Saint Mary's is off to Michigan this weekend for two meets against MIAA rivals Hope and Olivet. With the championship meet only one month away, the Belles are looking to perform well both Friday and Saturday.
Unfortunately, the new semester marks the loss of one of the best swimmers for the Belles. Sophomore Audrey Dalr
Saint Mary's is off to Michigan this weekend for two meets against MIAA rivals Hope and Olivet. With the championship meet only one month away, the Belles are looking to perform well both Friday and Saturday.
Unfortunately, the new semester marks the loss of one of the best swimmers for the Belles. Sophomore Audrey Dalrymple, who made it to nationals last year, is currently studying abroad in Ireland and will miss the end of the season.
Additionally, senior Meredith Lierz recently hurt her knee and will not be swimming this weekend. But despite these absences, other girls have stepped up to fill in their places.
Senior captain Sara Niemann, who swims distance freestyle and backstroke, is looking for a strong weekend while missing Lierz. Niemann is joined by sophomore Barbara Beidler, who swims freestyle.
The strongest part of the Belles may be their freshmen class, including two young ladies who have shone since the beginning of the season in October. Ellie Watson, a distance swimmer, and Katie Griffin, who swims freestyle, butterfly and backstroke, have promising careers ahead.
"Being freshmen, I am not sure how far they will make it this season, but by senior year I can see a national cut eventually," Belles coach Alicia Dombkowski said.
This weekend holds the first meet for the Belles since break. During that time, the team was able to grow together as a team and to improve as individuals.
"Especially after they had winter training, they have grown really close. They were living here together with pretty much no one else and had double practices every day, so everyone is meshing pretty well together," Dombkowski said.
The Belles will compete at Hope in Holland, Mich. at 6 p.m. Friday and at Olivet in Olivet, Mich. at 1 p.m. Saturday.
ymple, who made it to nationals last year, is currently studying abroad in Ireland and will miss the end of the season.
Additionally, senior Meredith Lierz recently hurt her knee and will not be swimming this weekend. But despite these absences, other girls have stepped up to fill in their places.
Senior captain Sara Niemann, who swims distance freestyle and backstroke, is looking for a strong weekend while missing Lierz. Niemann is joined by sophomore Barbara Beidler, who swims freestyle.
The strongest part of the Belles may be their freshmen class, including two young ladies who have shone since the beginning of the season in October. Ellie Watson, a distance swimmer, and Katie Griffin, who swims freestyle, butterfly and backstroke, have promising careers ahead.
"Being freshmen, I am not sure how far they will make it this season, but by senior year I can see a national cut eventually," Belles coach Alicia Dombkowski said.
This weekend holds the first meet for the Belles since break. During that time, the team was able to grow together as a team and to improve as individuals.
"Especially after they had winter training, they have grown really close. They were living here together with pretty much no one else and had double practices every day, so everyone is meshing pretty well together," Dombkowski said.
The Belles will compete at Hope in Holland, Mich. at 6 p.m. Friday and at Olivet in Olivet, Mich. at 1 p.m. Saturday.
