They have come a long way since being wide-eyed freshmen thrown on to a team aiming for an NCAA title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think at that point, we were just concerned with trying to find our place and improve ourselves. Big-picture-wise, I think we had big goals, and our team is never afraid to set big goals,\u201d Eastin said. \u201cWe were brought into that culture really quickly \u2014 and the rest is history.\u201d<\/p>\n
That freshman year, Stanford became a national title contender for the first time in 20 years. The Cardinal looked like they were poised to win in 2016 but a relay disqualification proved costly and the win went to Georgia.<\/p>\n
The current Stanford seniors didn\u2019t lose an NCAA championship meet the rest of their careers. The trio did not lose a single dual meet in four years and won three Pac-12 Conference titles.<\/p>\n
The freshman experience at the NCAA championships was huge in shaping their careers, especially now as seniors with a team that had seven freshmen make NCAAs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a unique perspective being at a really tight NCAA race our freshman year, which our other classes hadn\u2019t experienced. We knew it was going to be a tough race, but we took the team and did our best,\u201d Stevens said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach of us brings something really different in terms of leadership. I really hope that we did make the impact that we set out to,\u201d Eastin said. \u201cOur individual goals took a backseat, not in a sense that we didn\u2019t care, but it was about moving forward for the group.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Williams, her role was even different this year, she didn\u2019t qualify for the NCAA meet as an individual, so her role was more of a super leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really different being an athlete on deck the past two years, instead of a coach wristband. I was fully invested in every swim, instead of preparing myself for my next race. I felt invested in each person\u2019s race. It was awesome \u2014 and taxing. I am so glad I still got to have an impact. I contributed in every way I could. I felt like I was in every race,\u201d Williams said. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe had really great leadership the past three years \u2014 each and every senior class that was before them. Since we were freshmen, we were always paying attention to how we wanted to lead when we were senior captains. It means a lot. You get your fairy tale ending. Every team wants to go out with an NCAA Championship. I couldn\u2019t ask for anything more.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe fairy tale ending was different for Stevens.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fairy tale ending was looking over and seeing my teammates cheering and their faces after I touched,\u201d she said. \u201cAfter the last relay, Kim and I went over and hugged Ella and shed a few tears. It became really surreal to me that this part of my life was coming to an end. But I wasn\u2019t sad, I was so happy that I was able to do it with these two girls by my side all four years.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"ncaa-leah-stevens-stanford\"](\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ncaa-leah-stevens-stanford-700x500.jpg\")
Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona<\/p><\/div>\n
Stanford coach Greg Meehan<\/strong> had a hard time putting the trio\u2019s actual impact into words. With so many titles and accolades, there is plenty that adds up to dominant swimmers. But it was their leadership Meehan will remember in the closest title race of his career.<\/p>\n\u201cIt felt a lot different. It was a lot harder. We relied on those three quite a bit for guidance at times with our team,\u201d Meehan said. \u201cKim is a huge part of our story and was instrumental helping us and our team continue to move forward. Watching Leah go a best time in the last swim of her career, and Ella, we have asked so much of her this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe relied on Ella so much through leadership and swimming. I probably didn\u2019t get her rested enough to be her best self here, but coming out of the 200 IM and being disappointed, then coming back to win the 400 IM and be the first woman to every win that four years in a row is pretty awesome,\u201d he said. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt just says so much about her character. You knew she was disappointed but she refused to let that get the better of her. The most important role she had here was to help our team win the national championship, and I am just beyond proud.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
![\"ella-eastin-greg-meehan-\"](\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ella-eastin-greg-meehan-_PB53836-700x500.jpg\")