women's swimming and diving

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY women’s swimming and diving 1-7 BUCKEYE SWIMMING AND DIVING Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 1 Quick Facts ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Opponent Information and Schedule .............................................................................................. 3 McCorkle Aquatic Pavlion ............................................................................................................ 4-5 Outlook ......................................................................................................................................... 6-7 8-11 COACHES Swimming Coach Bill Dorenkott .................................................................................................. 8-9 Assistant Coach Stefanie Williams and Graduate Assistant Susan Johnson ............................... 9 Diving Coach Vince Panzano .................................................................................................... 10-11 12-19 STUDENT-ATHLETE BIOGRAPHIES Meet the Buckeyes .................................................................................................................. 12-19 20-52 THE PEOPLE. THE TRADITION. THE EXCELLENCE. Swimming and Diving at The Ohio State University ............................................................... 20-44 Season-in-Review ......................................................................................................................... 45 Records & Honors ......................................................................................................................... 46 Big Ten Champions & Honors ....................................................................................................... 47 NCAA History ................................................................................................................................ 48 Academic Honors & Awards .................................................................................................... 49-50 Letterwinners ........................................................................................................................... 51-52 MISSION STATEMENT The Ohio State University Department of Athletics supports the University mission by provid- ing student-athletes with exceptional educational and athletic opportunities. We commit to national leadership, excellence and the highest ethical standards in intercollegiate athletics. We will sustain a strong financial and community base of support by presenting outstanding intercollegiate athletic teams, which provide quality entertainment and a positive public identity for the University. [ [ [ McCORKLE AQUATIC PAVILION 4 MEET THE BUCKEYES 12 HISTORY AND TRADITION 48 [ [ [ [ [ [ [ 2008-09 ] >> BUCKEYE SWIMMING 2008-09 OHIO STATE SWIMMING and DIVING Editor - Jerry Emig Assistant AD for Creative Services - Diana Sabau Graphic Designer - Taurean Jones Photographers - Michael Abramson (Courtesy Roy Lichtenstein Foundation), Rich Bostwick, Chance Brockway Jr., Scott Brockway, Hal Clark, Kevin Fitzsimons, Terry Gilliam, V. Scott Gilmore, Rebecca Gray, Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mark Hall, Stan Hu, Jay LaPrete, Jo McCulty, Jeff Mills, OSU Biomedical Communications, OSU Photo Archives, Ohio State University Relations, Lance Parker, Rick Prebeg, Jamie Sabau, Doug Sampson, Erik Schelkun, Dale Sparks, Mitch Stringer, Dan Trittschuh, Will Schilling, Jamie Schwaberow, Gail Wadley, Tom Wolf (AllSport), Tony Rotundo Printing - Ohio State University Printing Services and Reprographics, Columbus, Ohio. This publication has been prepared to assist in your coverage of Ohio State athletics. Every attempt has been made to ensure its accuracy and thoroughness. On behalf of the Department of Athletics, we would like to thank you for your coverage of Ohio State’s 36 intercollegiate varsity sports and look forward to working with you again this year. Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions or need assistance. chelsea gillispie CREDENTIAL REQUESTS Members of the working media interested in obtaining credentials should contact Kendra Lee in the athletics communications office at 614-292-6861 or email at lee.3147@osu.edu. Credentials will be left at the entrance to the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. MEDIA INTERVIEWS Media wishing to conduct interviews with any member of the Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team should contact Lee in the OSU Athletics Communications Office. Please call at least one day in advance. ROAD REQUESTS Please direct all credential requests for Ohio State’s road meets to the host school’s sports information director (see opponent information on pg. 3). UNIVERSITY FACTS Location ............................................... Columbus, Ohio (pop. 1.5m) Founded ....................................................................................1870 Enrollment ............................................ 