Simmons Swimming & Diving finished the 2008-09 season with great success in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, and some hard-fought battles outside the conference. The Sharks roster carried five divers, the most in program history, which gave the team a lift in tough dual-meet competition. Simmons ended the season with a GNAC Championship title for the fifth year in a row, and a GNAC meet record in the 1650-yard Freestyle from departing senior Keri-Ann Arsenault (Chester, N.H.), who was also named the GNAC Swimmer of the Year for the second straight season.
The Sharks were led by captains Arsenault and Julia Morrison (West Hartford, Conn.) in 2008-09. "These two women did everything right this season and demonstrated great commitment and work ethic, which was mimicked by their teammates," said Williams, who was named GNAC Women's Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year by her peers after just one year at the helm of the Simmons program.
Arsenault accumulated 18 wins and was the high point-scorer in most dual meets and at New England Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. She was named an All-NEISDA recipient at the Championship meet for finishing third in the 1,000-yard Freestyle and fourth in the 1,650-yard Freestyle. Arsenault dropped her times significantly from last season, and narrowed in on her times from her standout freshman year. "In addition to all of her success this season, she also set the tone at practice, showing her teammates that if they put a lot in, they'll get a lot out," said Williams. On top of this year's accomplishments, Arsenault has accumulated several pool, school and GNAC records during her career at Simmons.
"There were a lot of great things that came out of this season," said Williams. "I think that all the athletes showed tremendous growth from the beginning of the season to the end. Their times and scores improved, but so did their attitudes and commitment."
In addition to GNAC Coach and Swimmer of the Year awards, Simmons junior Brittany Torelli (Waterbury, Conn.) was honored with a spot on the GNAC All-Conference Sportsmanship Team. Torelli twice was named Simmons Shark of the Week for her dominance in breaststroke events during the season, and for her team spirit and sportsmanship.
The Sharks freshman class was small, but dedicated, and pushed themselves to a successful season. Diver Alyssa Rizzo (Attleboro, Mass.) improved her performances on 1- and 3-meter springboard to eventually qualify for New England Championships. Stephanie Bitzas (Westfield, Mass.) dropped her times in the backstroke and IM events and ultimately finished 18th place at New Englands with a five-second drop to her lifetime best swim. Lauren Hutchinson (Glastonbury, Conn.) filled in the gaps in the sprint freestyle and butterfly events and broadened her spectrum of events to include the 100-yard Butterfly, 200-yard Freestyle and 50-yard Backstroke. "With these three returning next season, we'll have a solid foundation," said Williams.
The Sharks will graduate five seniors in the spring, and all have been huge contributors to the program. Arsenault, Morrison, Jenny Erviti (Warwick, Mass.) and Erica Boswell (Salem, Mass.) will each leave Simmons with four years of collegiate swimming behind them. Boswell leaves with a school record in the 400-yard Freestyle Relay, set in 2007. Julia Herman (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) returned from a junior year injury to finish strong as a senior. All five qualified for New Englands and made significant contributions with points throughout the season. "Our seniors have helped set the tone of the season this year and have instilled a pride for our sport and our team in the underclassmen that look up to them," said Williams. "It is going to be very hard to recovery from this year's graduation. These women are irreplaceable, not just in talent, but in enthusiasm and personality as well."
Aside from competition, Swimming & Diving poured time and energy into several worthy causes. In November, the Sharks participated in the Hour of Power Relay, a nation-wide swimming event held annually to raise awareness and funds for Sarcoma cancer. The team also sponsored a Masters Swim Meet, October Swimfest, to raise money for their annual winter training trip, at which a masters men's world record was set.
"We had some great leadership on the team, which I felt was particularly important to help smooth the transition of having a new coach," said Williams. The athletes that took on the full commitment of the season reaped the benefits in the end with some great results."