The Bobcat Chronicle

BOBCAT OF THE WEEK!

2012-01-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

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!

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

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!

2012-01-11T09:52:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

what are the chances this could happen at Bates?

Player Profile! Rachel Pedersen '14

2011-12-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-12T14:20:00.001-05:00

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.

2011-12-07T10:06:00.000-05:00

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).

Abroad Update! TURA dugan

2011-12-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

HI PETE!!!

Its Tara here, hopefully you haven't forgotten about me...Tara Dugan! Sorry I've been terrible with my email---internet in Uganda is not the best. I've recently been in a rural district in Eastern Uganda called Kapchorwa for the past 3 weeks doing research. Kapchorwa is up in the mountains and we have power every other day (its hard to charge the computer and phone) and sometimes the network goes down for a few hours/days. Right now I am doing my independent study project in Kapchorwa on the implementation of UPE (Universal Primary Education) and its been pretty awesome yet really hard. There are only two of us on the program who are in Kapchorwa, so I'm lucky I even have a friend, but its been super hard being in the mountains away from civilization. I've also faced a lot of challenges with my research but I have learned so much. Kapchorwa is the most beautiful place in Uganda, I wish you could come visit, you would seriously love it. The land is very lush, the flowers are very vibrant, there are waterfalls left and right, and you can look out to see land all the way in Kenya. It is absolutely amazing, the views here are spectacular because we are in the mountatins and can see land extending miles and miles away. My friend and I have gone on a few hikes and the only environment I can compare it to is the forest in Avatar. The land is seriously magical and very virgin; it is untouched and there is so much beauty in the midst of so many struggles and issues in the district.

I checked the swim results against Wesleyan and Trinity and you guys seriously kicked butt. Everyone is swimming so well and I'm excited to meet the freshman! I wanted to send an email to say hi and update you on life in Uganda and I hope all is going well. You guys are swimming awesome and I hope things are going swimmingly. I'm super excited to see everyone on training trip (hopefully you don't kick my butt too hard, however I do need some ass-whoopping..). Well I'm sitting on the floor right now with my computer about to die and no power so I just wanted to send a friendly hello, I may or may not be going crazy here, and I'm excited to see everyone on training trip. Hopefully I know how to engage in social interactions (its been so long, I may be awkward at first).

Happy belated thanksgiving, tell the team I say hi and I miss EVERYONE dearly, I'm super excited to get back and back into shape, and tell the family I say hello.

Farewell for now,

Bates Bobcats 4 lyfe

- Tura

Brendan Hanson

2011-12-05T08:56:00.001-05:00

"Just Focus on What Makes You Good."
- Brendan Hanson

Winter Nationals Performance of the Meet

2011-12-05T08:51:00.001-05:00

Rebecca Soni's 200 Breast.

"I kept telling myself this is fun!"

Alumni Update! Annaliese in Thailand!

2011-11-29T12:49:00.001-05:00

Hey Pete,

Long time no chat! Hope all is going well in Lewiston and I've been following the team's progress on the website and the blog - GREAT JOB against Wesleyan and Trinity, I was a very proud alum! As I think you know, I'm currently living in Phuket, Thailand teaching English to little Thai children and am definitely on an adventure of a lifetime. I've been here for three weeks and still adjusting but every day gets better and no two days are the same. Peem and his family came down to Phuket this weekend to compete in a team triathlon and it was so great to hang out with him.

We carb loaded at dinner the night before and he seriously kicked butt in the biking portion the next morning (you may wonder why he didn't do the swimming portion, I think he was filling in for someone). Anyways, he biked 55 km in under his goal of 2 hours (1:58.45) and I've attached some pics below for you to see. Just wanted to keep you updated on life and have a great rest of the season. I'm sad I won't be there for any of the meets this year but please send my wishes of good luck onto the team and let them know I miss them lots!

- Annaliese

Player Profile!

2011-11-29T12:48:00.000-05:00

KARA LEASURE '12

Kara is a 200 BREASTSTROKER/ IM'er/FREESTYLER who has been swimming competitively for 14 years. Her love for the sport has not dwindled over the years and is all about Bates Swimming!

Kara is from LOS ALAMOS, NM. Los Alamos has the highest number of PhD's per capita in the US.

Academic Interests: Neuroscience Major with Concentrations in Sound and Music and Culture

Hidden Talent: Singing really loudly in the car when she's by herself

Favorite Dessert: Anything with dark chocolate and raspberries...YUMMM

If Kara was stranded on a deserted island she would bring either food or music with her...probably food!

Thailand, Peem, and Lacrosse

2011-11-29T12:35:00.001-05:00

Many of you may not know this, but our two time captain, and recent 2011 grad, Peem Chatikavanij started an after school program in Thailand that helps keep kids off the streets, and away from drugs. Read below to get some insight into what Peem is dealing with, what he has done about it... and most importantly, how one person can change the world for so many!

Damn Proud Peem. Way to go!!

---

Coach - How are you doing? How is your summer going? Mine has been extremely hectic. I have been working for a branch of Loxley Corporation. The division is called CSR or Company Social Responsibility. The program works with the surrounding community, which happens to be one of the largest slums in Bangkok.

I am currently working on a project that integrates lacrosse into the school system in the slums in order to occupy the kids and ultimately distract them from doing drugs and video games addictions. Recently, drugs had been a huge problem in the slum schools due to the lack heavy handed policy by the previous government to combat this problem. Just to give you an idea, these slum kids would leave school at 3pm. However, their parents wouldn't be back from work until 5:30 pm. They have this two and a half hours slot to get involved in drugs or other substances. One incident really hit home for me. The Headmistress at the school told me that in June, they lost one 4th grader to heroin overdose. The kid got it from a drug dealer who he had been running errands afterschool.

I primarily work with kids between 2nd-6th grade. It's amazing how much these kids are exposed to drugs - you wouldn't think that a 3rd grader would have the capabilities to do it. There are alot of drugs running in the slums and children are usually forced to carry the supplies for the dealers... or even worse, if their parents are dealers, then the kids are force to "guard" their drug supplies.

So I decided to use lacrosse to distract the kids from these bad behaviors. Why lacrosse you may ask? Well it doesn't require alot of space (we use the simplified version of the game), I know the game very well to the point that I could teach it, and it's a new sport in Thailand, which allows it to have a "wow" factor that attracted alot of kids to the program.

To see the two most recent article in Inside Lacrosse on Peem and his program - click here! and here!

Name that Lane Celebration!

2011-11-23T10:17:00.001-05:00

Saturday night November 19th our 'Name that Lane' Initiative came to a close with a HUGE celebration (click here to see the slideshow). Adding to the cause for celebration was an afternoon that included victories for both our men and women against Wesleyan in our first dual meet of the season (men for the first time in a decade!).

Over 80 alum, friends, parents, and current team members gave to this initiative - and nearly 80 showed up for a dedication ceremony and fabulous dinner. Our new blocks are the latest technological advancement in the sport with the rear back plate for more power, and the side handles for better reaction times. They are absolutely top of the line and beautiful to look at - especially next to our new lanelines and flags!

Below are some pictures and the dedication script for each block. Enjoy! And thank you to all that were honored for inspiring us... and to all that donated for making this a reality.

In Bates,

Peter Casares

Lane 1: Gail M. Dow, Class of 1960

Since I arrived on campus few things have remained constant, but seeing Gail Dow walk in three times a week with a smile is one of them. Gail has been a beacon of light each day, and she will tell you over and over again just how happy she is to come to Bates and swim in such a magnificent facility. Gail has been good to the swim team and our lifeguards for as long as I can remember with donations to the program, treats for the lifeguards every holiday, and our favorite – a Lifeguard Dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse each Spring.

Truth be told, she initiated this entire event. As I recall, about nine months ago I joked with Gail about the special treatment we give Lane 1, as it is her lane... and then half jokingly I mentioned it could officially be hers with a rather large donation to the program! The next day she showed up with a check. I stood there smiling while the wheels in my head started spinning feverishly. Well, nine months later Gail M. Dow helped create one of the best fundraising events in Bates Swimming and Diving history.

Lane 2: Class of 2015

Just this afternoon as our meet started we received anonymous donation in honor of the class of 2015! What a great example of how a celebration can inspire others!

Lane 3: Inspiration Lane

When I took this job four years ago, I impressed upon the team that no one could do it alone. You needed to support your teammates at every opportunity because sooner or later you were going to need that support, too. That conversation quickly ballooned into a "team first" theme come NESCAC championships. Never has a Bates athlete done their best when they were doing it simply for themselves. If you need proof, look at our relay results, and you will immediately notice the amazing splits that comprise each time... splits which clearly outshine individual achievements performed merely hours before. At the culmination of day two of the 2011 NESCAC Championships we witnessed some especially great, and somewhat surprising, relay swims. At the team dinner that night I launched into a talk about finding inspiration in your teammates, and not being afraid to inspire others. More important than any yard practiced, or any speech given, an imagination can inspire both yourself and your teammates. Luckily for us, that talk inspired some great friends to make an inspirational donation to the swim program.

Lane 4: John White ’39

When I first joined the program I was immediately introduced to John W. White, by none other than John W. White himself! In an instant I became a fan of the spark in his eye, his passion for Bates swimming, the pictures of his hybrid irises, and, of course, his love for his family. The true "father of Bates Swimming" started making his impact as a freshman in 1935 enlisting his father as the new Bates Swim Coach. He then went on to find a group of about 10 men to compete as the first varsity swim team. By the end of his career the Bates team was small but fierce - and as John would tell me, still holds the highest finish at a New England championship meet (3rd, I believe!). Along the way, he taught me about the history of Bates College, his own personal accomplishments as a Masters world record holder! -- and of course, he taught my team how to love Bates and this program. About a year and a half ago we lost John - and it was a tough day for everyone that knew him. It is a privilege to honor such a great man with this lane.

Lane 5: Coach Mulholland

In 1988 Dana Mulholland took the reigns of the swim team out of current soccer coach George Purgavie’s hands - and put a stamp on this program that continues to live strong today. The two-time Coach of the Year lead this program into an era that includes nine Senior Citation winners, the highest team finishes ever in terms of both NESCAC and National level championships, and, of course, the dozens and dozens of athletes that comprise our record board and our top times list.

All those accolades are great, but Bates and I will always be most grateful for the type of athletes he attracted and created. Not only were they talented, but they represented the type of person that every coach dreams of teaching. They trusted their coach, they cared about each other, they believed in themselves, and they worked hard for every single success experienced. If there is one thing I know about Dana’s 18 years here, it is that his swimmers found a place where they were treated right - and given the right opportunities to improve, grow, and mature. He was undeniably loved by his athletes - and when this initiative went live to the alums it took simply a few days to have a lane named after him.

Lane 6: Class of 2012

What can be said other than - WOW. The conversation has always been that Bates Swimming and Diving is much bigger than the four years you are on campus - and this class has exemplified an understanding of this concept in so many ways. Over the past four years we have jumped five spots from 10th to 5th with the women, and four spots from 11th to 7th with the men. I can honestly tell you, a few of them may feel they are solely responsible for this jump - and truth be told, I am here today confirming the fact that they did play a rather large role in that improvement!

