, Pimer swam for the Hopkins Mariner Swim Team as well as the West Haven High School squad. \u00a0She\u2019s also been a summer league head coach for the Rockingham Area Swim Team.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n