Rice Swimming 2009

By Floyd Ray     10/8/09 7:00pm

The new competition pool which the swim team will use at the Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation Center may be the most obvious change for this year's swim team, but it certainly won't be the only one. With 60 percent of the team comprised of freshmen and sophomores, and only three seniors on the team, the Owls will likely be one of the youngest squads in Conference USA. The turnover will arguably be the most interesting aspect of the team's competitions this season, as last season Rice had one of their most successful runs in recent history, placing third in C-USA and setting school records in the 200-yard medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay. After the graduation of seven seniors and the loss of non-seniors Caitlin Warner, Carlyann Miller, and Skylar Craig from the team, Rice faces a challenge to repeat last season's multiple successes.

With a depleted upperclassman presence, Head Coach Seth Huston will allow younger swimmers plenty of opportunities to step up this season.

"How this team is going to emerge after having a big senior class leave [is my biggest concern for the season]," Huston said. "So far they have exceeded my expectations during training."

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Thus, Huston and Assistant Coach Jada Hallmark are working with the young team to help them train for the rigors of college swimming. To acclimate the new swimmers to stiffer competition and to help the team move to the next level of college competition, Huston has increased his expectations for his team. This fall, he expected the swimmers to return in better shape than in previous years from the offseason, to begin training sooner and to improve their stamina more quickly, as Huston added more cardio workouts in their strength-training routine.

The team's new practice and competition facility will also be a positive factor. Huston said this new aquatics facility, with an adjustable wall that can alter the length of the pool to the full 50- meter Olympic length, is a long-awaited improvement upon the aged Rice Pool, the team's current practice facility and old competition facility. However, the squad will have to wait a bit longer to compete there - the pool will open by mid-November at the latest.

"Rice Pool is pushing 60 years old," Huston said. "In this day and age the facility that we are moving into is really what you see on most campuses, [and without it] we have had one hand tied behind our backs."

The new facility is a first-class endeavor that will provide the team with resources similar to those of Rice's competitors, as well as serve as a key attraction to future recruits. Thus, its purpose is twofold: Up the intensity of the team's practices and help in signing high-level recruits.

With the pool allowing the team to practice more intensely, it will hopefully help them toward one of the longest-standing goals: defeating Rice's largest C-USA rival, Southern Methodist University, which has won the past four C-USA championships. Rice, on the other hand, was runner-up in 2007 and 2008 and placed third last year. Defeating the Mustangs would satisfy a major goal for the Owls from the previous seasons. In addition, the achievement certainly would help the team move toward a top-25 program, according to Huston.

The head coach said he expects the 2009 season to be a step for Rice toward the upper echelon of college swim programs.

"Our sense of purpose with coming into the new facility is that we really want to take ourselves to the next level," Huston said.

The current swim team consists of six newly-recruited freshman, many of whom are eager to make a name for themselves: Stephanie Wei, Kylee Talwar, Kim Steinhouse, Danielle Spence, Lauren Lewis and Krystal Lau.

These freshmen have a variety of strengths. Wei will swim the backstroke and freestyle, and Talwar the individual medley and breaststroke, alongside Lewis. Steinhouse is a sprinter, while Spence is a distance swimmer. Lau will round out the class in the individual medley, like Talwar, as well as the freestyle, like Wei.

With freshmen accounting for nearly one-third of the team, these six swimmers bring a new energy to the team, and this group brings much talent with them.

"I feel like they can exceed what left last year," Huston said.

There is plenty of anticipation about the incoming class, but the team can also boast the return of several of their stars from last season. The team's reigning MVP, junior Erin Mattson, returns hoping to continue the success she experienced last season, which saw her break several school records. Pam Zelnick, who helped set the school record in the 400-medley relay last season, also returns this year as a senior. Last season's Rookie of the Year, Shelby Bottoms, returns as a sophomore, alongside classmates Alison Godbe and Alex O'Brien, who Huston says have both improved. Huston also noted that junior Kait Chura has been especially competitive in her training and will likely bring that competitive spirit to the meets.

While the team returns several members, the loss of Warner, Miller, Gu and Craig will be most heavily felt in the relay squads, as this group contributed to last year's record-breaking relay foursomes.

No matter how strong the team may be, Rice's competition will push it further than years past. C-USA promises to boast several strong teams besides just SMU, as the University of Houston and East Carolina University will also pose barriers to a conference title. The Owls will also face several other schools outside of conference. Late in the fall they will face Texas A&M University, and later in the spring they will face Louisiana State University in a meet at UH.

The team's season officially commences this weekend at the Phill Hansel Duals, held at the UH Rec Center. Florida International University will join Rice and Houston in attempting to get the season off with a strong start.

"We want to be the best," Mattson said. "Building off the success from previous seasons, we will accomplish our goals.

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