But more seriously, from the hours spent here at Tarbell, to passionately recruiting in athletes that many times challenged their place on the team, and, of course, to giving back financially to the program (during their senior year!) – they have done everything I have asked – and they have also lived Bates Swimming and Diving to its fullest. In my experience, rarely does an athlete, let alone an entire class, have the ability to reflect and appreciate their experience while engrossed in it. It is simply another example of how this class has surprised many over the years.

Many of their names are on the record boards, and many of them have inspired their teammates to perform better... However, as records are broken, and new team memories are forged, I could not be happier to always remember the first class I recruited to Bates - and of course the personalities that existed among them - every time I look at Lane 6.

Lane 7: Captains Block

Over the summer a recent graduate and former captain, Katelyn Drake 2010, came back to Bates to work at our swim camp. She had spent a year out of college teaching and coaching, and now was about to start a new job at a successful finance company. During her four weeks off, she chose to spend three of them here with us - teaching swimming, working with kids, and giving back to the program by both helping me, and passing along her knowledge to current team members.

At one point, I realized I surely wasn’t paying her enough for this… and although I know the food is great here, I can’t imagine that was a deal maker either. I sat down with Katelyn to thank her and we ended up talking about what an honor and privilege it is to be selected by your teammates as captain. She mentioned we had an opportunity to not only tell current and future athletes this, but show them too. She confided in me how thankful she was for Bates swimming and felt that others would be, too. Four weeks later, over 30 captains responded to Katelyn’s email and idea - and they all came together to say thank you to Bates College and Bates Swimming with donations toward lane 7. I couldn’t be more impressed with their continued leadership toward the program.

Lane 8: Wendy Moore ’90

On June 15th 2011 I received an email from Chris von Jako with an idea about honoring Wendy Moore, a teammate who had passed from a skiing accident much too early in her life. On June 21st an email went out to teammates from Chris's era - and on June 24th they had exceeded their goal. That was 9 days from conception to completion!

Over the past 5 months I have heard from Wendy's teammates that “she was always smiling and laughing - and it was a memorable laugh that simply won't be forgotten." She absolutely loved Bates College, the swim team, and the arts. In fact, Wendy spent her junior year abroad as a silversmith in Nepal. After Bates she received her master’s from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, and went on to work in the film industry and exhibit her art in New York and Los Angeles. She had an eye for beauty, a love of athletics, and zest for life - and clearly was loved and respected by her Bates Swimming family.

I must be honest and admit that experiencing Chris and his teammates honor both Wendy and Bates was a moment in my career like no other. The outpouring of support for both the college and a teammate was inspiring. Nearly 20 teammates of Wendy’s eagerly grabbed an opportunity to connect back to a valuable and memorable part of their Bates experience.

It showed me once again how important four years at Bates can be.

ALL THE HONOREES TOGETHER!

Wesleyan Trinity Dual Meet Recaps

2011-11-23T09:34:00.001-05:00

We kicked off a very busy weekend doing our best to handle back-to-back meets to start the season. I could tell we definitely need more aerobic work to handle recovering from that kind of racing, but overall couldn't have been happier with the results.

Our men were powered by freshman through seniors. That is a good sign. Nate Ainley, Andrew Briggs, Matt Gagne, and Alex Smachlo (all 2015!) came away with their first collegiate victories over the weekend. Seniors Tom Boniface, Dan Aupi, Nathaniel Depew, and Alex McKeown also all cruised to victories in their strongest events. Junior Travis Jones won both boards - both days - and with scores that were approaching the national cut! In the end the men even capped off the weekend with a new 800 freestyle relay pool record. Very good stuff.

The women used their new level of depth to overpower both Wesleyan and Trinity - and cruise to two comfortable victories. Senior Co-Captain Kara Leasure picked up where she left off last year winning the 200 breast and 500 free (5:20), and sophomore Elle Sergi surged to victories in 50 & 100 free posting a 25.3 and 55.1 respectively. Several victories from both the freshman and sophomores class also gave us great hope for a team that will stay focused for a quite a while. As I reflect I keep coming back to the distance crew and how many options we have in the 200 / 500 / and 1000. That is a great feeling. Finally, our women couldn't have wrapped up the weekend any better than to post the fastest 400 freestyle relay time in the conference. Well done ladies!

We also had a chance to use our brand new starting blocks and celebrate that evening with a dedication ceremony and dinner for all of those were honored in the "Name that Lane" fundraising initiative! Currently we are the first program in the NESCAC with the new block technology - and quite possibly the first DIII program in country!

It was an absolutely phenomenal event and there will surely be an article in the Bates Magazine and on the website - so be on the lookout! Thank you to all!

Bobcats Abroad!

2011-11-15T08:10:00.001-05:00

Ciao Coach,

Your favorite bobkittens are together again... In Rome! We've been training really hard here: did stairs at the Spanish Steps, lunges to the top of St. Peters, lifted with gladiators at the Colloseum, variable sprints in the Trevi Fountain, carbo-loading at Rome`s best restaurants, eating gelato to help the men with buckets fill up the anaerobic tank, and tandem biking in the Borghese Gardens. Just a typical bobcat vacation...

We will be thinking fast thoughts and want to wish everyone good luck at the first meet! We can't wait to return to our people and bestow our new wisdom upon them. We miss everyone!

Katy, Leah, Blaine: Living, Loving, Learning (respectively)

Senior Citation Awards

2011-10-12T15:44:00.001-04:00

Katelyn Drake '10 and Charlotte Green '11

Senior Citations are some of the most prestigious awards awarded to Bates College Graduates. In the history of the program only 6 women swimmers have been awarded a senior citation previously!

Coach Peter Casares comments on two of his swimmers being recognized... "I have such great pride in the fact I worked with such great athletes my first four years here at Bates. The two women recognized below came to Bates hoping to better themselves - and along the way they not only did that, but also made the program better. There aren't many swimming Senior Citations winners here at Bates, and having back years speaks volumes about the type of leadership we had here each day. We will continue to work hard to honor their dedication and commitment to the program for years to come."

KATELYN DRAKE '10

Katelyn Drake arrived at Bates in the fall of 2006 ready to playjust field hockey and lacrosse for the Bobcats. But a member of the swimmingand diving team noticed her during an open swim shift at Tarbell Pool,recounted head coach Peter Casares, and the rest was history. “Four yearslater, she wraps up her NESCAC swimming career as the most accomplished athlete ondeck - in the best swimming conference in the country," he said.

Casares was referring to the final honor Drake gained in herstandout swimming career at Bates: after the 2010 NESCAC Women's Swimming andDiving Championships, she was named the conference's Four-Year High PointSwimmer, following one second and two fourth place individual finishes. Theaward goes to the senior who scored the most points over four years of NESCACChampionship competition.

Drake also picked up her fourth All-NESCAC honors (rewarded tothe top three finishers in each event final) for placing second in the 50-yardbackstroke in a time of 27.56 seconds. In that race, she broke the previousBates record for the 50-yard backstroke that she herself set in 2008. In fact,not including the many times she reset her own Bates record, Drake claimedthree Bates backstroke records and was a part of four team relay records aswell. She finished second on Bates’ all-time points list, behind only VanessaWilliamson '05.

As a rookie, Drake broke her first school record, in the200-yard backstroke, and earned her first All-NESCAC award in the same event.Drake served as a team captain for the next three years, qualifying for theNCAA Championships as a sophomore and junior. She finished 14th in the 200 backfor her first NCAA All-America honor at the 2008 NCAAs, then won a secondAll-America laurel in 2009 in the 100 back with a 15th-place showing, afterqualifying for nationals in three events, including the 200 individual medley.

Carrying a double major in economics and sociology,Drake was a model student as well, earning three Academic All-America plaudits aswell as four NESCAC All-Academic honors. She was inducted into the BatesScholar-Athlete Society’s Class of 2010.

CHARLOTTE GREEN '11

Setting 17 Bates records, 14 NCAA considerationperformances and being named All-NESCAC and national swimmer of the week,Charlotte left her mark as one of Bates’ all-time greatest swimmers, andvery possibly the program’s greatest sprinter. In her 1st year alone, she set orwas a part of breaking 5 school records. Individually she set the 50- and100-yd freestyle school records and was instrumental in setting the record inthe 200-, 400- and 800-yd freestyle relays. As a sophomore, Charlotte loweredher record times in the 50 and 100 freestyle and set the record in the 200freestyle. Charlotte made NCAA B cuts in three relays and three individualevents, and earned All-NESCAC recognition in the 50 freestyle. In February of2009, she was named national swimmer of the week by CollegeSwimming.com.

Charlottespent the fall semester of her junior year abroad in Scotland, where shecontinued her swimming and helped establish a Scottish national record in the200 medley relay before returning to Bates to lead the Bobcats to their bestfinish in 7 years at the NESCAC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship. Lastyear Charlotte led her team to match its best NESCAC finish ever,at fifth place and she tied the school record in the 50 free and set the recordin the 200 free. She was also a part of four school relay records: the 200free, 200 medley, 800 free and 400 free. Charlotte was also an AcademicAll-American all 4 years, graduated with honors in English, and was inductedinto the Bates Scholar-Athlete Society. Lastly,Charlotte was also namedthe Female winner of the Senior Sportsmanship Award last year. The SeniorSportsmanship Awards is annually presented to one man and one woman in thesenior class, who through their actions have consistently demonstrated theideals of sportsmanship.

Player Profile!

2011-09-15T11:22:00.000-04:00

NICK KARLSON '13

Nick is a FREESTYLER (except the mile) coming from WAYLAND, MA. Wayland is known Coast 2 Coast as the hometown of super talented swimmer Nick Karlson and super awesome rapper Sam Adams. Nick isn't the only swimmer from Wayland, his sister is also a super fast swimmer.

Academic Interests: Chemistry Major with a concentration in Politics

Hidden Talent: Waterskiing

Favorite Dessert: Fried Ice Cream

If Nick was stranded on a deserted island he would bring a boat.

Player Profile!

2011-09-13T18:54:00.000-04:00

TOM BONIFACE '12

Tom (aka TommyBon) is a FREESTYLER/IMer from YOUNGSTOWN, OH. Tom isn't the only thing that came out of Ohio, Youngstown produced 6% of the world's steel at one time! Check out Tom's blog: sportswithtommybon.wordpress.com. He also wants everyone to eat tuna.

Academic Interests: Psychology Major, Philosophy Minor, Applied Mathematics Concentration

Hidden Talent: Tom can do a complete brake job on a car in under 2 hours - impressive!

Favorite Dessert: Monster Cookies - peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips and m&m's

If Tom could bring one thing to a deserted island, he would bring his jeep, Commando, so he could move about the island conquering any and all obstacles that stand in his way (living and nonliving).

Player Profile!

2011-09-13T18:34:00.000-04:00

ALEXANDER MCKEOWN '12

Alex is a BREASTSTROKER from SOUTH WINDSOR, CT. Not only is South Windsor famous for producing great swimmers, like Alex, but the female youth soccer team was featured in a recent AT&T commercial.

