BOSTON, Mass. -- For the first time in program history, Simmons Swimming & Diving will be traveling to the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships this weekend with a full squad of 18 competitors. The Sharks, who won all nine dual meets against NEISDA opponents this season, will look to improve upon their 8th place finish in 2013.
Representing the Sharks at NEISDA are seniors Jen Collins (Trumbull, Conn.) and Amy Davis (Southbury, Conn.), juniors Chloe Davis (Merrimack, N.H.), Joleigh Ferro (Pittsfield, Mass.), Kara Silva (Reading, Mass.) and Hillary Wong (Quincy, Mass.), sophomores Rachel Chenard (Saco, Maine), Kevyn Lee (New York, N.Y.), Kirsten Vickey (Taunton, Mass.) and Alex Vutech (Woodstock, Vt.), and first years Maggie Kirby (Arnold, Md.), Emmie Lindholm (Sterling, Mass.), Jordan Mattheiesen (Seattle, Was.), Julie Nguyen (Salem, Mass.), Hannah Plourde (Westfield, Mass.), Sarah Price (New York, N.Y.), Shylee Stewart (Eastham, Mass.) and Miriam Swisher (Albuquerque, N.M.).
Jen Collins won the 100 IM in 2012 at New England's but was studying abroad during the 2013 championships. She is back and looking to recapture her title in this event. Collins has posted the fasted 100 IM time during the dual meet season as of January 30th and currently ranks 4th in the 200 IM according to the most recent Top 32 Times report.
In last year's Championships, Amy Davis was one of only two Sharks to qualify for Finals, where she finished 8th in the 50 Fly. A. Davis has top-20 rankings in the 50, 100, and 200 Fly events and will be very competitive in all three races this weekend. Chloe Davis made A-cuts in 11 different events and will race in three events, putting the Sharks in great scoring position.
Kevyn Lee, who ranked 17th in the Jan. 30 Top 32 report in the 1000 Free will enter the weekend as the Sharks top Distance entry, while Plourde will compete in the 400 IM and look to improve on her current 8th place ranking.
First years Stewart and Swisher will both lead the Sharks through the weekend with top-three seeds in their individual events. Swisher is currently ranked second in the 50, 100 and 200 Free, as well as the 50 Back. Stewart is ranked third in the 50 and 100 Free and ranked second in the 50 Breast.
The Sharks will also look to dominate in the relay events. Throughout the season, Simmons has ranked in the top-5 for all NEISDA relay teams, posting the second fastest time in both the 200 and 400 Free Relays. "If our athletes perform to their potential, we will be very competitive for the top 3 spots on the podium for relays," said Head Coach Mindy Williams.
"These athletes have put the work in all season and I am really looking forward to seeing their results. The team has been shattering school and conference records since October, but their excitement about New England's is leading me to believe that the best is yet to come," said Coach Williams.
The NEISDA Championships begin on Friday, Feb. 14 and last through Sunday, Feb. 16th at the University of Rhode Island. Please click here for more information.