The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Championships
Women's Swimming & Diving finishes ninth at NCAA Championships
03.17.2012 | Women's Swimming and Diving
March 17, 2012
AUBURN, Ala. - The Texas Women's Swimming & Diving team claimed ninth place at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships with 201 points.
"We had a lot of highs and what I really appreciate about this team is the ability to get past disappointments and focus on a team effort," said head coach Kim Brackin. "It was fun to battle and the team fought hard. I thought the team performed extremely well in an incredibly fast meet. I am just really proud of the team and the leadership of our seniors."
The Longhorns have now finished in the top 10 in 11 of the last 13 seasons and in four of the six seasons under head coach Kim Brackin. Helping UT to its top 10 finish were 10 individuals who combined for 20 All-America honors and seven honorable mention All-America honors.
The 10 individuals who were recognized for top 16 performances including Bethany Adams (2 AA), Kelsey Amundsen (3 AA, 2 HM), Karlee Bispo (7 AA), Kelsey LeNeave (1 AA), Ellen Lobb (1 AA, 1 HM), Lily Moldenhauer (1 AA, 1HM), Katie Riefenstahl (1 HM), Laura Sogar (3 AA, 1 HM), Samantha Tucker (2 AA) and Diana Wilcox (1 HM).
Besides earning seven All-America honors, Bispo finished as the seventh highest individual scorer at the 2012 NCAA Championships with 47 points, 10 shy of the top scorers at the meet.
Bispo broke yet another school record with her time of 47.41 in the 100 freestyle. The time was good for fourth overall in the race and 15 team points for the Longhorns. She held the previous record of 47.48 from the 2009 NCAA Championships. Bispo has broken UT records in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay this weekend.
Junior Laura Sogar posted a time of 2:09.17 to place seventh in the 200 breaststroke. She made the top eight in both breaststroke events this weekend. Her placing in the 200 breast provided 12 teams points for UT.
"This morning I was really nervous because it is hard to get in the top eight," said Sogar. "Tonight I was calmer and had fun with it. I didn't finish quite as well as I would have liked but was happy with it overall."
The Longhorns closed out the meet with a sixth place finish in the 400 freestyle relay. Bispo, Amundsen Adams and Tucker combined for a time of 3:14.41. Bispo had a split of 47.75 while each of the other three were under 49.00.
In the platform diving consolation finals, junior Diana Wilcox tallied a score of 232.80 for eighth place. Her finish is 16th overall and picked up one team point for the Longhorns.
"I just wanted to have a pretty good meet and I did so I was pretty happy about it," said Wilcox.
Wilcox got off to a strong start with a 58.5 on her first dive, a forward 3 1/2 somersault pike. She followed with a score of 50.4 for her inward 2 1/2 somersault pike. Her following three dives all resulted in scores below 50.0 as she just missed executing each one.
"I figured something out about my first two dives during the practice this morning and they are both similar fronts and inwards and entries," said Wilcox. "I had really good tops on my other dives but just missed a little bit. Some days are just like that."
Senior Katie Riefenstahl competed in the 200 backstroke consolation B final. She recorded a time of 1:55.80 for eighth in the race and one team point. It was the final race of Riefenstahl's four-year career.
After the platform diving prelims and consolation final, three of the four heats of the 1,650 freestyle were held. For Texas a pair of freshmen in Kelsey LeNeave and Kaitlin Pawlowicz took part. LeNeave finished in 16:18.91 for the 18th best time and Pawlowicz was 22nd with a 16:23.23.
"It is hard seeing a time that is not as fast as what I did in December but this meet has been a learning process for me," said Pawlowicz. "I made it here and that is something I need to keep in mind. Now that I made it here and tried my best I have to learn from it and move on with hopes of being better next year."
Texas NCAA Championships Quotes:
Senior Leah Gingrich
On last NCAA Championships
"It wasn't what I was looking for swimming-wise but I had a really great time with the team here. When I would leave the pool I would be able to forget about everything because of the teammates I have with me. I also had five family members here so it made it easy for me to move on to my next race. Overall it was pretty good."
On Texas career coming to a close
"I am sad to see it end because I always loved being a part of this team and got really close with all the girls so will miss them. I am really going to miss all my teammates but I am ready to move on to the next part of my life and am excited about what is to come."
Senior Katie Riefenstahl
On Texas career coming to a close
"It is overwhelming in some ways. At times it has been really hard and it seems like it went really fast. With college swimming in itself, completing four years is a great accomplishment for all the seniors here at the meet. It is fun to be a part of something so well respected."