52,568 (Columbus campus) 60,347 (all campuses) Nickname ......................................................................... Buckeyes Colors ................................ Scarlet (PMS 200) and Gray (PMS 429) Mascot ....................................................................Brutus Buckeye President ....................................................................... Gordon Gee Director of Athletics .................................................. Eugene Smith Faculty Representative ................................................. John Bruno Conference ................................................................Big Ten (1913) PRACTICES The Buckeyes practice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 6 a.m. and again from 3-4:30 p.m. in the 50-meter pool at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS WEEKLY RELEASE The weekly release, which includes notes and statistics, is available each week on the official Ohio State athletics web site at: ohiostatebuckeyes.com. Releases are not mailed. SWIMMING & DIVING HISTORY JERRY EMIG KENDRA LEE MEDIA MEET SERVICES Game notes will be made available to the media prior to each meet. Results will be distributed to the media about 20 minutes following each meet. Any additional requests should be directed to Lee. Swimming and Diving Contact Swimming and Diving Contact Assistant Athletics Director of Communications .. Dan Wallenberg Director ...........................................................................Shelly Poe Associate Director ......................................................Leann Parker Assistant Directors ...... Alissa Clendenen, Jerry Emig, D.C. Koehl, Courtney Walerius, Danielle Warner, Adam Widman Intern .......................................................................... Emily Meyer Ath. Communications Contacts ..................Jerry Emig/Kendra Lee Office Phone ................................................... 614-292-6861 Cell Phone ........................................... 614-203-2766 (Emig) E-mail ..................emig.2@osu.edu and lee.3147@osu.edu Mailing Address ....................................... Rm. 124, St. John Arena 410 Woody Hayes Drive Columbus, Ohio 43210-1166 Big Ten Team Championships ....................................................... 5 Swimming All-Americans ........................................................... 50 Diving All-Americans .................................................................. 40 Big Ten Swimming Champions .................................................... 55 Big Ten Diving Champions ........................................................... 22 Swimming & Diving National Champions ..................................... 5 First-Team All-Big Ten Selections ................................................ 51 Academic All-Big Ten Selections .............................................. 178 Home Facility ........................................McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Building 247, 1847 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 Total Seating Capacity ............................................................ 1,750 Total Capacity in Gallons ................................................. 1,557,968 RADIO AND TV BROADCASTS Members of the media wishing to broadcast Ohio State meets should contact the athletics communications office at least 48 hours prior to the date. POST-MEET PROCEDURES Interviews will begin 10 minutes after the meet ends. Swimmers, divers and coaches will be available on the pool deck. A member of the OSU Athletics Communications Office will assist with interviews. Any additional requests should be directed to Lee. TEAM FACTS Swimming Coach ...................................................... Bill Dorenkott Alma Mater, Year ............................................Cleveland State, ’91 OSU Record (Years) ................................................... 0-0 (First year) Career Record (Years) ...................................................... 92-27 (12) Assistant Coach ............................ Stefanie Williams, Georgia, ’03 Graduate Assistant ........................Susan Johnson, Wisconsin, ’08 Diving Coach ............................................Vince Panzano, 31st year Alma Mater, Year ..................................................... Ohio State, ‘72 Swimming Phone .......................................................614-292-4415 Diving Phone ..............................................................614-282-0527 Fax ..............................................................................614-688-5736 E-Mail ............................................................ dorenkott.2@osu.edu E-Mail .............................................................. panzano.1@osu.edu PHOTOGRAPHERS Photo passes are issued to daily newspapers, wire services and special periodical publications. Flash photography is prohibited and strobe use must be approved in advance. MEET DAY MANAGEMENT Press Row ....................................................... 614-292-1813 Facility Operations ......................................... 614-292-6532 Ticket Office ................................................... 614-292-2624 Marketing ...................................................... 614-292-3672 Training Room ................................................ 614-292-7880 Equipment Room ........................................... 614-292-2654 PHOTO REQUESTS All still photography requests of Ohio State athletes and coaches must be faxed or emailed to Diana Sabau, director of athletic publications. She can be reached through the athletics communications office at 614-292-6861 or electronically at sabau.2@osu.edu. Photo credentials should be requested through the individual sport contact. OHIOSTATEBUCKEYES.COM courtney brayman This is the official web site of the Ohio State Athletics Department. Ohio State women’s swimming and diving releases as well as a wide variety of athletics department information can be found on the web, including links to all 36 varsity sports. VIDEO SERVICES For information regarding video services and meet footage (if available), contact Mark Smith, manager of video services at 614-688-5359. 2 BUCKEYE SWIMMING 2008-09 OPPONENT INFORMATION griet buelens Kenyon Lords Head Coach: Jim Steen Pool: KAC Center SID: Marty Fuller SID Phone: (740) 427-5471 SID Email: fullerm@kenyon.edu Website: athletics.kenyon.edu Cincinnati Bearcats Head Coach: Monty Hopkins Pool: Keating Aquatics Center SID: Jeremy Martin SID Phone: (513) 556-5191 SID Email: Jeremy.Martin@uc.edu Website: gobearcats.cstv.com Miami Redhawks Head Coach: Dave Jennings Pool: Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center SID: Mke Pearson SID Phone: (513) 529-4329 SID Email: pearsomg@muohio.edu Website: muredhawks.cstv.com Cleveland State Vikings Head Coach: Wally Morton Pool: Buseby Natatorium 2007-08 Record: 3-10 SID: Brian McCann SID Phone: (216) 687-5440 SID Email: b.mccann66@csuohio.edu Website: csuvikings.cstv.com Wright State Raiders Head Coach: Sion Brinn Pool: WSU Natatorium SID: Greg Campbell SID Phone: (937) 775-4687 SID Email: campbell@wright.edu Website: wsuraiders.cstv.om Indiana Hoosiers Head Coach: Ray Looze Pool: Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center SID: Melanie Schneider SID Phone: (812) 856-2939 SID Email: ms48@indiana.edu Website: iuhoosiers.cstv.com Missouri Tigers Head Coach: Brian Hoffer Assoc. Head Coach: Chris Peters Pool: Mizzou Aquatics Center 2007-08 Record: 13-1 SID: Zach Burrus SID Phone: (217) 473-0413 SID Email: zsbnq6@mizzou.edu Website: mutigers.cstv.com Penn State Nittany Lions Head Coach: John Hargis Pool: McCoy Auditorium SID: Jay Monahan SID Phone: (814) 865-1757 SID Email: jfm24@psu.edu Website: gopsusports.cstv.com West Virginia Mountaineers Head Coach: Vic Riggs Pool: WVU Natatorium SID: Grant Dovey SID Phone: (304) 293-2821 SID Email: grant.dovey@mail.wvu.edu Website: www.msnsportsnet.com Michigan Wolverines Head Coach: Jim Richardson Pool: Canham Natatorium SID: Jeremiah Hergott SID Phone: (734) 763-4423 SID Email: jhergott@umich.edu Website: www.GoBlue.com 2008-09 OHIO STATE WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE Nov. 1 .................Sat. ..................Kenyon ........................................... Columbus, Ohio ................................... 1 p.m. 7 .................Fri. ...................Cincinnati...................................... Columbus, Ohio. .................................. 6 p.m. 14 ...............Fri. ...................Miami (Diving only)..................... Columbus, Ohio ................................... 5 p.m. 21-24 ..........Fri.-Sun .............at Texas A&M Diving Invite ............ College Station, Texas ...........................All Day 25 ...............Tues. ................Cleveland State............................... Cleveland, Ohio .......................................5 p.m. Dec. 5-7 .............Fri.-Sun. .........Ohio State Invite .......................... Columbus, Ohio ..................... 6 p.m./12 p.m. Jan. 9 .................Fri. . .................Wright State ................................. Columbus, Ohio ................................... 5 p.m. 9-10 ............Fri.