Academic Interests: Political-Psychology Major, Economics Minor, Conflict & Threat: War & Disease Concentration

Hidden Talent: Saxophone and Piano Player

Favorite Dessert: Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Chip Mini Morsels

If Alex was on a deserted island he would want a genie bottle or the ability to get any resource he wanted.

Player Profile!

2011-09-13T16:49:00.000-04:00

AMY JOHNSTON '12

Amy is a FLIER/IMer from VASSALBORO, ME. Amy decided to head to the big city of Lewiston for college - Vassalboro is so small it doesn't even have it's own high school (she went to Waterville High School)!

Academic Pursuits: Biology Major, Anthropology Minor, Field Studies: Natural Sciences Concentration

Hidden Talent: Really good at organizing

Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream!

Fun Fact: Amy's twin sister swims for Bowdoin College

If Amy was stranded on a desert island she would bring a good book to keep her from getting bored.

Player Profile!

2011-09-13T16:20:00.000-04:00

KATIE DONOVAN '15

Katie is a 100 FLIER and 200 FREESTYLER coming at us from AUBURN, NH. She and Adam Sandler have something in common - they both graduated from Manchester Central High School. Adam Sandler even spoke at her graduation!!!

Academic Interests: Undecided, but interested in Biology and Spanish

Hidden Talent: Crossword Puzzle Master

Favorite Dessert: Cookies and Brownies

If Katie was stranded on a desert island she would bring a cell phone so she could call someone to save her

Player Profile!

2011-09-13T16:00:00.001-04:00

MIKE HANLEY '13

Mike is a SPRINT FREESTYLER from TOLLAND, CT. Tolland which is the 37th best town to live according to Money Magazine (best town in Connecticut)! Very Cool!

Academic Interests: Math Major, Chemistry Minor, Physics Concentration

Hidden Talent: Mike can whistle pretty loudly

Favorite Dessert: Cheesecake

If Mike was stranded on a desert island, all he would need is a copy of the Sandlot and a portable DVD player.

Player Profile!

2011-09-13T15:37:00.000-04:00

ANNE SCHWARZWALDER '15

Anne is a BIOCHEMISTRY major from COLUMBIA, Maryland. She lives a short 20 minute drive from Michael Phelps!!!!

Favorite Events: 100 and 200 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly, and 400 IM

Hidden Talent: Anne can do a Rubik's Cube in less than 90 seconds! Wow!

Favorite Dessert: Anything with Peanut Butter and Chocolate

If Anne was stranded on a desert island she could not live without peanut butter!

Player Profile!

2011-09-13T14:52:00.000-04:00

CODY JENKINS '14

Cody is a BIOLOGY major with a minor in TEACHER'S EDUCATION and SPANISH. He is from BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Washington, a city which is also called home by Ed Viesturs, who has climbed the 14 tallest peaks in the world without oxygen - including Mount Everest 7 times!!! There must be something in the water out in Bainbridge Island allowing great athletes (Cody and Viesturs) to emerge from Pugent Sound.

Favorite Events: 200 Butterfly, 200 IM, 100 Butterfly, 100 Free, 100 Breast

Hidden Talent: Cody has a really deep voice!

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate Cake

Favorite Swimmer: Ryan Lochte

If he were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one thing, Cody
would bring a kayak or standup paddleboard

Favorite Superhero: Coach Casares

Gold Medal Team - Our Passion

2011-09-07T11:08:00.001-04:00

NEW APPAREL!!!

2011-08-25T13:22:00.001-04:00

Limited quantities, great quality, fabulous design. You can't go wrong!

Interested? Just click on the GOOGLE ONLINE STORE link in the Right Hand Menu -->

Bates College Swimming and Diving T-Shirt - $15

Bates College Swimming and Diving Sweatpants - $30

Bates College Swimming and Diving Sweatshirt - $35

Bates College Swimming and Diving Shorts - $20

An All Time Favorite Athlete

2011-08-11T12:59:00.003-04:00

Brendan Hanson. Simply put, Brendan Hanson showed us at the '08 Trials that he was human. He fell apart in his best race - a race he was ready to win gold in. It took him 3 years to overcome that swim. I admire him greatly. Breaststroke isn't an easy stroke make a career of, and his resiliency has paid off.

These type of interviews fire me up. I can't wait for the next 12 months of swimming to unfold. If you are fan get tuned in for some great stories, videos, and most importantly, SWIMS!

Research in the Shetland Islands!

2011-06-07T10:23:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday May 24th I took off from the Logan Airport and flew to the Shetland Islands. The trip took about 24 hours after going through Paris and Edinburgh. My fellow Batesie, Jen Lindelof, and I arrived on Wednesday, joining our advisors and fellow research team in Sumburgh, located on the Southern coast of Shetland. Over the course of two weeks, I did the field work of collecting samples of shells for my summer research, and for my thesis work back at Bates. This was part of the Shetland Islands Climate and Settlement Project being funded by the National Science Foundation. A group of archaeologists, geologists, and biologists are conducting research on a site in Shetland called the Broo Site.

This site was once a farm homestead in the late 1600's and early 1700's, before being covered up by sand blow up from the ocean . A Bates short term team began excavating the site during the month of May. Our team of reserachers replaced them and have taken up where they left off.

My main focus of the project is to use clams and other mollusc shells from the archaeological site and from modern day beaches to determine their ages and growth rates. My research will look at the growth lines bivavles lay down in their shells (very similar to tree rings), as well as mineral and isotope composition of the shells. By comparing archaeological shells to shells from modern species, you can determine the difference in growth and composition of the shells related to changes in the environmental conditions of the area.

This information, along with the geological and archaeological information, can be combined to determine the environmental conditions of the area back in the 1600's before the sand dunes covered the area.

Overall, the trip was amazing and I had a wonderful time doing fieldwork and seeing the sites around Shetland. I even got the chance to swim in the North Sea! It was chilly, but very similar to Maine ocean water temperatures. Weather in Shetland can change quickly with lots of rain and wind, but we managed to get a lot of work done and still have a good time. I would
recommend a trip to see the Shetland Islands to anyone!

Charlotte Green - Senior Sportsmanship Award

2011-05-25T09:48:00.006-04:00

2011 Female Winner - Charlotte Green, Swimming and Diving

Award Description: The Bates College Senior Sportsmanship Award honors student-athletes who, through their actions in the competitive arena of intercollegiate athletics, have demonstrated one or more of the ideals of sportsmanship, including fairness, civility, honesty, unselfishness, respect and responsibility.

I could not be more proud than to have had 3 Bates College Sportsmanship Award winners in my first 4 years of coaching. It speaks volumes toward the type of leadership this team has been privy to. The correlation between our recent levels of success and our family like environment must be due in large part to our leaders whom have continually demonstrated the ideals of sportsmanship (fairness, civilty, honesty, unselfishness, respect, and responsibility). Emilie Swenson in '08, Sarah Reingold in '10, and now Charlotte Green in 2011. All three were captains of this team, and showed us what it truly means to be a Bobcat. All swam to lifetime bests and led this team with uncompromising values that effected all in the program.

Charlotte's success this year nearly won her the outstanding athlete award at Bates. But she was much more than just a stellar athlete. Her excellence in the intangible things like leadership, character, support, and respect made her a leader all could look up to. Congrats Charlotte!

2011 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• 3 National Cuts
• 8 Varsity Records
• 24th fastest time in the country (51.8 100 Free)
• Academic All American (3.7 Cum and Naitonal Cut)
• Undefeated Dual Meet Season in the 100 Free
• Fastest Bates All Time in the 50, 100, and 200 Free.
• Fastest Bates All Time Splits in the 50 and 100 Free.

GAME DAY

2011-05-20T10:14:00.000-04:00

I don't mind bragging a little bit about how great Bates is in terms of providing excellent opportunities for our students. Recently our Career Development Center teamed up with Advancement and Athletics to put on a program called "GAME Day" (Gaining Athletic Mentors' Experience). In short, Bates invites back nearly a dozen of their most successful alums (i.e. Peter Carlisle '91, Octagon Sports, Phelp's Sports Agent) and asks them to talk about how current students can parlay their athletic and academic experiences at Bates into internships, opportunities, and careers.

There is a presentation, panel discussion, and the ever so important networking. Lots of connections are made, lots of light bulbs go off, and future plans start to develop. It's an amazing event that all our students should never miss. I saw freshman through seniors there, and all had a chance to sit down with alums and talk about how they journeyed from Bates into their current career. Many students landed interviews for internships and jobs!

Well done Bates College. Click here to read more... and don't miss out on the 30 career tips too!

Welcome the Class of 2015!

2011-05-10T11:02:00.002-04:00

Women (12)

Kristen Barry - West Hartford, CT - Freestyle
Sarah Bouchard - Annapolis, MD - Freestyle/Breaststroke
Nell Briggs - Concord, MA - Butterfly/Freestyle
Caroline Caldwell - Gambier, OH - Breaststroke
Hannah Chory - Weston, MA - Freestyle, Butterfly, Backstroke
Katie Donovan - Auburn, NH - Freestyle, Butterfly
Hannah Kogan - Pacific Palisades, CA - Butterfly, IM, Freestyle
Ilana Meyer - Rochester, MN - Backstroke, Breaststroke
Katie Nelson - Denver, NC - Freestyle, Backstroke
Anne Schwarzwalder - Columbia, MD - Backstroke, Butterfly, IM
Allie Skaperdas - New Canaan, CT - Butterfly, IM, Freestyle
Mallory Ward - Pittsford, NY - Breaststroke

Men (9)

Nathaniel Ainley - Los Angeles, CA - Freestyle
Andrew Briggs - York, ME - Breaststroke, Freestyle
Matthew Gagne - Winnetka, IL - Butterfly, IM, Freestyle
Matthew Hillsberg - Sayville, NY - Freestyle
Will McNamara - Dallas, TX - Freestyle
Peter Mihalcik - New York, NY - Freestyle
Will Patton - Ashville, NC - Butterfly
Andrew Seaton - Wayne, PA - Breaststroke
Alex Smachlo - Rexford, NY - Butterfly, Freestyle, IM

Name That Lane!

2011-04-28T16:38:00.003-04:00

In an effort to purchase new blocks I mentioned a "name that lane" idea earlier this year. We are now up to 7 blocks "claimed" and enough donations to make this a go! I hope to make sure everyone has the latest information so please don't hesitate to call or email if you have questions. Basically, we've set up a program that allows a $5,000 donation to give you the naming rights to one of the lanes at Tarbell! Feel free to get together your classmates, make a donation yourself, or have a block named after someone deserving. A brand new Keifer Racing Block will be perfect alongside our new lanelines and backstroke flags. Remember, there is only 1 lanes remaining! Contact Coach Casares quickly if you are interested in learning more; 207-786-8264 or pcasares@bates.edu.

Bates Swimming and Diving Store!

2011-04-07T16:11:00.000-04:00

The Bates Swimming and Diving Online Store has officially opened. Below are the first products for all Friends of Bates Athletics to purchase.

