BOBCAT OF THE WEEK!

Bobcats of the Week

January 9, 2011

Travis Jones ’13

Bates men’s swimming and diving team co-captain Travis Jones ’13 picked a great time to conjure up a breakthrough performance.

The Bates men’s swimming and diving team defeated NESCAC rival Middlebury in a dual meet for the first time in at least 20 years on Sunday, scoring a 152-142 head-to-head win marked in part by Jones’ record-setting diving.

Jones (Ithaca, N.Y.) made his first-ever national cut by scoring 312.00 points on six dives in the 3-meter diving competition, breaking the former pool record of 304.80 set by seven-time All-AmericaAndrew Hastings ’02 in 2002. Jones won the 3-meter as well as the 1-meter diving, in which he scored 267.75 points.

First-year Matthew Gagne (Wilmette, Ill.) also had a tremendous day at Tarbell Pool. Gagne won the 200 fly in 1:59.18, as well as the 100 fy in 52.83 and the 200 individual medley in 2:00.79.

The day before, during Saturday’s tri-meet against the University of New England and Norwich University, Jones set personal records in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions, with 270.55 points and 277.90, respectively. His 3-meter PR, of course, was eclipsed the following day as he made the national cut.

 

Emilie Geissinger ’14

Bates sophomore Emilie Geissinger stood out among several notable performances over the weekend for the Bates women’s swimming and diving team, as the Bobcats hosted hosted a pair of home meets at Tarbell Pool, with the University of New England and Norwich University visiting on Saturday and Middlebury competing on Sunday.

Geissinger (Bismarck, N.D.) had a particularly noteworthy day on Sunday against Middlebury, including a win in the 100-yard freestyle, with a time of 55.55 seconds. She finished second by .14 seconds in the 200 free at 1:58.27 and was the runner-up in the 50 free by .21 seconds, in a time of 25.38. “She is well on her way to a breakthrough season,” Bates head coach Peter Casares commented afterward.

In Bates’ dominating wins over UNE and Norwich on Saturday, Geissinger won the 50 free in 25.54 seconds, and also helped win the 200 free relay, along with seniors Kara Leasure (Los Alamos, N.M.), Catherine Sparks (New Canaan, Conn.) and Emily Tato (Chatham, N.J.).

was named NESCAC Swimming & Diving Women’s Performer of the Week on Monday, as announced by the New England Small College Athletic Conference. She is the first Bobcat to receive the award since Katelyn Drake ’10 did on Feb. 9, 2009.

NESCAC Swimmer of the Week!

Geissinger ’14; NESCAC Swimmer of the Week

Posted by: Andy Walter on January 9, 2012

Emilie Geissinger '14 was named NESCAC Swimming & Diving Women's Performer of the Week on Jan. 9, 2012, following her exceptional performance at Sunday's home meet against Middlebury.

HADLEY, Mass. — Bates sophomore Emilie Geissinger was named NESCAC Swimming & Diving Women’s Performer of the Week on Monday, as announced by the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Geissinger (Bismarck, N.D.) had an outstanding weekend as Bates hosted a pair of home meets at Tarbell Pool, with the University of New England and Norwich University visiting on Saturday and Middlebury competing on Sunday.

Geissinger had a particularly noteworthy day on Sunday against Middlebury, including a win in the 100-yard freestyle, with a time of 55.55 seconds. She finished second by .14 seconds in the 200 free at 1:58.27 and was the runner-up in the 50 free by .21 seconds, in a time of 25.38. “She is well on her way to a breakthrough season,” Bates head coach Peter Casares commented afterward.

In Bates’ dominating wins over UNE and Norwich on Saturday, Geissinger won the 50 free in 25.54 seconds, and also helped win the 200 free relay, along with seniors Kara Leasure (Los Alamos, N.M.), Catherine Sparks (New Canaan, Conn.) and Emily Tato (Chatham, N.J.).

Geissinger is the first Bobcat to receive the award since Katelyn Drake ’10 did on Feb. 9, 2009.