On last NCAA Championships
"I didn't do what I wanted to do but at the end of the day what places I get in swimming don't mean as much as the experience I have gotten from swimming and going to school at Texas. I have so much more waiting for me and am excited for what is next."
Junior Bethany Adams
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"It was a bit of a rocky road and was a lot harder for us than we anticipated. It was a great experience and exciting to get another year under our belt. It was exciting to see the races be that fast. It is also always a good time being with my teammates."
Junior Kelsey Amundsen
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"There have definitely been ups and downs. Overall it has been a pretty good experience. I am happy with how I did. It was a learning experience for us because we had so many freshmen here. It is great that they made it and there was a lot of teaching and learning going on this weekend. It was a good experience for our team."
On advice to freshmen
"This meet is a hard meet to go your best times. It is also not as big as you think it is going to be compared to national meets. I just told them to keep in mind that the meet is really fast but it is not big so if you do the right things you will make it back."
Junior Shelby Cullinan
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"It has been a good experience with our team. The vibe has been really positive. It is really emotional for me with the seniors because I came in with them and it is their last year. I am with them but I still have another year."
Junior Laura Sogar
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"Any time I am with my teammates I have a good time. It is a great group of girls. They always make me laugh and no matter where we are we have fun. It was a good competition and we had some good swims. It was a lot of fun and a great experience."
Junior Diana Wilcox
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"I had a really good experience and learned a lot about myself and competing. I improved on some things and look forward to being better in the future.
Sophomore Ellen Lobb
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"This time I enjoyed the people around me a lot more. Coming into it we had a really good team environment. We have a click with all the girls that has continued into tonight and we are closer than we have been all year. From the beginning it has been a great group and at this meet I have laughed more than I have in a long time. We have been joking around and enjoying the moment while still competing well."
On team bonding experience
"You want to have those people you can go to after a race regardless of if you do good or bad. I know we all know we can do that with each other. We know our teammates will make a joke or hug you depending on what you need after a race. That has been really helpful and made me respect and love the girls even more."
On difference from freshman year
"I feel a little older. I can say I have one under my belt. I just did relays last year so it was a new experience doing individual events and I loved that. Being up behind the block and seeing the team over on the side was great. Because I had been here before I felt a little more relaxed and was able to enjoy it with my teammates."
Sophomore Lily Moldenhauer
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"Overall it was pretty good. I would have to say the best experience was the 400 medley relay when I got my best time in the 100 back in the final. It was a learning experience for the next two years for sure."
On excitement in building
"The fastness of the races and all the schools here really builds up your energy. It makes it a lot more exciting than other meets because so many teams are here. One of the most exciting things for me is getting to see all of my friends I have competed with throughout the years."
Sophomore Samantha Tucker
On experience at 2012 NCAA Championships
"Personally it has just been ok. I was frustrated with my 200 but I had a better swim on our 800 freestyle relay that turned me around for a better day today in the 100 free. I had my best time I have had at Texas so far. We just wanted to leave it all in the pool today."
On team bonding at NCAAs
"This week made the small group we had even closer. We started the week laughing a lot and in good spirits and we are still doing the same. If anything it makes you really happy that you have really good friends on the team."
Freshman Gretchen Jaques
On first NCAA Championships
"It has been a really fun experience. I wasn't sure what to think coming in to the meet since I have never been to NCAAs but it was really fun and a learning experience as a freshman."
On if anything surprised her about first NCAAs
"I really liked the energy we had and all the other teams had. It was so new because I have never been to a meet like this that is so team-oriented and excitable for everyone. It was really inspiring and be excited to swim for Texas. It lit a fire under all of us with everyone so excited to see their team and trying to do well. It made me feel very proud to be a Texas Longhorn."
Freshman Kelsey LeNeave
On first NCAA Championships
"It has been really exciting. It is a whole new world and it has been great to experience this in my first year of college and get all the experience I can going into the next two years."
Freshman Kaitlin Pawlowicz
On first NCAA Championships
"It is eye-opening. It is very interesting and cool to see so many people swim fast. It is so exciting watching my teammates and swimmers on other teams. It gets you going a little bit and you think about working harder to be that fast. It is also cool to see teams come together and work together to try and become NCAA Champions as a team. Taking in and observing everything is an exciting experience."
Freshman Skylar Smith
On first NCAA Championships
"It was a lot of fun being with the team and a great experience to get. I learned a lot from this meet watching everybody swim and from swimming myself. It is louder than I expected and the fans and teams are really into it. I liked it a lot. The atmosphere is awesome."