Our classic D-Ring "Bobcat Belt" has been a big hit with the team and parents.

Sizing Information

Small (30-32") Medium (34-36") Large (38-40") X Large (42-44") XX Large (46-48")

* Purchase a belt 2" bigger than your waist size. I am a 34-36 and went with the Large (38-40")... and our women's team usually goes with a medium.

You can also find our 2011 Conference Championship shirts designed by the one and only Drake Daddy! Supplies limited.

NEW APPAREL

(sizes: medium, large, x-large)

(sizes: medium, large, x-large) (sizes: large, x-large)

(sizes: medium, large, x-large)

National Student Athlete Day!

2011-04-06T10:54:00.004-04:00

In recognition of National Student-Athlete Day, the Bates College Department of Athletics salutes the academic accomplishments of some of Bates' 600-plus varsity athletes. Director of Athletics Kevin McHugh this week is distributing certificates to the top 25 percent of this year's student-athletes, in terms of their cumulative grade point average.

Those honored as "Scholar-Athletes" represent the top 10% of Bates varsity athletes in terms of their cumulative GPA through the Fall 2010 semester. This year, that translates to 60 student-athletes carrying a 3.70 GPA or better (up from 3.68 last year, the inaugural year of this program).

Those honored for maintaining a GPA in the top 25% of all varsity athletes are named to the "Academic Honor Roll," which this year translates to 87 student-athletes whose GPA is between 3.47 and 3.69 (up from 3.46 to 3.67 in 2010).

Congrats to the swimmers and divers that were recognized (17!);
Travis Jones, Cody Jenkins, Sammy Schadt, Nick Karlson, Mollie Corcoran, Emily Depew, Abigail Hanson, Caroline Hinkle, Jessica Howard, Leah Burke, Tara Dugan, Charlotte Green, Gabrielle Sergi, Emily White, Catherine Zingale, Blaine Brown, and Carole Lupi!

Proud to be a Bobcat!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE POWERPOINT

Award Season!

2011-03-18T14:15:00.000-04:00

One of the best times of the year is when the recognition and awards start to trickle in - especially after a season of hard work and dedication. It means a great deal to me that our athletes received the acknowledgement they very much deserve.

First off is Charlotte Green and Peem Chatikavanij. Our two senior captains were voted, by there teammates, onto the All-NESCAC Sportsmanship Team. We've talked at great length as to what it means to demonstrate "good sportsmanship" and below are the bullet points I asked the team to consider when voting. Furthermore, and impressively, this is the third time Peem has won!

Sportsmanship is much more than just being respectful - it is demonstrated by those that are...

Confident, AND humble.
Supportive and knowledgeable.
Respectful and dedicated.
Acting courageous with humility.

The next award winners are our All-Academic NESCAC team members! Rules are you have to be varsity team member for a minimum of 2 seasons and have a 3.35 cumulative GPA. Life is all about doing more than one thing well... and the group below are distinguishing themselves both in the pool and the classroom. What an fantastic accomplishment.

Blaine Brown

Leah Burke

Tara Dugan

Charlotte Green

Abigail Hanson

Travis Jones

Nick Karlson

Carole Lupi

Catherine Zingale

NESCAC WRAP UP

2011-03-03T11:19:00.003-05:00

This year the Bates Swimming and Diving program took another positive step toward being a top-tier national program. The team started early in the Fall by getting in great shape for our Nov. 1st start date. In my four years here I haven’t seen a larger group more motivated to train together - and when the season officially started they bought into my desires for a longer and more demanding conditioning and aerobic phase. By January, everyone held faster paces and significantly changed their training thresholds. Even with practices becoming more demanding they raced fast in dual meets - while lifting, hitting the dryland routine, and handling the academic demands of the college (GPA - 3.15 Men / 3.31 Women). Finally, they wrapped up the year with a phenomenal championship meet, and the numbers that prove it! The first stat says it all… but continue on to be impressed.

- Lifetime Bests at NESCACs: 136! (71 Women / 65 Men)

- 19 New College Records

- 17 Individual NESCAC Top 8 Performances

- 7 NCAA B-Cuts

- 5 ALL NESCAC Performance (Top 3)

- Best NESCAC Finish since 2003 (Both teams)

- 1^st Men’s NESCAC Champion – Won Ho Chang 200 Fly (1:52.1)

- Most Dual Meet victories since 2007

- Women's team won the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Title!

- College Swim Coach Association All-Academic Team (twice)

- 3 Athletes Ranked top 25 in the country

• Charlotte Green 51.8 FS, Kara Leasure 2:21.6 BR, Chang 50.06/1:52.1 Fly

I couldn't be happier with the work that was done around the pool this year - and the progress that was made by the program. Even better though was that your Bobcats were much more than just athletes. This year alone I witnessed our swimmers and divers participate in a cappella performances, compete in rowing and track & field competitions, produce a play, star in play, and even create Bates’ first ever Competitive Eating Club. And that is surely just the tip of the iceberg! Most impressive of all though is the fact that our lesson program sold out again - within 35 minutes of sending out the online application! Over 140 children wanted one-on-one lessons with a member of the team. To me, that is what speaks loudest about the type of person I get to work with each day.

In Bates,

Peter Casares

MNESCAC Session V & VI

2011-02-28T16:07:00.002-05:00

The last day was our toughest with many of the guys doubling up in the first two days. Ned was done, Nick was done, and Johns was done at this point - but the Bates Bobcats weren't!

We had lifetime bests from Dan Huston (2), Venka Duvvuri (2), Andrew Buehler, Tom Boniface, Nick Karlson, Pat Carroll, Chris Makrides, Peem Chatikavanij, Kick Sullivan, Alexander McKeown, and Dan Aupi.

Travis Jones also placed 7th on 3meter and 1meter for his lifetime best scores - and two top 8 finishes! Not bad for having 6 months of diving under your belt, eh? All in all, we posted 65 lifetime bests. Add that to the 70 we had with the women and we are sitting at 135 lifetime bests from 43 individuals! That is averaging more than 3 each if you are doing the math at home!!

The last individual event of the night we also witnessed our first ever Men's NESCAC Champion in Won Ho Chang going 1:52.1 in the 200 fly. He was third at the final turn and came home VERY fast with a 28.4 split - and first place. Those 4 extra points for first place came in handy as we were up by 8.5 going into the last relay over Hamilton. As you can imagine, the pressure and intensity going into our last two relays (400 Free A and B) was awesome.

Our B relay stepped up huge all averaging 48.6 and going 3:14, getting 5th behind Hamilton's 4th place finish - only about a tenth behind them. The lead was now 6.5 points with our A in lane 8 and Hamilton's in 7. Needless to say both teams couldn't have been positioned better for the final showdown. When all was said and done we saw Won go 47.5, Aupi go 46.3, Scott go 47.4, and Tom Boniface go 47.2. 3:08.67 was .5 off our school record, but more importantly... .01 ahead of the Hamilton team!

YEAH .01. 7th place was ours... one slot ahead of last year's finish - our best since '03 - and most importantly, it followed a year full of adversity and challenges. Bottom line, when you lose two of your expected A relays guys (on 4 of the relays) - another is sick at the meet, and a fourth is coming off a broken ankle, well, you have two choices; either feel bad and give it your all, or see it as an opportunity for others to step up and play a major role. We chose B.

We saw team captains swim the best times of their life, we saw a freshman walk-on score 1 point in the 100 back. And we witnessed greatness from every single individual in between. It was truly a great experience - one that wouldn't have happened if they were swimming for themselves instead of for Bates College. It is amazing what can happen when you put the program ahead of yourself.

In Bates,

PHC

MNESCAC Session IV

2011-02-26T23:23:00.001-05:00

Great night.

4 School Records!

200 Medley Relay - 1:35.3
- Johns (24.7), Aupi (26.9), Chang (22.3), Scott (21.2)
100 Fly - Chang (50.0)
200 Free - Chang (1:42.7)
800 Free - 6:58
- Chang (1:42), Aupi (1:45), Lipoff (1:46), Boniface (1:44)

Also, great swims today from Pat Carroll, Venka Duvvuri, Peem, Matt Johns, Kick Sullivan, Mike Hanley, and Nick Karlson. Dan Huston sneaks in for points too.

The bottom line is... we are doing well because of everyone - not just a few. It seems everyone is taking turns stepping up, and the whole team has bought in. Couldn't be happier.

We're seventh right now, but 30 points behind 5th, so it's close... and this is fun.

Big morning tomorrow... gotta get to bed.

In Bates,

Coach

MNESCAC Session III

2011-02-26T13:51:00.004-05:00

Start off the session with both medley relay backstrokers and breaststrokers going lifetime bests
From there we got on a roll with both IM'ers doing the same (Jenkins 4:33, Bueh 4:16!)

Butterfly... 5 make it back!!
- Johns 52.7 (19) *
- Carroll 52.5 (16) *
- Venka 52.1 (15) *
- Scott 52.0 (13)
- Change 50.2 (3)

200 Free
- Hanley - 1:49.99*
- Karlson - 1:48.1*
- Lipoff - 1:47.1*
- Boniface - 1:45.4 (17)

100 Breast
- Peem - 1:03*
- McKeown - 1:02

100 Back - All 3 back!
- Huston 56.6* (23)
- Johns 53.9 (12)
- Aupi 53.1 (10)

1000 Free
- Kick Sullivan - 10:05 * (19)
- Pit - 10:18 (23)
- Karlson - 10:25

* = lifetime best

15 more LTBs -- 2 day total at 45!

It's going to be close for 5-6-7 this weekend!

MNESCAC Session II

2011-02-25T23:53:00.002-05:00

Great great night. The team swam tough and stayed loose. They are having fun, popping LTB's, and swimming fast.

Tonight's Report Includes:
- 30 Lifetime bests!
- 9 top 16 performances
- 1 School Record (22.7 50 fly - Won Ho)
- 1 All-NESCAC Performance
- Travis Jones 7th in 1 Meter Diving
- Highest place and point total for day 1

It is going to be a battle for 5-7th and I am pumped we are in it after day 1! It always better when every swim matters.

Off to bed,

PHC

MNESCAC Session I

2011-02-25T14:47:00.000-05:00

Solid start for the men... with great numbers to report.

20 life time bests this morning!

10 evening swims coming back.

100% improvement over seed time.
Average improvement over in-season best:
  • 500 free 13.3 seconds
  • 50's 1.5 second drop
  • 200 IM 4.5 drop

1 New School Record (Won Ho's 50 Fly)

Swim of the morning goes to Kick Sullivan and Andrew Buehler. Kick drops 20 seconds off his in-season best 500 free... and 6 off his lifetime best! 4:53 put him 25th and first alternate. Andrew's lifetime best 200 IM coming in was a 2:02 done last year. Going 1:59.4 was a great breakthrough. Both guys trained great all year and deserve those times!

Gotta run...

In Bates,

PhC

MEN'S NESCACs!