View the NESCAC Swimming & Diving weekly release for Jan. 9, 2012

MIDD RECAP!

Men’s swimming and diving trumps Middlebury

Posted by: Andy Walter on January 8, 2012

Matthew Gagne '15 finishes the final lap of one of his three event wins on Sunday against Middlebury.

LEWISTON, Maine — The Bates men’s swimming and diving team defeated NESCAC rival Middlebury in a dual meet for the first time in two decades on Sunday, scoring a 152-142 head-to-head win marked in part by junior captain Travis Jones’ record-setting diving.

The Bates women also performed well in a 154-134 head-to-head loss against the perennial powerhouse Panthers.

Jones (Ithaca, N.Y.) made his first-ever national cut by scoring 312.00 points on six dives in the 3-meter diving competition, breaking the former pool record of 304.80 set by seven-time All-America Andrew Hastings ’02 in 2002. Jones won the 3-meter and the 1-meter diving, in which he scored 267.75 points.

First-year Matthew Gagne (Wilmette, Ill.) also had a tremendous day at Tarbell Pool. Gagne won the 200 fly in 1:59.18, as well as the 100 fy in 52.83 and the 200 individual medley in 2:00.79.

Other event winners for the Bates men included:

• Senior captain Tom Boniface (Youngstown, Ohio) won the 200 free in 1:46.35.
• Senior Dan Aupi (Branford, Conn.) won the 50 free in 22.17
• First-year Andrew Briggs (York, Maine) won the 200 breaststroke in 2:18.53.
• First-year Alex Smachlo (Rexford, N.Y.) won the 500 free in 4:57.96.
• Bates also swam under the former pool record in the 400 free relay, but the Bobcats’ 3:14.20 time was edged by Middlebury’s 3:14.07. Swimming the race for Bates were Aupi, senior Nathaniel Depew (Hudson, Ohio), Gagne and Boniface. The former pool record of 3:14.77 was set by Bates’ Aupi, Depew, Boniface and Ned Scott ’12 on Jan. 23, 2010.

“We had tremendous victories from our freshman and senior class today,” said Bates head coach Peter Casares. “I couldn’t have been more impressive with the heart the team showed.”

Bates head coach Peter Casares gives captain Kara Leasure '12 a hug after the women's 1,650-yard freestyle race against Middlebury.

Sophomore Emilie Geissinger (Bismarck, N.D.) had an outstanding meet for the Bates women’s team, including a win in the 100 free, with a time of 55.55 seconds. She also finished second by .14 seconds in the 200 free at 1:58.27 and was the runner-up in the 50 free by .21 seconds, in a time of 25.38. “She is well on her way to a breakthrough season,” commented Casares.

First-year Sarah Bouchard (Annapolis, Md.) was the Bobcats’ other event winner, winning the mile freestyle race in 18:12.73, less than two seconds ahead of senior captain Kara Leasure’s (Los Alamos, N.M.) time of 18:14.31.

“The women swam terrific,” said Casares. “Bates showed that we are very tough — and deeper than ever. Middlebury is clearly more talented and we are hoping our hard work helps us get even closer come NESCACs.”

Bates next competes in a dual meet at Bowdoin on Jan. 20 at 7pm.

RESULTS

Very cool video

what are the chances this could happen at Bates?

Player Profile! Rachel Pedersen '14

How did you find out about Bates?

I found out about Bates College from my friends who have come here, and loved it. Actually, I have yet to encounter somebody who came to Bates and doesn't love it. That was pretty important to me. Coming to Bates swim camp last summer also helped secure my decision to apply ED 1.

2) I also looked at Macalester, Carleton, and Connecticut College in addition to Bates.  In the end, Bates won out because of the people. The students here are so full of life and passionate about learning and swimming of course- what could be better?

3) My favorite superhero is, without a doubt, Captain Underpants. He's fearless, faster than a speeding waistband, and he doesn't mind wearing minimal clothing, not unlike the typical Bobcat.

