Oct. 4, 2000
The return of U.S. Olympian Maddy Crippen in January and the addition of an outstanding recruiting class to an already potent roster makes the 2000-01 season look bright for the Villanova women's swimming & diving team. First year head coach Rick Simpson has the Wildcats poised for their finest season ever, and a marked improvement from a fourth place Big East finish one season ago.
"We certainly see potential to have one of the best years the program has ever seen," said Simpson. "We also feel that we definitely have the personnel here. There are no areas in which we are really lacking and this team has no major holes. One of the top goals is to have the biggest NCAA team in the program's history."
The distance freestyle events are loaded in 2000-01 for the `Cats, behind senior Katherine Volz, junior Christy Welch, and sophomore Andie Scelsi. Volz won her first Big East individual title last season, capturing the 1,650 yard freestyle. She was also Villanova's lone qualifier for the NCAA Championships. Volz, Welch and Scelsi were each Big East finalists in both the 500 and 1,650 yard freestyle. Freshman Michelle Diago will also be a key contributor in the distance freestyle this season.
"We have three obvious Big East finalists in the distance freestyle," said Simpson. "All three have the potential to win events at conference championships."
The Wildcats' deepest area may be the individual medley, where Crippen highlights a strong cast. She was the school's first-ever female swimmer to earn a U.S. Olympic Team berth, and placed sixth in the 400m IM at the Summer Games in Sydney.
"Maddy coming back is obviously very important because it adds three individual major point scoring swims," said Simpson. "She has meant so much to this program and this school, so we can't wait to have her back."
A former NCAA qualifier in the 400, senior Katie Armitage also adds considerable strength in the IM events. Other swimmers that will make an impact in the IM for Simpson are Scelsi, junior Brooke Corby, and sophomore Colleen Malloy.
The top returner for Villanova in the butterfly is junior Valerie Mesplier. The Wildcats also bring in two newcomers to the event in sophomore Auburn University transfer Ashley Ellis, and freshman Rebecca Koch.
Junior Brooke Corby established herself last season as one of the conferences top breaststroke swimmers. Together with Crippen and Malloy and senior Katie Gannon, Corby hopes to score major points for the `Cats at the Big East Championships.
"Brooke (Corby) had a great season last year and has looked to continue that through training," remarked Simpson. "She really has the desire to step forward and swim at the national level."
A outstanding Big East performer throughout her career, Kristen Olson returns to help anchor the sprint freestyle events. Olson is a two-time Big East individual champion and four-time relay champion who looks to make noise once again in conference action. Koch and Mesplier will add depth behind Olson in the sprint free.
The Wildcats are very young in the backstroke entering the 2000-01 campaign. Freshmen Moira Durkin and Katie Shipe will fill both the 100 and 200, and hope to make an immediate impact.
The 800 yard freestyle relay team is one of the top in the conference and is a legitimate contender for an NCAA berth. Villanova will have a number of returners and freshmen who will serve key roles for Simpson and the Wildcats in both the freestyle and medley relay events.
Villanova enters 2000-01 with four divers under its arm. Sophomores Anne Lindsay and Christina Rubino return with a year of experience now under their belts. The Wildcats have also brought in two strong newcomers in freshmen Julie Rhines and Amy Sfara.
"Julie (Rhines) brings us solid diving experience and has the chance to finish top eight in the Big East in both the one and three meter dives," said Simpson. "Amy (Sfara) is coming off a knee injury, but is progressing quicker than expected."
The 2000-01 Wildcats are strong at nearly every event and possess a tremendous arsenal to make a run at the top of the Big East. Villanova owns a unique blend of experience and youth, and the return of Crippen may be the deciding factor in putting the Wildcats in contention for their first Big East title since 1996.
