The 2012-13 Western Kentucky University swimming and diving team's season is only days away, as the team takes on Delta State on Saturday, October 13 at 1 p.m. in Bill Powell Natatorium.
Both the men and women's team finished as runner-up in the 2012 Sun Belt Conference Championship, but with 36 returners and 21 newcomers, the Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers have their eyes on winning their respective conference championships this season.
Backstroke
Back in the Water
WKU head coach Bruce Marchionda, who is entering his 11th season with the swimming and diving team, said that the backstroke is "one of our strongest events as far as returners for the women."
With four returners who all finaled at the SBC Championship last season, there is definitely no doubting Marchionda's statement, as seniors Hilary Mishler, Alex Van Oost and Laurel Chaney along with sophomore Allie Duff are back in the water for WKU.
The men are looking to have a pretty solid group of backstrokers according to Marchionda with senior Adam Dajka, who is the school record holder in the 200 back, leading the returners. Junior Neal Rushing will also be expected to do some backstroke events for WKU this year.
Newcomers in the Lanes
For the women, junior transfer Natalie Lenderman could help out, as she may help in the sprint events to fill in the gaps that the team needs.
Freshman Chris Goodman, according to Marchionda, "will definitely have an impact for what we do this year in the backstroke events." Marchionda also hopes that freshman Tripp Watson develops quickly and ends up helping out in the event as well.
Breaststroke
Back in the Water
Marchionda commented that the breaststroke may be one of the deeper events on the women's side. Returning is sophomore Claire Conlon after having a great year for WKU along with fellow classmates Whitney Spain and Taylor Counter, who both had tremendous improvements last year to help with the breaststroke.
The men bring back a solid core from last year's team, especially with the return of seniors Billy Kunkel and Luke Musser who went 1-2 in the conference championship in the breaststroke. Sophomore Tyler Groneck is also coming off a great year in the breaststroke while senior Louis Bunch will do some breaststroke for WKU and help out there.
Newcomers in the Lanes
WKU welcomes three newcomers to the event in junior Amy Halligan, freshman Allison Maher and sophomore Rebecca Hatcher. Adding in returning sophomore Hannah Runyon-Hass to help in the 200 breaststroke, Marchionda feels that with the new additions, "it gives us a lot of flexibility there to move some of them around and have some good things."
For the Hilltoppers, freshman Connor Dwyer, who got his Olympic Trial cuts in the breaststroke this summer, will be added to the mix.
