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www.gmlfordian.com
Feb. 2, 2007
Women’s Swimming approaches end of season;
spectator turnout disappoints
Carl Farlow | Staff Writer
At the mark of the shrill
whistle, three women dove
from the starting block into
the 80-degree water of the
Guilford College Athletic
Center's pool. The waters
churned as they competed
for victory in the freestyle-
stroke event.
Onlookers watched and
cheered on their friends and
relatives in each event.
"Turnout has been
like this pretty much all
season," Coach Steve
Kaczmarek said. "There's
not a lot of space, but we
fill up each time. We've
had a full house all sea
son."
In the tri-meet on Jan.
27, Guilford competed
against two rival teams,
Catawba and Sweet Briar.
Both teams are ranked,
Catawba at 20 in NCAA
Division II rankings, and
Sweet Briar at three in the
Old Dominion Athletic
Conference. Guilford lost
both to Catawba 120-62
and to Sweet Briar 117-63.
"I've been pleasant
ly surprised by the sup
port," said team captain
Kate Talbot, a senior.
"Swimming isn't one of
those sports that's neces
sarily spectator-friendly."
Sophomore Maddie
Winters echoed Talbot's
sentiments about the
nature of the competitive
ness at swim meets.
"I wish there was a
little more turnout, but I
understand that because
swimmers don't heckle
each other, it's hard to get
fired up (like in other com
petitive sports)," Winters
said. "We could shout on
the starting block, but then
we'd probably get in trou
ble."
Each meet is divided
into separate events based
on the stroke involved and
distance to be swum. Many
of the Quakers set personal
records. Emmalee Morris
set a personal best in the
butterfly; Molly Cashion
and Amanda Oehlert did
the same in their breast
stroke events; and Justine
Morris recorded her best
in the individual medley.
"I feel our team is
real solid and we've got
good potential," Winters
said. "I'm looking forward
to next season and the
ODAC."
"I've really enjoyed the
last three years I've been
on the team," Talbot said.
"I wish them luck next
year."
The Quakers' final meet
before the ODAC cham
pionships will be at home
against Salem College on
Feb. 9 at 6 p.m.
Counterclockwise, from top:
Amanda Oehlert leaps into action against Catawba and Sweet Briar
AT THE start OF THE 100-METER BREASTSTROKE.
Befuddled spectators find that the only path to the pool from the
INSIDE OF Ragan-Brown Fieldhouse is down an inconspicuous staircase
AND THROUGH THE BASKETBALL LOCKER ROOMS AND SHOWERS.
The spectators who attend women’s swim meets are usually recruited
TO TIME THE EVENTS; THE TEAM OFTEN STRUGGLES TO GET JUST THE SIX VOLUN
TEERS NEEDED FOR TIMING.
Emmalee Morris (below right) swam the 100-meter butterfly in
1:44.29, her personal best.
Kate Talbot (above right) swam the 100-meter butterfly in 1:27.40.