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King’s College never had a full-time swim coach before 2005. That was the year that Alicia Kemnitz was hired to take over both the men and women’s swim teams. Since Kemnitz has been the head swim coach, both teams have improved dramatically and look to improve even more this season.
Last year the Monarch swimmers broke nine team records. Sophomore Eric Stencovage broke the individual record for the 200 meter backstroke and a thirty-year-old 100 meter backstroke record. Stencovage also placed third in the MAC finals last season which was the highest a King’s swimmer has placed since 1998. Stencovage is a captain on this year’s squad and hopes to continue the progress he helped start last season.
“My confidence in this team is very high and I expect some really great things this year,” Stencovage said.
Coach Kemnitz expects Stencovage to break both records again this year and help the team gain points at MAC finals. Another swimmer that Kemnitz expects good things from is Sophomore Sara Schmader. Schmader broke the 400 IM record last season and placed 9th at MAC finals. Her ninth place finish was the highest of any King’s female swimmer in the past six seasons.
The Monarchs also broke several relay records last year including, the men’s 200 medley, men’ s 400 medley, men’s 800 freestyle, women’s 400 freestyle, women’s 200 freestyle, and women’s 400 medley. Kemnitz expects each one of those records to fall this season.
Swimming in the MAC conference can be difficult for a small team like King’s. They have success in dual meets when they go head-to-head against another school, but the championship is different. The entire swimming season comes down the MAC championship meets at the end of the season. The larger schools gain the advantage because they have more swimmers to win points at the championship.
The Monarchs know they are nowhere near ready to compete for the championship, but they have other goals on their mind. They want to achieve a winning season and not finish in one of the last three spots in the conference.
“Both of the team's goals are to have a record above .500 this season,” women’s co-captain Susie Hughes said, “This is a goal that has not been achieved for a long time in King's Swimming, so we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Some new faces that will help to achieve that goal are freshmen Amanda Casey and Dave Washick. Coach Kemnitz expects a lot of the rookies and she is confident they will not disappoint.
“Dave Washick will probably be our top all-around swimmer this year,” Kemnitz said. “He has an opportunity to score major points for us at dual meets and at MACs.”
Casey will have her biggest impact in her specialty event, the 100 backstroke.
With such young swimmers making an impact the Monarchs rely on leadership to guide the team to success. Co-captains, Stencovage and Hughes are joined by Sophomore Maggie Nealer to help lead the way. Kemnitz admires Nealer’s leadership and knows it has a major effect on her teammates.
“I think a lot of the swimmers look up to Maggie Nealer,” Kemnitz said. “She leads by example and they respect her for it.”
Both the men and women will have their work cut out for them to make sure they are faster this year than last. With each race comes the responsibility of living up to those record breaking times in the pool. Kemnitz knows that her teams will not enter this season over confident and both the men and women will be prepared to swim their best. The expectations are set; the only thing left to do is make ‘08-’09 the best season in King’s College swimming history. |
