After struggling in the 2006 ACC’s, the women’s swimming and diving team has dedicated its time and effort to intense training in the preseason.
“I want to establish a strong work ethic, putting in time and training in the off season to help set them up for the long haul,” Ted Hautau, first-year diving coach said. “I want the team to push itself. I want the freshmen to come in and have to work really hard to be on the same level as the rest of the team.”
The team competed Friday at Casey Natatorium in Raleigh for the annual Red and White meet. Jacqui McLaughlin, a fourth-year associate head swimming coach, and Hatau were impressed with the performances. McLaughlin said it was the best the women have done since she’s been here.
“I’m really happy with where we are thus far. We are definitely moving in the right direction toward moving our way up the ACC and getting ready for ACC Championships in February,” she said.
“We have some great top end talent especially in our younger classes and a lot of great depth to back them up. There are a lot of opportunities for our girls to grow into very powerful swimmers.”
Leeann Laing, the only senior swimmer, said the tougher training contributed to the positive performances at the meet. She said during the summer half the team stayed in Raleigh to train with coach Brooks Teal, while the other swimmers went home and trained with their club teams. The whole team came back early to get prepared for this season, she said.
“The training this year has been a lot harder. The coaches have really stepped up what we’re doing in practice, which will help in our meets,” she said.
Despite the training, McLaughlin said the team may lack in distance freestyle events due to graduation. McLaughlin said the talent is there, but the team is lacking in depth for those events, which could be the team’s biggest weakness.
Sophomore Anna Linkenauger reiterated the lack of depth of the distance freestyle events, but said the team is strong in other events.
“We are really good at our 200 and 400 IMs, our 200 and 400 breaststrokes and our backstrokes are really strong. We have some really solid 200 flyers,” she said. “We have a good group that could do a lot of damage if we execute well.”
Linkenauger, one of 11 sophomores on the team, stressed the importance of the freshmen stepping up this season.
“With the talent that we brought in, in our freshmen class, I certainly think that there’s no question in anybody’s mind that we are going to finish higher this year in the conference,” she said.
“We are a young team but our young girls have a lot of great experience. Our upperclassmen will provide the leadership we need and our younger girls will be ready to step up and do what they have to do to be successful.”
Freshman swimmer Jennifer Kopenitz said she already sees strong leadership and a lot of improvement after being here for only a few months.
“I can see that the sophomores and juniors and one senior have good leadership and know how to take a freshman under their belt. I think everyone is going to improve a lot. They are a close knit group and I’m just excited to be a part of it,” she said.
Sophomore diver Chelsea Ale said Hautau’s intensity will prove positive for the team.
“With [Hautau] we will do really well. We will improve a lot and do much better than last year,” Ale said.
Hautau said the team will continue to focus on its long-term goals.
“We are going to work on basics and foundational stuff right now,” he said. “It’s kind of like a basketball team. They don’t run their full offense at the beginning of the season. You have to work on the basic, foundational things and build up. We are in a build up stage.”
The team will compete this Saturday, Oct. 20 against ECU and William and Mary in Greenville.