4) My favorite strokes are freestyle and butterfly, and my favorite events is the 200 freestyle and all of the relays. My least favorite is any backstroke race, really.

5) 5- In high school, I always wished I could swim during free periods, but the pool was never open during the academic day. Now I can!

6) In the summer, I spend a great portion of my time sailing, particularly racing. Also, I love exploring, rowing, hanging out with friends, playing soccer, and creating awkward situations.

7) I've been to Norway, Denmark, Greece, and South Africa. South Africa was amazing in particular; everybody there is incredibly warm and welcoming, and the landscapes are so beautiful.

8) I'm probably going to major in Physics, with a possible minor in Philosophy, but I am currently undecided.

UMaine Dual Meet Recap

The team headed north this past Saturday to take on the Division I University of Maine Black Bears.  This is a perfect end of the semester meet against top level competition.  I can't say for sure, but I do believe University of Maine saved their best meet of the semester for us.  And with this being their 8th meet of the semester they were well tuned for competition.   Your Bates Bobcats who just wrapped up the toughest two weeks of training I have witnessed here - came into the meet with extremely impressive practice times and accomplishments amid all the hard work in the pool and the weight room.  

When all was said and done, I believe the team as a whole wished we were a little sharper and speedy - but when you have over 20 performances from your upperclassmen that were faster than last Fall, freshman that were faster than their first dual meet, and divers posting the best scores of their lives... well there is simply no reason not enjoy the silver lining in finishing up the semester with two losses (see results here).

Highlights include:

• FY's Matt Gagne and Alex Smachlo 1-2'ing the competition in the 200 fly.

• Seniors Dan Aupi and Nathaniel Depew going 1st and 3rd in the 100 Back

• Sarah Bouchard, Kick Sullivan, and Andrew Briggs improving their 1000 frees

• Nick Karlson with his best in-season splits and 100 free time!

• Geissinger's amazing finishes... and very impressive times in the 50, 100 and 200.

• Kara Leasure and Emily Tato showing off their endurance with a 1-3 come from behind 400 IM finish.

• Venka Duvvuri swam huge in the 100 back, and then turned in his fastest ever 100 fly in-season

• Mallory Ward transitioning from a national level rower to a darn fast breaststroker.

• Kristen Barry and Sarah Bouchard nearly going LTB in their 500 frees!

• and of course Tom Boniface going undefeated individually in the 200 free, 100 free, and 200 IM.

The cool thing about watching Tommy Bon this past weekend was his undeniable will to finish off his races better than anyone around.  In fact, with a 50 to go in every single race... he was losing!!  Can you believe that?!  He even dove in behind in the 400 free relay and passed the guy there too.  Wow.

Tom, those mentioned above, and many more on the team seem to be on a mission this year - and what is distinguishing them from their competition is how mentally dialed-in they are right now.  I know others are working just as hard, and succeeding in practice too, but I am betting very few out there are more engaged in every aspect of the sport.  From the training,  to the race strategy, to the simple goal of staying in the present moment... every aspect is working together right now.  

Dialed-in.  That is the best way for me to describe it.    Ultimately, I think that is the best way to turn goals into reality.

ELEANOR (NELL) BRIGGS '15

Nell is a 100 FLIER and 200 FREESTYLER from CONCORD, MA! Concord is a small town where many famous people have called home and where turning points in our nation's history have began. Henry David Thoreau lived at Walden Pond in Concord which was inspiration for later literary works. Concord was home to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott (Little Women), Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet Letter), and Steve Carell (The Office, etc). It was also the site of the first battle in the Revolutionary War (The Battle of Lexington and Concord, anyone?!)...Not bad for a small town, right??

Academic Interests: Undecided x 3

Fun Fact: Nell's middle name is Doubledee...it was her great-grandmother's maiden name and is her father's and grandfather's middle name!

Favorite Dessert: Strawberry Shortcake and Ice Cream...she has tried every Ben & Jerry's flavor and likes Chunky Monkey the best

If Nell was stranded on a deserted island she would want ice cream with her (as long as she can have a freezer as well).