Matthew looking for General girls to climb back on top of OCC swimming ranks

  • brian questel
  • November 22, 2011
  • 301
                        
112811 girlsswimpreview Promo: Mixture of experience, promise should bring good things for Wooster girls’ swim team Matthew looking for General girls to climb back on top of OCC swimming ranks By Brian Questel Chris Matthew has to have a little sense of déjà vu when comparing rosters of last year’s Wooster High girls swim team and the one for the upcoming season. Setting aside the incoming freshmen, the rosters are virtually the same as the Generals graduated only one senior a year ago. With those swimmers having another year of experience under their belt, plus buoyed by a strong incoming group of freshmen, Matthew is looking for her team to again be a solid contender for the Ohio Cardinal Conference title. That would certainly add a bit more luster to Matthew’s 18th season at Wooster. “I must be getting old,” laughed Matthew. “I don’t feel like it, but it’s my 18th year. It’s still fun – I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t like it.” The roster numbers are up from last season, which will certainly help as well. There are 22 swimmers, along with four divers, with 10 letter winners prominent among that group. That experience will be key for the Generals to return to the top of the OCC ranks. Wooster finished second to Lexington “by 12-13 points” a year ago to lose the OCC title, but the Generals won the Northeast Aquatic Conference relays and the NEAC dual meet championship. They were also third in the NEAC Championships. “I think we’re set up better than any time in the last 3-4 years,” said Matthew. “Most of our top eight girls really swam hard in the fall. There is a core group of freshmen that are really serious year-round swimmers. I preach that’s the way to go to state. Not everyone is ready to swim year-around, but that’s the only way if a girl wants to get to the state meet. With only 1-2 exceptions (at state), you have to swim year-round. We have that kind of kid now. The next 2-3 classes are serious swimmers. “They came into the season in decent shape and that helps a ton,” she added. “I think you’ll see that in the first couple meets and early in the season. They’ll start at a faster point and that will be beneficial as we proceed into the season. If you want to be more competitive, you have to train year-round and condition. I’m feeling very positive. I’m sure we’ll see times be as fast as compared to past.” The team’s numbers are deeper this winter, with Michelle Sczpanski – the lone graduated senior – being replaced by eight freshmen. That added depth will be a major help as the season evolves. “I’m excited. We’re much deeper. We were really small last year and we couldn’t change up people’s strokes,” said Matthew. “People had to swim a lot of the same events. … This year we’re covered in all the strokes.” Matthew will be looking at a trio of seniors to help lead the way. Kate Persinger will be in the sprint freestyle races, but “she’s going to dive as well. With her gymnastics background, we need an extra diver,” said Matthew. Danielle Tooley will compete in the breaststroke, while Rebecca Pittard, who lettered as a freshman and sophomore, returns in the freestyle sprint after sitting out last season. The team’s balance is found in the four junior letter winners. Emily Cornelius (IM/breast/freestyle), Kylie McMichael (freestyle), Margaret Moodispaw (backstroke/free) and Jillian Perry (sprint free/butterfly) give Wooster balance. Lauren Miller (breast/free), Madison Gingery (IM/back/free) and Gabrielle Sibilia (back/free) all lettered as freshmen and return for their sophomore campaign. Other returnees looking for their first letter are juniors Maggie Guttman (diving), Alex Holmes (freestyle), Katerina Linz (freestyle) and Mariah Whitman (freestyle/back). Nicole McElroy and Lizzie Wagoner, a pair of sophomores, are out for the first time and will compete in diving, while representing the freshman class are Allyson Amstutz (all strokes), Larkin Carstensen (fly/breast/IM), Brittany Collier (fly/free), Becca Cornelius (breast/free), Lindsay McMichael (free/back), Allison Szukaitis (free/back), Anna Tieche (free/fly) and Sydney Wenger (free/back). Senior Mora Zabala (breast/free), an exchange rotary student Argentina, is also out for the team. Matthew is hoping that the Generals will be strong in the relays, which will help the Generals at conference and into the postseason. “If we can get Perry to do the fly, then we’ve got a good shot at all the relays,” she said. “All three could be good and qualify (to districts).” “We want win OCC,” added Matthew. “That is our top goal. I think our team this year will be hard to beat. I do think we’ll be pretty strong. We’ll be back in our pool and we definitely swim better in our pool.” Wooster opens its season with a quad meet at Youngstown State, swimming against Youngstown Boardman, Warren Harding and Canfield.


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