The Norwich women’s swim team has begun training for the upcoming season. According to the team’s student assistant, there is a lot of potential success in some of the team’s swimmers. The team will focus on specific swimming techniques in hopes for overall improvement.
Last season the Cadets posted a 0-11 record.
“Focus will be on more of the stroke techniques; proper hand placements. Rotation of the hips, using the walls more; flip turns. Proper stream line, good dives off the block, and also proper breathing,” said Student Assistant Chris Prybella, 22, a senior mechanical engineering major from Philadelphia, Pa.
This year’s team is made up of 12 swimmers, including three freshmen, Grace Steinbrenner, Laura Marmolejo and Brittany Burns; three sophomores, Mary Andreo, Felicia Jones and Janice Knoop; four juniors, Dana Wanjon, Anne Marie Vayda, Sarah Gardener, and Cassie Dumas; and two seniors, Shaina Curran and Molly Patterson.
“Felicia Jones is a strong swimmer and she has definitely made some major improvements, we are looking forward to see her compete. She was a top contender at GNAC’s last year,” Prybella said.
“Anne Marie Vayda is captain this year, she is a strong swimmer. She is looking to go to nationals this year. That is her goal and she is working hard at it,” Prybella said. “Anne Marie is probably the strongest on the team.”
“We are expecting Felicia Jones to perform well also,” Pyrbella said.
A couple of the swimmers play rugby and haven’t made it to many practices.
“The attitude is positive right now, we haven’t had any meets, so the girls haven’t come together as an entire group yet,” Prybella said. “Everyone is in the mind set of getting in shape, and trying to knock this first meet out.”
The first swim meet is Nov 7, here at Norwich. Both the men and women will be swimming.