2006-07 Women's Swimming And Diving Preview

Oct. 3, 2006

The Michigan State women's swimming and diving team compiled a 4-5 record last season, improving on its 1-8 mark from the previous year. The Spartans look to continue making strides in the 2006-07 season, with 16 letterwinners returning from last year's squad.

A group of seven seniors will lead the Michigan State women; divers Katie Edwards and Amy Schmidt, along with swimmers Lindsay Bocksteigal, Eve Brusie, Megan Reponen, Amber Schroeder, and Carly Zenk.

The divers could be Michigan State's strength, with the same roster of six women as last season, and 2006 Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year, Eric Best, once again at the helm. Five Spartan divers qualified for the 2006 NCAA Regional Meet, with Edwards and sophomore Danielle Williams finishing the season in the top 18 on the one-and three-meter boards at the diving zones.

Williams, who was honored as the MSU 2006 Women's Diver of the Year, led the Spartans at the Big Ten Championship meet with two top-ten finishes; sixth on the one-meter board and ninth on the three-meter board. Alycia Mokedanz, the MSU 2006 Freshman of the Year, also cracked the top ten in one-meter competition with an eighth-place finish.

The diving team had one-two-three sweeps in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions against four opponents in the 2005-06 regular season.

Several Michigan State swimmers who earned points at the 2006 Big Ten Championship meet will return this season looking to improve on last season's team finish of 11th. The veterans will join together with talented newcomers to improve their standings against a field of tough conference opponents.

Sophomore Julianne Kahn was a part of the 400 free relay that placed 11th with a time of 3:27.58. Kahn also teamed up with senior Eve Brusie and then-seniors Rachael Hagerman and Katrina Kniff for a 10th-place finish as members of the 200 free relay. Brusie and classmate Carly Zenk were members of the 400 meter relay team that finished 10th with a time of 3:48.63. Zenk also took 16th in the 100 backstroke.

Junior Amanda Wyman, senior Lindsay Bocksteigal and sophomore Heather Kiluk were each on the 800 free relay that finished 11th. Individually, Kiluk placed 12th in the 400 IM with a time of 4:22.55, setting a new school record for Michigan State, and earning the 2006 Women's John Narcy Most Improved award.

Heather Kiluk

"We have strong returning group on the women's team, experience-wise," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "In terms of incoming swimmers, that class will be highlighted by Sasha Lewerenz and Jenny Korn at this point, but it's a big class, and there are some people who could really help us out."

The 2006-07 season begins in East Lansing with four meets in nine days. The Spartans will face Akron in their home opener on Oct. 20, followed by Illinois on Oct. 21. The Spartans will continue action with a mid-week matchup against the Michigan Wolverines on Oct. 25. Iowa will round out the homestand on Oct. 28.

"We have a big team, so we need to figure out who is going to be on our travel squad," said Gianiodis. "With four meets in the span of one week we'll see who is tough enough to travel."

Michigan State will have its first road contest Nov. 10 in South Bend, Ind., against Notre Dame, before returning home the following day to face Ohio State.

The Spartans will travel to the Northwestern Invitational Nov. 17-19, and some members of the team will then head to the US Open on Nov. 30-Dec. 2.

MSU will face Ball State on Dec. 9, before a month-long break in competition. The Spartans will continue the season on Jan. 13 against the Purdue Boilermakers in East Lansing. The final meet of the season will be against Oakland on Jan. 19.

MSU is scheduled to swim six dual meets against schools that scored at the 2006 NCAA Championship Meet. In addition, the Spartans will face nine schools at the Big Ten Championship that competed in the 2006 NCAA meet.

Michigan State will begin the post season at the Big Ten Championship in Minneapolis, Minn., from Feb. 8-11. The NCAA Diving Zones will be held March 2-4; the location is yet to be determined. The 2006 NCCA Women's Championship will be March 8-10 in Minneapolis, Minn.