The Northern Arizona swimming & diving team will officially open the 2018-19 season this Friday, Oct. 26 on the road in Albuquerque, N. M., against New Mexico at 3 p.m. (MST). Part one of the Lumberjacks' season outlook previews the team's freestylers, backstrokers, and breaststrokers.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 23, 2018) – In the 2018-2019 season, the 'Jacks will look to repeat a Western Athletic Conference Championship for a sixth straight year but will need to overcome the loss of a talented class that graduated. The Lumberjacks will still have the top end talent from the 2017-2018 season but will lack the depth forcing the new names to have to step up for the team.
"The repeat is on everyone's minds, but it is not everyone's focus," NAU swimming head coach
Andy Johns said. "It would be great to win one for the freshman, but more importantly we need to keep improving and to be our best when the conference championship comes around. If we do that, then we have an excellent shot at winning again."
In the 2017-2018 season, the Northern Arizona swimming and diving team finished off its season with its fifth consecutive Western Athletic Conference title. In the WAC championships, the Lumberjacks scored 810 points, leading to the second largest margin of victory in program history of 209 points.
Three great divers and three swimmers lead the senior class. This class will provide a lot of top-level talent for the Lumberjacks with both skill and experience. NAU's divers
Christina Torrente and
Tatiana Kurach have had great success in their previous years as both have multiple top-three finishes in the WAC Championship. Kurach in her sophomore year was able to make it to nationals. While on the swimming side
Monique King and
Andrea Schmidt will be able to lead the Lumberjacks in the pool. Schmidt had a top-three finish in the butterfly at the WAC championships last year while King was first in the 500 and second in the championships in the 1650 freestyle.
Just like the senior class, the junior class has promising talent on the roster. Some names to look out for heading into the season are
Kate Bier and
Fernanda Montiel. Both of these swimmers have been able to have success at the WAC Championships, each placing fifth in their respective events.
"Although Bier and Montiel were the scorers in this class last year we expect
Erin Spielman and
Alice Hick to step up and contribute this year," Johns said.
The class with the most depth for the 'Jacks is its group of sophomores. This class isn't just deep but also has elite talent at the top of it with the pair of
Elisa Rodriguez and
Niamh McDonagh. Not only have these two shown great success last season but McDonagh has already won the Pentathlon this year while Rodriguez has been dominating the freestyles.
"Some of the sophomores that didn't make the squad or the scoring squad could be in significant positions this year, so this is an important class," Johns said.
On the freshman side the class looks to come into NAU and push to make their impact on the team. There effect will be seen in certain events, but also in practice when pushing the other swimmers.
"They are still learning a lot about swimming in college and will need to get better if they are going to contribute for us this year," added Johns. "They are already pushing others in practice already, but it's a good solid mix."
Freestyle
The freestyle is the strongest events for the swimming team because of its success at all the distances. The two big names when looking at these events are Rodriguez and King.
Rodriguez is the name to know when looking at the 50 and 100 freestyle competitions. In both events, she holds the third fastest records in NAU history and finished fourth in the WAC championships in both. While Schmidt also looks to be a key in the 50 freestyle on the year as she finished seventh in the conference meet.
"I have a feeling that
Abbie Nelson might show up big in the fifty freestyle as well and surprise people and even herself this year," Johns said.
Northern Arizona's strength in the freestyle continues with distance as King is brought into the picture. King is in the record books for multiple freestyle distance events for NAU as she has the second fastest time in the 200, third fastest time in the 500 and fourth fastest time in the 1650 freestyle.
The 'Jacks strength in this stroke will have a huge impact for the team when the WAC Championships come around as there are five solo freestyle events and three freestyle relay events. That will make up over a third of the events at the event. Dominance by NAU in this stroke will be critical for a sixth straight title for the Lumberjacks.
Backstroke
In the backstroke, there is a solid group of returners for the 'Jacks, as the team will bring back Montiel who will lead the way along with
Lauren Hazel and O'Connor.
Montiel is becoming a recognized name in the history of NAU backstrokers as she holds the third-fastest time in NAU history for the 200 backstroke while being able to take home seventh in the conference championship. While O'Connor burst onto the scene for Northern Arizona as she had two seventh-place finishes in the conference championship. These finishes came in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
"It will be the same basic group of backstrokers from last year, and they all can score in the 100 and 200 in the championship meet," Johns said.
Breaststroke
In the breaststroke events, the 'Jacks will have
Hope Williams for the short events, while having the three incoming freshmen battling it out to see who will join her.
In the 200 breaststroke, the Lumberjacks will look for McDonagh to step up and score in this event.
"The freshmen group is excellent as they are all pushing not only each other but the upperclassman," Johns said.