-Sat. ............Auburn Diving Invite ....................... Auburn, Ala............................................All Day 17 ...............Sat. ...................at Indiana with Missouri................. Bloomington, Ind. ..................................12 p.m. 24 ...............Fri. ....................at Michigan .................................... Ann Arbor, Mich. .................................. 11 a.m. 30-31 .........Fri.-Sat. ...........Penn State..................................... Columbus, Ohio .................... 6 p.m./12 p.m. Feb. 6 .................Fri. ...................West Virginia ............................... Columbus, Ohio ................................... 5 p.m. 7-8 ..............Sat.-Sun. .........Purdue Diving Invitational............... West Lafayette, Ind. .............................All Day 19-21 ..........Thu.-Sat. .........Big Ten Championships................... Ann Arbor, Mich. ....................... 12 p.m./7 p.m. Mar. 13-15 ..........Fri.-Sun. ............NCAA Diving Zones ........................ West Lafayette, Ind. .............................All Day 19-21 ..........Thu.-Sat. ..........NCAA Championships..................... College Station, Texas .............. 12 p.m./7 p.m. Apr. 15-19 ..........Wed.-Sun. ........USA Diving Spring Nationals.......... TBA. ......................................................All Day May 15-17 .........Fri.-Sun. ..........McCorkle Invite/Grand Prix ...... Columbus, Ohio ................................ All Day All home meets (in bold) will be contested at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatics Pavilion. whitney hackman megan alexander >> 3 >> BUCKEYE SWIMMING aquatic pavilion McCORKLE AQUATIC PAVILION FACTS [ McCORKLE ] The Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion is one of the premiere facilities in the nation. Dedicated Oct. 14, 2005, the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion is the newest addition to Ohio State’s top-notch athletic facilities. Considered one of the finest competition pools in the nation, the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion’s new technology provides a venue for some of the fastest times in the country. The Pavilion consists of the Mike Peppe Natatorium and the Ron O’Brien Diving Well. The Peppe Natatorium, named for the former Ohio State head coach, features a 50-meter competition pool and a 1,750 spectator seating. The O’Brien Diving Well consists of 3-centerline towers and the ability to have 1- and 3-meter springboards on all four sides of the well. Holding nearly 1.56 million gallons of water in the entire facility, the Pavilion is part of Ohio State’s new Recreation and Physical Activities Center (RPAC). History Completed in the summer of 2005 and dedicated on Oct. 14, 2005. Prior to the move, Ohio State competed in the Peppe Pool in Larkins Hall. Amenities Concession stand Ticket booth 2 visiting team locker rooms 2 coaches and officials Locker rooms Varsity team locker rooms Training room Athletics offices Administrative offices Full data digital scoreboard Accessible seating areas Passenger elevator Freight elevator Loading dock Event management room Classroom Observation balcony Restroom facilities Wall of fame Record board Spectator seating for 1,750 On-deck seating for 480 Competitive pool Springboards and towers Spa Media Workroom for 35 4 Dimensions 10 lanes of a 50 meter racing course 20 lanes of a 25 yard racing course 28 lanes of a 25 meter racing course 20 foot decks surrounding pools 3 championship water polo courses 4,638 square foot diving pool of 536,792 gallons 14,156 square foot competitive pool of 934,324 gallons 154 square foot spa of 2,192 gallons BUCKEYE SWIMMING [ >> 5 [ >> BUCKEYE SWIMMING season outlook griet buelens samantha cheverton [08-09] The Ohio State women’s swimming team is under the leadership of a new coach – Bill Dorenkott – and assistant coach – Stefanie Williams – while the diving program is under the expert care of coach Vince Panzano. The swimmers are still relatively inexperienced, with just two NCAA qualifiers amid the group. The divers, on the other hand, are established with the return 2008 NCAA champion Chelsea Davis plus two more All-Americans. One might be quick to think that as the divers go, so will the fortunes of the swimmers at the 2009 Big Ten and NCAA championships. But that’s not the case and for two reasons. The first: Dorenkott is going to build a mindset within the first-class environment of the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion where swimming is going to be the fourth-most important thing the student-athletes do, after 1) being good, quality people; 2) remembering who they are and where they came from; and 3) getting a degree and realizing what this degree will do for them long after they leave Ohio State. The second: Dorenkott, who guided Penn State’s