2011-02-24T21:57:00.001-05:00

Live Video Webcasts at Night! http://bowdoin.prestosports.com/webcast

Live Results found here: http://www.sncaquatics.com/live/

Bates Website write ups: http://www.bates.edu/swim.xml

Session Recaps: Check back on this site!

More to come!

WNESCAC Session VI

2011-02-20T23:33:00.002-05:00

On the bus right now, but wanted to update our 6 followers!

Women land in 5th overall - first time since 2003. To think we were 10th just two years ago.

Scored 917.5 points. Well ahead of 6th (Hamilton) and enough behind Conn for them to remain comfortable. A big number, no doubt! (in 2003 Bates scored 927 for our highest point total I believe).

We started off the evening with a great showing in the 1650. Abigail Hanson continued her streak of lifetime bests dropping five seconds off her mile time to get 19th place. Kara Leasure landed in 13th and Tara Dugan set the COLLEGE RECORD with a time of 17.41.2.

In the 200 back both Carole Lupi and Emily Depew drop time and move up. Emily wins the consols with a time of 2:08.9 - a tremendous time for a freshman that started out at 2:22 when the season began!

The 100 free saw Emilie Giessinger, Elle Sergi, and Charlotte Green score in each heat for us. Elle's 53.5 blows away her LTB, and Charlottes 51.88 from the morning ranks her 23rd in the country... only about .2 away from 15th and a sure invite to NCAAs!

The 200 Breast saw three more lady 'Cats place with Catherine Sparks moving up 4 spots, Amanda Moore placing in the consols, and Kara Leasure turning in an ALL-NESCAC performance and 2nd place finish in championship final. Her time of 2:22.25 set the COLLEGE RECORD! and is currently ranked 19th in the country. A definite possible invite to Nashville at this late stage. We are going to keep our fingers crossed.

In the 200 fly both Tara Dugan and Katy Zingale moved up, with Zingale going 2:11 again and dropping another .2 off her impressive morning swim. Katy had a fantastic meet dropping tons of time off her in-season bests and showing the rest of the conference just how hard she worked this year.

The final event of the night was a great one. The 400 Freestyle Relay at NESCACs is always loud and full of fast swims. Our B kicked it off right with a 3:41 (over 7 seconds faster than last year!). Freshman Lyndsay Wallace showed us again what a great attitude coupled with hard work can do with her 3rd 100 free of the day being her best (56.1), then Carly Hinkle popped off her best swim of the weekend going 54.8, followed by Catherine Sparks' .7 drop in her split (56.1), and anchoring was the consistently fast and dependable Katy Zingale going 54.0!

The A jumped in and gave Williams, Amherst, and Conn the run of their life. Elle Sergi continued to drop time leading off in a 53.1! Geissinger swam over 1 second faster than her individual time splitting 53.3. Our miler/breaststroker Kara Leasure went 54.3, and Charlotte anchored the race in a 51.4 - taking over 1.5 seconds off the SCHOOL RECORD!

24 women competed in 22 different swimming events this weekend. Your very own Bobcats broke 13 of those 22 college records! (Many of them 2 times) All in all we celebrated nearly 70 lifetime bests... 17 new varsity record swims... 32 night swims... 5 new relay records!... 3 B-cuts (100 free, 200 breast, 400 free relay)... 2 great seniors .... and 1 amazing year.

Signing off for the weekend....

It's a great day to be a Bobcat!

In Bates,

PHC

Courtesy of Drake Daddy

WNESCAC Session IV

2011-02-19T22:57:00.006-05:00

WOW.

200 Medley Rebreaks school record (Depew 28.1, Moore 30.3, Zingale 26.5, Green 23.6 - 1:48.7)
1000 Free - Tara Dugan drops 9 seconds and breaks the 1000 FREE RECORD! (10:32)
400 IM - Leah Burke drops 3 seconds from morning swim and goes sub 4:50. Kara Leasure drops 5 seconds and goes 4:33 - NEW SCHOOL RECORD and B-Cut
100 Fly - Zingale goes 59.4 again - 8th place!
200 Free - Geissinger drop to 1:56.1 and Charlotte dominates the heat with a 1:53.7! New School Record and B Cut.
100 Breast - Sparks drops .5 and moves up 4 spots from the outside lane! Amanda Moore refuses to be behind and passes several for 3rd overall with another school record performance of 1:06.9!
100 Back - Sergi and Depew both swim tough and hold onto their places out-touching several.
800 Free Relay - Leading off the B was Depew again with another LTB going 1:58. Taylor Roach splits a LTB along with Abigail Hanson, and Tato drops below 2:00 for a nice improvement over her morning swim.

The A relay was highlighted by Emilie Geissinger going her fastest 200 free of the day (1:56.01) and Elle Sergi droping several seconds off her lifetime best with 1:56.09 split. When all was said and done they broke the school record - making them 4 for 4 in relay records! (7:47.1)

Record Setting Lady Bobcats...
200 Free Relay (twice)
500 Free (Leasure)
50 Breast (Moore)
400 Medley Relay (twice)
200 Breaststroke (Leasure)
200 Medley Relay (twice)
1000 Free (twice, Dugan and Hanson)
400 IM (Leasure)
200 Free (Green)
100 Breast (Moore)
800 Free Relay

We have seen a varsity record broken 15 times in 4 sessions. Can you believe that?
12 more LTB this evening to put us at 61 total in 4 session. What?!

WNESCAC Session III

2011-02-19T14:24:00.000-05:00

Another 10 qualified for night swims!... plus 4 relays of course.

1) 200 Medley Relay breaks the school record (Depew, Moore*, Zingale, Green) - 1:49.5

2) 400 IM - Kara Leasure* and Leah Burke make it back 8th and 21st respectively

3) 100 Fly- Katy Zingale drives home on her last 25 to qualify 8th in the 100 fly!

4) 200 Fee - Geiss and Green both qualify in the consols with gutsy swims

5) 100 Breast - Sparks and Moore* come in 15th and 5th... Amanda breaks our school record with 1:06.8!

6) 100 Back - Sergi and Depew both put together impressive swims just off their lifetime best from yesterday and qualify 19th and 10th.

And the absolutely amazing - jaw dropping - what just happened here -swim of the session goes to...

7) 1000 Free... Abigail Hanson* drops 15 seconds from 10:54 to 10:39.09 and BREAKS the school record. She is guaranteed at least 9th place, but I think she'll sneak into the top 8 tonight. She just entered another level.

Other lifetime bests...

Rachel Pedersen (2) - 100 free (on the way out!) and her 200 free.

Lyndsay Wallace (2) - 50 breast split (33) and 100 breast (1:13)

Santina Snow (1) - Drops 4 seconds off her LTB 200 Free

Taylor Roach (2) - 50 Free split (25.4) and 200 Free (drops 4 seconds!)

Amy Johnston (1) - 400 IM

13 More Lifetime bests.... and 3 more Varsity Records.

Total: 49 Lifetime bests / 20 Night Swims / 8 Varsity Records...

* = lifetime bests

WNESCAC Session II - Friday PM

2011-02-19T06:42:00.001-05:00

Lady Bobcats scored 308 points last night and "rounded out the top 5" according to the NESCAC home swimming page. And 5th place is a very cool place to be.

Highlights.

200 Free Relay starts the night rebreaking the school record with a 1:37.1 (Elle goes a lifetime best in the 50 (24.4) and Charlotte brings it home with a 23.4 split!)

50 Breast - Bates takes 2nd and 6th. Sparks drops 2 tenths and moves up a place and Freshman Amanda Moore becomes All-NESCAC. Amazing.

500 Free - Tato moves up and out-touches the girl next to her by .03 on the last length. I love great racing!

50 Free - Charlotte - in lane 8 moves up 4 spots to 4th and pops a 24.11. It was amazing swim - everything done right, and I honestly don't why the clock didn't say it was a 23.9, so I am having the pads checked over today.

400 Medley Relay. Lets start here. Our B was faster than our A relay last year. That is a very good sign.

B gets 4th in their heat... going a 4:04!
-Sergi (1:01.7)
-Sparks (1:08.2)
-Dugan (1:00)
-Leasure (53.7)
ps - In one day Kara goes a lifetime best in her 50 free, 500 free, 100 breast, 200 breast, and 100 free. 100 breast? Yup, on her way out to the 200 breast she popped a 1:08.2. Not the best decision, but hey, another lifetime best!

A Relay - 5th overall...
NEW SCHOOL RECORD 3:57.1!

Depew (1:00.1)
Moore (1:06.0)
Zingale (58.3)
Geissinger (53.1)

3 freshman and a sophomore on that relay. Very Cool.

This is fun to write to about. Looking forward the next session.

WNESCAC Session I

2011-02-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

Quick update!

Last night the Bates Ladies kept talking about making history.... finishing higher than we ever have. I gotta admit, they are on their way to something very cool.

200 Freestyle Relay - School Record by 1.4 seconds (Sergi, Geissinger, Hinkle, Green - 1:37.46

500 Free - School Record Kara Leasure - 5:09.66

200 Breast Time Trial - School Record Kara Leasure - 2:25.

50 Breast - Two Women under the previous school record - Catherine Sparks 30.82 and Amanda Moore 30.20

400 Medley - School Record! Depew (59.7) Moore (1:06.2), Dugan (59.6), Geissinger (53.5) 3:59.16

We also had 100% improvement over seed time.... and the following had LTB today

Amanda Moore (2)
Catherine Sparks (1)
Lyndsay Wallace (3)
Katy Zingale (2)
Emilie Geissinger (2)
Ally Klein (1)
Kara Leasure (3)
Abigail Hanson (1)
Santina Snow (1)
Emily Depew (3)
Amy Johnston (1)
Leah Burke (1)
Carly Hinkle (2)
Taylor Roach (2)
Rachel Pedersen (2)
Tara Dugan (1)

29?!

Dual Meet Season Recap

2011-02-07T10:39:00.001-05:00

The Conn and Wellesley meet was a bit all over the place. Several were overcoming illness, others felt off (taper will do that), others were outstanding. I long for everyone to be performing well, and for things to go smoothly - especially with only 11(W) and 17(M) days out of the meet. But worries can easily disappear when you remember the old adage that the work is already done at this point. And on that note, I couldn't be happier with the work that was done this year. Couple of things I want to congratulate the program on as we head into the final stages of the season...

1) Tremendous preseason work. There is no doubt that the hours spent preparing for the season in the pool and the weight room through the months of September and October paid HUGE dividends from November through January. Not only was the training better, but consequently, the team morale and chemistry was fantastic. I believe there is a direct relationship between a team that can handle the difficult training I ask for, and a team that is happy. They just wouldn't have been smiling if they continually failed in practice... and they wouldn't have succeeded in practice without doing the work necessary on their own in the Fall. It is a great lesson to learn.

2) Thank you Sunny and 75º in Florida. Tremendous training trip - see point one for more reasons why. And yes, the weather was great too. I've gotten to the point where I consider us lucky when Florida weather works out. More importantly though, the team did the little things right all trip. From detail work in practice to cheering and encouraging each other... the support, enthusiasm, and smiles were noticeable - and that can be the difference for a program that leaps forward instead of just taking another step.

