Swim Season is just around the corner!

Hello everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the last week of summer. I think it went by really fast and now it's almost time for school to start. Things are picking up on campus as we gear up for another swim season. There are a few things that are going on once school starts that are going to be very exciting.

- We have a team meeting on Wednesday September 9th were we will meet everyone and talk about the upcoming season.
- On Saturday September 12th, Reba has put together a car wash fundraiser! We will talk about this at the meeting too.
-Monday September 14th is the all athlete meeting. More details to come later.

Don't forget about getting suits and goggles too. =] If you go to pure blue, mention that you swim for St. Kates and we get a portion of the sale.

Enjoy the end of summer and I can't wait to see everyone on the 9th.
Kelley

CSCAA Academic Awards

The College Swim Coaches Association of American (CSCAA) has announced that senior Jen Lippitt and first-year Sarah Vrudny have been named Honorable Mention Scholar All-Americans for their performances in the pool and the classroom this past spring. Both athletes earned NCAA B standard times in the pool while maintaining a GPA above 3.5.

While Lippitt and Vrudny picked up individual honors, the entire team was also honored for having a cumulative team GPA of 3.34. The Wildcats swimming and diving team was one of seven MIAC women's teams to earn a Scholar All-American Team award.

More information about the CSCAA awards are available here

CSC is Now SCU!

As of June 1, 2009, the College of St. Catherine officially became St. Catherine University. The name is different, but not much else has changed beyond the required signage and new uniforms!

Go SCU Wildcats!

End of the Season Awards

Today our team celebrated this year's successes with our annual banquet. It was great to have everyone back together and to spend time with their families. This was truly one of my favorite years coaching and this is largely due to the wonderful people on the team and their love for the sport.

Team Awards Given

• MIAC Sportsmanship Award: Gina Jagger

• All Conference: Bridget Perkins for 100 Butterfly

• Team Academic Award (those with a Team GPA of 3.5 or Higher) Reba Bisciglia, Rachel Doherty, Elizabeth Fosse, Terese Hill, Jen Lippitt, Lindsey Quale, Sarah Vrudny, and Mary Walters

• Most Improved: Elizabeth Fosse

• Most Inspirational: Mary Walters

• Most Dedicated: Bridget Perkins

• Most Valuable: Sarah Vrudny

Full Team Picture at Green Mill

Wildcat Academic Team (minus Elizabeth & Terese)

Most Valuable: Sarah Vrudny, Most Dedicated: Bridget Perkins
Most Inspirational: Mary Walters, Most Improved: Elizabeth Fosse (not pictured)

Our Graduating Seniors

New Captains for 2009-2010
Rachel Doherty, Reba Bisciglia, and Kelley Holmes

Thanks to all the parents and fans who supported the team this year. We would not have had as great of a year if it weren't for your love and support.

8 New Records!

Every year after the conference meet is when the record board gets its new look and shows off all of the records set throughout the year. Since starting at St. Kate's 7 years ago I've done a lot of work on the Pool Record side but only changed a few on the team side. This year it was definitely a lot more fun risking my life on the mechanical lift to change the 8 team records set a few weeks ago.

Congratulations to Sarah Vrudny, Bridget Perkins, Jen Lippitt, Mary Walters, Elizabeth Fosse, and Ashley Kramka for their amazing swims to set 8 new school records. With 5 of the 6 being first year students I'm looking forward to spending even more time on the lift in years to come.

Fantastic MIAC Moments . . .

We are still pumped from last weekend's MIAC Championship meet . . . many of the girls are thinking about next year (and swimming already!). Here are a few moments that one of our swimmers captured from the weekend. Enjoy!

Grrrrr . . . Wildcats!

Bridget placed 2nd in the 100 fly (by 2 one-hundredths of a second!), with an NCAA "B" cut time and new school record. She was our highest finisher of the meet.


Our "Boot Crew" . . . Amanda, Julie and Katie. For some strange reason, several of our athletes had foot/toe injuries this year?!

Sarah M. competes on 3-meter.

Our 200 Medley Relay en route to smashing another school record.


Coaches en route to losing their voices!

Sarah V. is congratulated on an NCAA "B" cut, as well as new team record in the 200 free.

Reba, en route to dropping 10! seconds in the 200 fly.


MIAC senior recognition . . . Christa, Gina, Jen and Emily (not pictured, Terese).

Jen after swimming an NCAA "B" time in the 200 breast.

Sarah M. on the podium for her highest finish of the meet (4th) on 1-meter.

Last event, last record of the weekend (400 free relay).

Quite the weekend!

The St. Kate's Swimming & Diving Team truly made a mark this past weekend at the MIAC Championships at the U of M. The entire team swam and dove phenomenally, reaching many career bests and creating many reasons to cheer! Here are some of our most notable achievements:

* Eight team records were broken, four individual and four relays.
* Three individuals swam NCAA "B" cuts; Bridget Perkins (100 fly: 58.60), Sarah Vrudny (200 free: 1:55.94) and Jen Lippitt (200 breast: 2:26.72).
* Senior Gina Jagger was recognized as St. Kates' designate of the MIAC Sportsmanship Award.
* 7th year Head Coach Nicole Hempler was recognized as the MIAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year.

What a fantastic three days of swimming and diving! Stay tuned for some great photos from the meet!