women to three Big Ten championships in the last seven years including back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, isn’t trying to build a championship team in 2009. Rather, his goal is excellence and his goal is to build a championship program. “Swimming well is going to take care of itself if our swimmers are taking care of the other three points,” Dorenkott believes. “And championships aren’t necessarily our goal. Our goal is excellence. While I’ve been a part of programs that have won championships, I’ve also been a part of programs that have had better meets even when they didn’t win championships. And we’ve won championships when we didn’t have a great meet. Dorenkott, Williams, a national champion swimmer on three Georgia Bulldog national championship teams, and graduate coach Susan Johnson, who swam competitively at Wisconsin, have a roster of 24 student-athletes on this year’s team. Leaders will include sophomore Samantha Cheverton, a 2008 NCAA and Canadian Olympic Trials qualifier, senior Griet Buelens, a 2007 NCAA qualifier who took a year off trying to make the Belgium Olympic team, junior Jill Lockhart, a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier, and additional Big Ten championship meet point scorers Megan Alexander, Anita Beck, Katelyn Brix and Haley Mitchell. 6 Event-by-Event Swimming Outlook Freestyle Dorenkott believes the team’s strength is in the middle distance and distance freestyle events. In the 200 freestyle, the team is strong with Anita Beck, Samantha Cheverton and Griet Buelens, and the 500 freestyle is solid with Beck and Cheverton leading the way. “We should be in pretty good shape in the distance freestyle with Katelyn Brix and Haley Mitchell, who will be quality distance swimmers and Buelens can put up a good time in the distance,” according to Dorenkott. She probably won’t swim the event because she is so good in the butterfly events. True freshman Jenna Hillier has the team’s top times in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Backstroke Lockhart is coming off a breakout season in which she picked up her Olympic Trial cut in the 200 back and competed at the trials in Omaha. She is also the team’s top returning backstroker in the 100. Cheverton had a great summer as well, setting a long course school record in the 200. With these two performers on hand, the 200 will be the stronger of the two backstroke events. Breaststroke This might be the team’s deepest event when one includes returning athletes and some quality performers coming in as freshmen. Juniors Megan Alexander and Colleen Schweitzer are the top two returning athletes in both distances. Freshman Catherine Eitel had a strong summer, winning a sectional meet in Bloomington, Ind. in the 100 breaststroke. Butterfly In the 100 butterfly, the top two returning swimmers are Cheverton and junior Courtney Brayman. In the 200, Cheverton, Beck and Buelens comprise a formidable triple threat. Buelens is an NCAA qualifier in the 200 butterfly whose return will add talent and increase the depth in this event. Individual Medley Expect the 400 IM to be a bit stronger than the 200 IM, according to Dorenkott. At both distances, Brix and Lockhart are the team’s top swimmers. Dorenkott expects other student-athletes will be able to contribute in the IMs, including some incoming freshmen. BUCKEYE SWIMMING chelsea davis 2008-09 WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING ROSTER Name ....................................... Events .............. Cl. ............. Hometown .......................................................High School Megan Alexander .................... BR ..................... Jr. .............. Columbus, Ohio ..................................Worthington Kilbourne Bianca Alvarez ......................... DV ..................... So. ............ Miami, Florida .................................................. Miami Sunset Kristen Asman .......................... DV ..................... So. ............ Columbus, Ohio ......................................................Fort Hayes Anita Beck ................................ FR/FL ................. So. ............ Cincinnati, Ohio ....................................................... Anderson Katie Bell .................................. DV ..................... So.. ........... Columbus, Ohio .......................................................... Graham Farriss Blaskovits ..................... FR/FL ................. Jr. .............. Nepean, Ontario .............................................. Mother Teresa Courtney Brayman .................... FL ...................... Sr. ............. Pittsford, New York .....................................Pittsford Mendon Katelyn Brix .............................. IM/BR ............... So. ............ Brentwood, Calif. ..........................................................Liberty Griet Buelens ........................... FL/FR ................. Sr. ............. Kapelle-Op-Den-Bos, Belgium ................ Ursulinen Mechelen Samantha Cheverton ............... FR/BK/IM .......... So. ........... Lachine, Quebec ...........................Queen of Angels Academy Chelsea Davis .......................... DV ..................... Sr. ............. Columbus, Ohio ..................................Worthington Kilbourne Catherine Eitel ......................... FR ...................... Fr. ............. Upper Arlington, Ohio .................................... Upper Arlington Chelsea Gillespie ..................... BK ..................... So. ............ Sarasota, Florida .....................................................Riverview Erin Fawley ............................... FR ...................... Fr. ............. Xenia, Ohio .....................................................................Xenia Shelby Gordon .......................... FR ...................... So. ............ Maumee, Ohio .......................................................... Maumee Heike Gutwein ......................... BR ..................... So. ............ Rensselaer, Indiana .................................. Rensselaer Central Whitney Hackman .................... BR ..................... Sr. ............. Goshen, Indiana ..................................................... Northridge Leigh Hicks ............................... FR ...................... So. ............ Cincinnati, Ohio ....................................................... Anderson Jenna Hillier ............................. FR ...................... Fr. ............. Dublin, Ohio ................................................... Upper Arlington Jill Lockhart .............................. BK/IM/BF .......... Jr. .............. Muncie, Indiana ........................................................Yorktown Morgan Menzie ........................ FR ...................... So. ............ Katy, Texas ...........................................................Cinco Ranch Haley Mitchell .......................... FR ...................... Jr. .............. Walled Lake, Michigan.........................Walled Lake Western Lisa Narum ............................... FR/IM ................ Fr. ............. Plesanton, Calif. ........................................................Foothiill Natalie Nichols ........................ FR/IM ................ Fr. ............. Claremont, Calif. .................................................... Claremont Meg Noble ............................... FR ...................... Jr. .............. Novi, Michigan ..............................................................Mercy Sarah Ratica ............................. FR ...................... Jr. .............. Solon, Ohio .....................................................................Solon Colleen Schweitzer .................. BR ..................... Jr. .............. Highlands Ranch, Colorado ..........................Highlands Ranch Mary Ann Wiser ....................... FR/BA ............... Jr. .............. Greenwood, Indiana ..........................Greenwood Community jill lockhart DIVING OUTLOOK Panzano, last year’s Diving Coach of the Year at the NCAA meet after coaching Chelsea Davis to her national crown on three-meter with Bianca Alvarez and Kristin Asman also picking up All-American honors, has a talented squad of performers to work with. Included is sophomore Katie Bell, who is coming back from an injury her freshman year and sat out last year. Davis will be a senior with NCAA and Big Ten Conference championships now on her resume. She’ll be a terrific resource and leader for the sophomores Alvarez and Asman, who are coming off excellent freshman campaigns. Alvarez earned NCAA All-America honors after placing second on the 3-meter and fifth on the 1-meter event. Asman picked up her All-America honor by placing fourth on the platform. She also was 10th on the 1-meter and 16th on 3-meter. Bell returns after almost a two-year absence. She was one of the country’s top tower divers before she was injured as a freshman. Panzano is hopeful she can return to the form she displayed prior to her injury. Even though this team of divers was outstanding last year, Panzano believes there is still room to improve. “All of the divers have aspirations to make the 2012 Olympic team and this is the start of the next four-year period leading up to the Olympic games,” Panzano said. “The challenge to make the 2012 Olympic Trials starts now and, hopefully, all of them will have the opportunity to compete and someone will make the team and compete in London for the U.S.” kristen asman >> 7