3) Dual Meet Victories. We won more meets this year. Enough said.

4) CBB title for the women. First time in 8 years I think. Well done! I know there are a lot of ladies that didn't get to experience that title, and I know we wouldn't have done it without their help along the way. The team and I can only say thanks - and tell you it feels great!

5) Lifetime bests. They started in the first dual meet for us... and there has been at least one in every meet all year long. Actually, at first I found this kinda weird. Lifetime bests usually take a taper and shave to occur for most college swimmers. But this year there is no doubt it wasn't weird... it was the combination of great training, experience, and tremendous preparation.

6) Varsity/Pool Records. Two pool records. I expect these. At the beginning of the year I am always thinking ahead to which pool record we might be set during the season. Varsity records? I apologize to say, I don't even have a good grasp on those! My experience has taught me that I should bring our varsity record file to the NESCAC meet in case someone breaks one. I mean, they are the fastest times ever in the HISTORY of the college. This year I think we broke (or tied) 4 varsity records... all of which the team had to tell me about. It started with Kara Leasure's 200 breast, then Won knocked off both the pool and school record the following weekend in the 200 fly. The following week our women's 200 Medley Relay cruised to a victory while sneaking under the varsity record, and then on Saturday Amanda Moore tied the 50 breast school record at Conn. Seriously fun stuff.

As you can tell, we believe that when you look for comfort and confidence heading into a championship meet the best thing to do is reflect on your hard work and successes over the body of the season, not just one particular meet or swim. I have even had athletes under perform in dual meets all year, but all the while everyone knew the work was done right 6 days each week for 16 weeks. That will always trumps 12 meet days. Even injured and abroad athletes have put together a fun NESCAC meet... they have either found comfort in the improvement they are showing, or the knowledge that they have years of experience and knowledge that pays off big when the pressure is on. Honestly, at a basic level it all comes down to the work you believe in.

My natural tendency at this point is to be very nervous for NESCACs.... this year is no different. But!.. I also have a sneaky suspicion some very cool things will happen. I just can't wait to watch them - and see who does what... and who (or how many) are ready to shock us all!

Bobcat of the Week - Charlotte Green!

2011-01-27T12:06:00.001-05:00

Charlotte's great performances against Colby lead her to our 4th Bobcat of the Week honor (in a row!) this semester.

Charlotte not only won the 50 and 100 free in stellar mid season times... but anchored both winning relays and was a crucial part of our varsity record breaking 200 medley relay! Click on the link above to read the release.

Bates vs Colby Update

2011-01-24T08:47:00.004-05:00

The women's team wins their first CBB title since '03 I believe. Eight years is what I heard! They did it in convincing fashion with strong wins in both meets. The depth and speed they are showing dual meets right now is very impressive. Our men knocked of Colby too - for the second straight year and swim solid throughout the meet. Impressive swims from many.... many of which were in odd events. Colby's men are rebuilding a bit right now, and I know it is just a matter of time before they come storming back. As all NESCAC coaches know, Coach Burton does a great job making his kids faster -so we'll enjoy the double victory while we can.

Highlights from the meet include...

Four relay victories for the Bobcats! The men go 1-3 in the medley and 1-2 in the 400 free relay. A very nice come from behind victory for our B relay - especially noting that Peem and Pat (our senior captains) brought home the last two legs that iced the victory. They always know how to swim their best against our in-state rivals! The women also cruise to victories in relays, and it seems like some very good chemistry is starting to take place on both relays. (Editor's note: It's Tuesday, 3 days after the meet ended, and I just realized our medley relay broke the Varsity Record here at Bates! WOW!!)

Amy Johnston swims fantastic in her home pool! First time ever under 6:00 in the 500 (5:53!), and two stellar swims in the 200 fly and 200 IM.

Freshman Duo from Ohio - A. Moore and E. Depew - both go lifetime bests in their 200's. Amanda's 200 breast ties for first place with a 2:33.5 and Depew runs away with the win in the backstroke with a time of 2:16.0.

Kara Leasure has a great meet going winning both the mile (18:08) and the 500 free (5:19). She also places 2nd in the 200 IM with a 2:15 - her best time ever here at Bates.

Charlotte Green also swims beautifully dominating the 50 in a 25.1 and then grabbing an exciting victory in the 100 free in the last 10 yards - touching in at 53.6. Very impressive.

Won Ho touches first in the 200 free (1:48.1), 50 free (22.5), and 100 fly (52.2) for triple victory.

Boniface get the two wins in the 100 back and 200 IM.

And Ryan Pitcairn swims a solid mile and wins... while Venka Duvvuri pops a great last 50 for a victory in the 1-2-3 sweep of the 200 fly! (Buehler and Jenkins round out the sweep).

Very good meet - and again.. CONGRATS to the women for the CBB title!

Coach

Bowdoin Recap

2011-01-18T10:21:00.007-05:00

Meet Results are here.

Highlights include...
1) Women beat the Polar Bears for the first time since 2003! Final Score 193-107.

2) Women's Medley Relay of Depew, Sparks, Zingale, and Green set the pool record!

Bates College-ME  'A'                                       1:51.41   11  
     1) Depew, Emilie 18                2) Sparks, Catherine E 20         
     3) Zingale, Katy V 19              4) Green, Charlotte A 21          
                 29.38       59.90 (30.52)     1:26.81 (26.91)     1:51.41 (24.60)



3) Won Ho Chang swims another impressive double with wins in the 200 fly (1:55.6) and the 500 free (4:54.8).  His 200 fly actually set the school record by .01!
1 Chang, Won Ho             18 Bates-ME                       1:55.69    9  
                 26.51       56.00 (29.49)     1:26.18 (30.18)     1:55.69 (29.51)
4) Women's Distance Crew dominates... In the 1000 Kara Leasure, Tara Dugan, and Abigail Hanson go 1-2-3.  In the 500 Dugan, Emily Tato, and Hanson go 1-2-3!  Emily and Abigail are both coming off a semester abroad... and even more amazing is that Abigail is swimming faster than she ever has in-season!
5) Elle Sergi went 54.8 in the 100 free and 2:16 in the 200 Back. Also Emily Depew dropped way under 2:20 in the 200 back for the first time with a 2:17!  Katy Zingale was also a double winner with first places in the 100 and 200 fly.   
6) On the men's side it was great getting Peem back!  Pat Carroll swim very well in the 50 free.  Tom Boniface keeps posting solid in-season times... My boys that were abroad are continuing to improve.  Venka had a solid 200 fly going 2:03.  And don't forget our mono boys (Schadt and Depew) helping out with the lanes and diving boards during diving breaks.  They looked fantastic.
7) Travis Jones ripped a beautiful dive off the 3 meter and received all 7s and 8's(!) in route to victories on both 1 and 3 meter... and Jess Howard comes off a semester abroad to win both 1 and 3 meter boards too!  Very cool.

Bobcat of the Week! Won Ho Chang

2011-01-17T12:08:00.000-05:00

The swimming and diving team grabbed headlines with its first dual-meet victory against rival Bowdoin since 2003, a resounding 193-107 score on Saturday at Tarbell Pool. The men's team didn't win the team scoring against the Polar Bears, but swam impressively nevertheless -- none more so than first-year Won Ho Chang (Seoul, Korea).

Chang won the 200-yard butterfly race in a time of 1:55.69, the fastest ever by a Bates swimmer. Chang sliced a hundredth of a second off of David Fox's record that stood for nearly 18 years. The performance also broke the pool record held by Middlebury since 2006.

Chang also captured first place in the 500 freestyle, with a time of 4:54.61. The rookie standout has already pulled off two individual wins in dual meets this season against Maine and Middlebury.

Bobcat of the Week!

2011-01-15T08:56:00.000-05:00

CONGRATS TOM BONIFACE!

Bates junior Tom Boniface (Youngstown, Ohio) stood out among many other Bobcat swimmers in a pair of strong performances put on by the team in back-to-back dual meets in Vermont last weekend.

On Saturday at Norwich University, Boniface's anchor leg in the 800-yard freestyle relay put the exclamation point on the Bobcats' claiming Norwich's pool record in the event, in a time of 7:26.18. His split was 1:48! In the same meet, the versatile Boniface touched the wall first in two other events: the 100 butterfly (55.56) and 100 backstroke (58.09).

On Sunday at NESCAC rival Middlebury, Boniface won the 200 free in 1:47.94, his best in-season time of his career, and he also finished a narrow second place in the 100 free in 49.63 seconds.

Training Trip Recap

2011-01-10T09:12:00.001-05:00

Quick recap after a 13 day training trip.

1) New England Blizzard messes up most of our travel plans and causes about 10 athletes to arrive to Florida 2 days late (along with too many airport runs after midnight to mention!). However our team is finally back together with 8 returning from a semester abroad!

2) Florida weather. 75 degrees and sunny the whole time. It was perfect for training and coming together as a program. I can't remember a team responding so well to the countless challenges I threw at them. They have never worked harder in the preseason, or over the first 5 weeks of the season, and I am guessing that had something to do with their success.

3) Flew home right after what many believe was our "poopiest" practice of the season - and arrived late Wednesday night. Friday we jumped back in for a doubles - with an absolutely fantastic nutrition talk by our wellness coordinator Mike Milliken in between workouts. The talk was scheduled for an hour, and lasted two. Needless to say the team learned a lot, and asked a ton of questions. I think it will make a difference as they eat better during our final push, and then adjust things accordingly as we taper.

4) Drove 4 hours to Norwich and walked away with two victories and 3 pool records! Catherine Sparks' 50 breast (31.4), and both 800 Freestyle Relays. Women's relay was Elle Sergi (2:01), Charlotte Green (2:01), Kara Leasure (2:03), and Emilie Geissinger (1:59). The men's was Sammy Schadt (1:52), Won Ho Chang (1:49), Nick Karlson (1:55), and Tom Boniface (1:48). Dan Aupi also went 55.7 in the 100 IM and missed the pool record by a tenth.

5) Drove another 90 minutes north to Middlebury the next day and mixed up our line up a bit as injury and illness has introduced itself, especially to our men's program. However, some tremendous highlights included.
1) Tara Dugan and Kara Leasure one-two the mile. Tara's 18:12 is Number 1 in the conference!
2) Charlotte and Geissinger both drop under 2:00 in the 200 and Charlotte wins with a 1:57.0.
3) Tom Boniface pulls another "last minute surgery" and saves the race on the last lap winning with a 1:47.9 (a breakthrough swim for sure).
4) Pat Carrol goes 22.7 in the 50 - an in-season LTB.
5) Dan Aupi wins the 100 back with a 54.3 - another in-season best
6) Zingale swims her most aggressive 100 fly at Bates showing the team she is on a mission.
7) Moore and Sparkles come up huge in the 100 breast with a 1:10 from Amanda and 1:09 from Catherine (3rd in the conference!)
8) Elle Sergi and Emilie Giessinger one-two the 50 free.
9) Won Ho Chang beats the defending national champion and national record holder in the 200 fly with a time of 1:56, tops in the conference.
10) Kara Leasure went a lifetime best, set a new school record, and posted the second fastest time in the conference in the 200 breast! (2:27.8)

6) We wrapped the weekend up with a (traditional) drive through a Vermont blizzard going 20 mph for 90 minutes - and then another 5 hours at regular speed listening to the team play "would you rather...", attempt to produce "Northeast Charter Bus Idol," and then finally break into a-cappella renditions of American Pie and Don't Stop Believing.

Truly an amazing 13 days together.

Bobcats of the Week!

2010-12-23T20:09:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to our very own Dan Aupi and Kara Leasure for being Bobcats of the Week last week. Both swimmers received this award based on their extraordinarily performances in the dual meet last weekend against the University of Maine Black Bears.

Click on the link to the Bates website to learn more. Nice work Kara and Dan!

http://www.bates.edu/x223579.xml

Happy Holidays,

Coach Jake

National Performance Index

2010-12-15T17:44:00.002-05:00

A very cool report on CollegeSwimming.com came out yesterday - the AvidaSports Performance Index. A new NCAA rule this year mandates all coaches send their meet results to USA Swimming's "Top Times Database." This allows the national meet to selected without coaches fretting over POP forms, and keeps tracks of swimmers, times, and info that I figure both the NCAA and USA Swimming want. Even better is that places like CollegeSwimming.com have tons of "swimming nerd" data to drool over now! I love this stuff.

My good buddy Greg Earhart, founder of CollegeSwimming.com and Head Coach at Carthage College, came up with the notion of rating two equally-weighted metrics - a team's rate of improvement over their previous season-best times, and their overall ranking among other NCAA DIII programs.

I knew we swam well last weekend, and it is nice to see concrete feedback that we were better at improving last week than nearly everyone else out there. Out of over 200 programs our men ranked 6th last week, and our women ranked 3rd.... Yeah, in the nation!

Congrats to the whole team for taking advantage of our last dual meet of the season, against the best competition in the state, and right before finals! Truly an amazing feat.

UMO Recap

2010-12-13T18:16:00.002-05:00

Bobcats Sunk by the Blackbears

We came up on the wrong side of the win/loss column, but the victories seemed to be everywhere last Saturday afternoon. For starters, our men's 400 medley relay took an easy victory and seemingly cruised to a 3:39... highlighted by freshman Won Ho's 51.5 fly split!

After that Kara Leasure lit up the pool with 3 wins in the 1000 Free (10:55), 200 Breast (2:28), and 200 IM (2:17). The 200 Breast is currently tops in the NESCAC. Charlotte Green remains undefeated in the 100 free popping a 54.6 and "feeling off." Following up Charlotte with great swims was Tom Boniface going in-season bests with a 1:49 and 49.3 in the 200 and 100 free, and Dan Aupi's three wins. As usual Travis Jones is improving every day - and with Coach Bartley at the helm, Saturday was just another example of great things ahead for that duo.

Catherine Sparks lit up the 100 breast with a win lunging to a 1:09.7. An impressive swim for her at this time of year (I think faster than last year's conference meet). And Won Ho grabbed the last victory for us on the men's side posting a 52.5 100 fly time - and he made it look easy. I suspect he'll be real fast once he gets in shape!

Happy Holidays everyone!

More Detailed Meet Results Here

Greetings From Abroad!

2010-12-04T12:43:00.001-05:00

Ciao Tutti!
Hope you all make way for my arrival back, cause I'm bringing home the biggest Italian food baby ever. Just kidding...but really...
Baci! ("kisses!")
Carole

Hey team! I just want to clear the air and let everyone know, despite
what rumors may have been circulating, I will probably be coming back from
Austria… probably ;)
Good luck against UMaine!

Ned

Ned w/ the 2 fastest swimmers in Austria, Oliver and Attila the Hun.

I've been to Sicily and Sardenja, dined in Paris and raved in Amsterdam. I've lived for four months in Rome, but (click my heels 3 times) there's no place like Home!

See you soon Batesies! <3 Emily

When in Rome… do like the pros do - win the Italian lottery (winnings aren't taxed) and marry your teacher.
-Alex Mckeown

Bonjour bobcats! France has been lovely, but the only problem is that I now have a hard time speaking anything but franglais.
Bisous!
Abigail

Ni hao bobcats, I peed in the street today and thought of you! I’m really living life here in China and loving it! miss you all, wo ai nimen. xoxo Liv

“Down under…anything goes.”
-Matt Lipoff

p.s. We would like to preemptively thank Peter Casares for offering us our own lane to last throughout training trip. Thanks Coach!

The Blind 50

2010-12-01T12:46:00.003-05:00

Impressive.

Diving Right In (Tufts/Wesleyan/Trinity Recap)

2010-12-01T11:54:00.013-05:00

It's been over a week since our first weekend of competition and I continue to have a feeling of contentment with how the team performed... along with a strong sense of urgency to keep on improving.

Tufts Recap
click above for the Bates recap and meet results
Honestly, I can't enjoy getting dominated like we did against Tufts. Even at our most fatigued and early stages of the season, my expectation is that we force the best teams in the conference to step up and compete to the end to put the final touches on a win. Unfortunately, it seemed after about event four that Tufts had the meet well in hand. That bugs me as I am always optimistic that even the best teams in the conference will have tight races against us in every event. Several strong one-two finishes by Tufts showed me clearly how far we still have to go to compete against teams that are top 4 in the conference. The NESCAC's top 4 are very capable of top 15 finishes at NCAA's - that tells you the level of depth our conference possesses - but since the day I arrived for my interview I felt Bates has all the right ingredients to be annually in that group, if not better. So the bar is still high, and we clearly have a long way to travel to get there. Needless to say, it is meets like this that keep us hungry and motivated - and driving to Wesleyan later that night, I have to admit, I had a very clear idea of both our team's weaknesses and strengths. As you surely noticed, I said strengths and there were several highlights from the meet we can easily rally around, especially seeing that it is still so early in the season. Ultimately in swimming, it clearly is how you end, not how you begin that matters. We will keep that mantra all year long.

Tufts Highlights
1) Charlotte Green picks up right where she left off as one of the best freestyle sprinters in the conference. An impressive 54.8 at the Tufts pool is a swim I personally consider exceptional. Her second 50 dominated the field, and what a great sign for early on in the season.

2) Our women's 400 freestyle free relay easily took the victory - a great sign of our depth and NESCAC capabilities in the freestyle events. The 400 Free relay is an absolute favorite of mine, and I think it speaks volumes about your team. The last event of the meet, a relay, and the most important stroke of any competition - the winner of that race can feel good about their toughness, their ability, their training, and their faith in each other. All important in my book.

3) Travis Jones scored a lifetime best on the 1 meter board and kicks off his second season only 40 points outside of a national cut!

4) Lifetime best performances from Santina Snow, Lyndsay Wallace, Amanda Moore (wow!)... along with dozens of performances that start off the year much faster than the previous season. A few that come to mind are Emilie Giessinger's 200 free, Nick Karlson's 500 & 1000, Nathaniel Depew's victory in the 100 back, Pat Carroll's 50 free, and Peem's 100 breast (note: Peem was diagnosed with pneumonia the following Sunday!)

Trinity - Wesleyan Recap
click above for the Bates recap and meet results
Two wins against Trinity and a men's meet against WES that came down to the last event made for an exciting early season double dual (men lost by 10 points, which in essence is one more first place finish... further, we lost 3 races by .3! If any of them go our way we potentially win... I'll walk away with that type of motivation any day). I remember my first two years trumpeting only individual performances. It is nice to see both individual accomplishments and team triumphs are now the norm.

Big props to Wesleyan's women's team. They were dominate... and clearly both in great shape and fast. On the men's side I was very impressed with Trinity as their team is sporting tons more depth and several first year swimmers that will make a big impact on the conference, and their dual meet results. By the way, the conference is getting scary deep. My prediction is that it's going to be the deepest NESCAC champs ever with 24th place being much faster than any other conference in the entire nation.

Overall, it was great to see how we responded after a difficult Friday night of races the very next day. Two dual meets in less than 18 hours isn't easy - but at this stage of the season it's not supposed to be easy, so we are good with it. One thing I know for sure that is this team is full of tough athletes. According to the one head coach in the conference they swam nearly half a second faster per 50 Friday night than they did the next day. I gotta tell you, we swam just as fast, if not even better. That is clearly the most impressive thing I took away from the weekend of competing. We have been hitting the aerobic side of the sport hard this first month and I see it paying off. Improvements in racing were made Saturday and many a swimmer did things even better against Trinity and Wesleyan they did Friday night against Tufts. That is a good direction to be trending in!

Trinity/Wesleyan Highlights
1) 400 Freestyle Relays take the cake for me. We dominated both. The women won by 2.5 seconds and the men by over 3. Wow. Over the past 3 years I have been very aware of how important freestyle depth is to success and I will continue to look for ways to measure it. A 4Free relay gives me some very concrete feedback.

2) Kara Leasure pops a 2:30 in the 200 breast. Only .5 off what she did at conferences last year. She just might go a lifetime best in season this year, and that says a lot seeing that she has been top 8 in this conference her first two years.

3) Elle Sergi is talented. Over the course of two meets she was top 3 in the 50 free (25.6), 100 free (56), 500 free (5:30), 100 back (1:02), and 200 back (2:17). Seriously impressive two days of racing.

4) Won Ho pops the number one 200 fly time in the NESCAC winning the event with a 1:59.

5) Sammy Schadt and Tommy BonSurgery go 1-2 in the 100 free. Depew continues to swim fast in the 100 and 200 back. Boniface also goes 2:04 in the 200 IM, Sparkles charges home in both a 100 free and breast - a totally new (and dangerously effective) strategy for her. Dugan goes 5:24 feeling "off" in the 500. Leah Burke pops two very strong 200 IM's for us. And Kick Sullivan's 500 free!

6) Of course there were more... please comment below if you want to give props to a team member!

Season Begins!

2010-11-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

We are 2 hours from leaving for our first weekend of competition and the calm before the storm settles upon me. At Tufts tonight (6pm), and tomorrow at Wesleyan versus both Trinity and Wesleyan (noon). Three NESCACs meets in less than 24 hours. Are we prepared to race? Not even close. Will we race tough and try to win the close ones? I fully expect so.

Don't get me wrong, we have had a very productive first three weeks of training. It has been geared toward conditioning, not racing - and this weekend, above all else, gives us a much needed opportunity to train our racing skills. When you cover over 110,000 yards in less than three weeks you can feel confident the heart is beating enough to help the body become more efficient and stronger. And in fact, the team has clearly become much better at repeat 100's, 200's, 300's and 400's these past few weeks. They have also gotten better at lifting, stretching, yoga, and dryland. All is heading in the right direction, but we just haven't raced yet. I'm anxious to say the least.

On separate, but related note, I believe we are going to have close to 30 alums from the Boston and New England area getting together tonight at the meet, and then a dinner right afterwards. That is so very cool! The post meet celebration will be occurring at The Burren, Davis Square (247 Elm Street, Somerville). Should be a great time. If you can't make the meet, or post meet celebration, check back here for updates and links to the results. I suspect the Tufts site will be first to post them, but I'll check around and see if I can get info to all our fans asap!

Think Bates this weekend, and we'll get back to you with updates and recaps!

In Bates,

Coach

Hour of Power

2010-11-11T14:17:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, November 9th, the Bates Bobcatcs split up into five relays of about seven people each to participate in the Hour of Power. The “Hour of Power” relay is in honor of Carleton College swimmer Ted Mullin, who died in the fall of 2006 from sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer. Funds raised through this event support research at the University of Chicago into the causes and treatment of sarcoma in young people.

For those participating in the hour of power, this means giving everything they have for a full hour straight - the main objective is to "leave it all in the pool", as Ted always did.

The team was full of pride and enthusiasm as the they participated in the hour of power, and concluded with a Bobcat cheer.

For more information on the "Hour of Power" click on the link above or go to http://go.carleton.edu/HourOfPower

Coach Jake

New Football Field!

2010-11-02T15:26:00.002-04:00

For those that aren't in the know, we have a new football field on campus. 100% donor raised... Former athletes stepping up and giving back to an important part of their Bates experience. So very cool!

Check out the great video below - and the over 3,000 people that showed up for our first game!

2011 Captains

2010-10-27T16:54:00.001-04:00

Congrats to four very deserving seniors on being elected captain this year! Here at Bates, captains are voted on by the team... and vote for a teammate, by a teammate, has always been sacred to me.

Charlotte Green Allison Lizars Peem Chatikavanij Pat Carroll

Their commitment, vision, and love for this program (and their teammates) is undeniable - and I have no doubt our team will continue to flourish under their guidance and direction this season.

Swimnetwork - Be Inspired By Fran Crippen - Mike Gustafson, Senior Analyst Commentary Blog Article

2010-10-25T16:50:00.001-04:00

Swimnetwork - Be Inspired By Fran Crippen - Mike Gustafson, Senior Analyst Commentary Blog Article

Swimnetwork - Swimming Mourns the Loss of Fran Crippen - USA Swimming Article

2010-10-25T08:54:00.001-04:00

Swimnetwork - Swimming Mourns the Loss of Fran Crippen - USA Swimming Article

Sad news in the swimming world today. Fran was at his peak. A fine young man that was doing great things in the water and in his community. We lost a real hero yesterday.

Swimmer Bio: Molly Corcoran

2010-10-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

Molly came to us from Waterbury, CT. Last summer, she enjoyed the Bates College Swim Camp and all of the fabulous prizes and swimming knowledge that it has to offer along with some of the other incoming Bobcats.

What initially attracted you to Bates / how did you find out about the school?

I initially felt welcomed at Bates. The first time I visited was during the summer, but the few people on campus all greeted me with a smile and a "hello." After Bates swim camp and my overnight last year, my feelings of the school were reassured and I knew Bates was for me.

Who is your favorite superhero?

The Powerpuff Girls I suppose, because I can't think of any other female superheroes

What is your favorite and least favorite stroke?
favorite-breaststroke, least favorite-freestyle, especially sprint freestyle

Any hobbies?

Friendship bracelets and shopping if that counts?

Do you know what field you are going to major in?
Environmental studies most likely, politics or econ possibly

On the following 1-5 scale, how would you rate your excitement to get your degree and swim at Bates?
1 - extremely excited
2 - wildly excited
3 - uber excited
4 - infinitly excited
5 - My excitement extends beyond the bounds of infinity
7.62 on a 1-5 scale, surpassing "extremely," "wildly," "uber," and "infinity."

Thanks, Molly! It is going to be a great year with you on the team.

-Coach Jake

PS - Make sure you check out the links on the pictures

Player Profile! Carly Hinkle '14

2010-09-23T10:25:00.001-04:00

The next new Bobcat you will get to meet is Caroline Hinkle. Caroline is from Arlington, VA. Most people know Arlington as the place to find memorials such as the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial, but the city also produces awesome swimmers like Carly!

What other schools did you consider during your college search? Why did you choose Bates?
I considered a few of the NESCAC schools and St. Mary's College of Maryland. I picked Bates because of the location, people, and academics.

What is your favorite and least favorite stroke/events?

My favorite strokes are freestyle and butterfly, and I love sprinting. My favorite events are the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly. I really don't enjoy any distance longer than 200 yards and anything that involves breaststroke.

Do you know what field you are going to major in?

Undecided, but thinking about Biology.

Who is your favorite superhero? What kind of Bobcat qualities does your superhero have?

My favorite superhero is "Stupendous Man" from the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. Stupendous Man is Calvin's imaginary alter ego. Stupendous man never backs down, just like a bobcat. And they're both stupendous.

Any hobbies?

Reading, cooking, cross word puzzles

Cool places you've visited?
Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, New York City, Bar Harbor, Niagra Falls, live near Washington D.C.

On the following 1-5 scale, how would you rate your excitement to get your degree and swim at Bates?

1 - extremely excited

2 - wildly excited

3 - uber excited

4 - infinitely excited

5 - my excitement extends beyond the bounds of infinity

Thanks, Carly! We are psyched to have you on the team.

-Coach Jake

Top Jock Schools?!

2010-09-21T12:07:00.007-04:00

Bates College annually receives national attention for it's academic prestige being a US News and World Report "most selective" and top ranked institution. That simply doesn't happen without tremendous professors and clear alumni success.

Bates also is known for it's progressive approach to education with t est scores optional since 1986, and our Short Term in May.

And our study-abroad program has a higher percentage of students involved than any other school in the NESCAC! (btw, athletes can partake in abroad programs during Short Term if you don't want to miss a season!)

And now today we learn that Newsweek placed Bates 4th on the "Top 25 Schools Stocked with Jocks" list?!

As you clearly know, Bates is where you go to challenge yourself academically, and surround yourself with opportunities that will help you succeed in life - not professional sports. Being on a list right behind the likes of Nebraska and Alabama truly is somewhat eye opening. As I see it though, Bates has long been a proponent of advancing the mind and body, and it makes perfect sense that a school that truly believes in a holistic approach to education would be very supportive of their student-athletes.

Further, the universities ranked ahead of us have more people attending than the entire population of Lewiston - so being the first small college on the list is something that definitely makes me proud. To do academics and athletic right, at this level, and gain national attention for it, definitely means Bates Athletics, and specifically, Bates Swimming and Diving, are part of something that will only be getting better!

Read below to see the article.

- Coach Casares

The 25 Schools Stocked With Jocks

Phyllis Graber Jensen / Courtesy of Bates College

Located in Lewiston, Maine, Bates College is rooted in inclusiveness. Founded in 1855 by abolitionists, it was one of the first higher-learning institutions to admit people of color, and later, women. Today, the college says it maintains its all-inclusive standards by prohibiting fraternities and sororities on campus.

Approximately 1,700 people make up the student body at Bates, 47 percent of which play on varsity teams, placing it in the No. 4 spot on Newsweek’s list of schools for athletes. With its Peace Corps–friendly student body and 21 percent of its federal work-study funds spent on community service, Bates ranks as the sixth most service-minded school.*

All those athletes and altruists must enjoy the school’s 109 acres (which include the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area for environmental research and education, 40 miles northeast of campus on Maine’s coast) as the school claims an impressive 96 percent return rate for first-year students.

*For the complete college rankings from Washington Monthly, visit their website at: www.washingtonmonthly.com.

Do the Michael Phelps

2010-09-14T11:48:00.001-04:00

Enjoy! PS - I could see DJ Bueh doing something much cooler.

New Bobcat - Lyndsay Wallace

2010-09-09T10:55:00.001-04:00

Next, we would like to introduce Lyndsay Wallace!

Lyndsay is a sprint freestyler from Middletown in Delaware, but also has a home nearby in Minot, ME (click on the map to enlarge). Her father, Bill Wallace coaches swimming at the St. Andrew's School in Delaware. We were very fortunate to have both Lindsay and her father involved with the Bates Swim camp - Lyndsay swimming and Bill coaching.

Now for a little bit about Lyndsay:

What is your favorite and least favorite stroke/events?
My favorite stroke is freestyle, my least favorite is butterfly. I like to swim shorter length events generally but I'll do almost anything. Although I'd severely dislike anything over a 500...

What other schools did you consider during your college search? Why did you choose Bates?
Though I looked at 15 schools in total, when narrowing down my final choices to apply to, Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, Washington College in Chestertown, MD, and Bates were the three that I ultimately looked at seriously. I wanted a swimming program available to me, and I wanted some sort of proximity to family (RI is where my grandparents live, Washington College is 45 minutes from my home in Delaware, and Bates is near my home in Minot ME). I ultimately applied ED to Bates primarily because of the feel I got on my visits, because of the swim coach, and because it offered a wide variety of courses.

Any hobbies?
I like playing soccer and lacrosse, hiking, camping, eating...

Cool places you've visited?
Haven't left the continent so probably not nearly as cool as the answers that everyone else must have.

Do you know what field you are going to major in?
I'm interested in Sociology and Environmental Science but I don't know yet for sure.

Anything else interesting about yourself that you would like to share?
I can pop my shoulders out?

On the following 1-5 scale, how would you rate your excitement to get your degree and swim at Bates?

1 - Extremely excited

2 - Wildly excited

3 - Uber excited

4 - Infinitly excited

5 - My excitement extends beyond the bounds of infinity

All of the above!

Thanks, Lyndsay! It is going to be really exciting to see how much time you drop this year.

- Coach Jake

New Bobcat - Taylor Roach

2010-09-08T16:31:00.004-04:00

We have some very fast and cool incoming freshman this year. In fact, we think that they are so cool that we figured we ought to put a small bio for them on The Chronicle. As they each tell me about themselves I will post their bio's here as quickly as possible.

First up, we have Taylor Roach. Taylor's home is right nearby in NorthYarmouth, ME! She is a sprint freestyler and had an incredible time attending the Bates College Swim Camp a couple summers ago. The staff's passion for fast swimming and good company has always helped to prepare and inspire swimmers to be faster than they were before.

Here is a little about Taylor:

What initially attracted you to Bates / how did you find out about the school?

I was first attracted to Bates College during the summer of 2008, as the campus was the location of the awesome swim camp my friends and I attended that year. We came back for more the next summer, falling, easily, in love with the teaching styles and constant upbeat encouragement of Coach Casares and the entire fun-loving staff.

What other schools did you consider during your college search? Why did you choose Bates?

I applied to nine different schools during the fall of my senior year of high school. A number of those include: Bowdoin College, Tufts University, College of the Holy Cross, and Boston College. I applied Early Decision II to Bates because I fell in love with the campus, the welcoming community atmosphere, the incredible friendliness of the students and faculty, the phenomenal food at Commons, the college’s commitment to success, and all of the wonderful opportunities Bates offers its students.

Who is your favorite superhero? What kind of Bobcat qualities does your superhero have?

My favorite superhero would have to be Batman. He may not be bulletproof or able to swing from a web, but he has the heart and determination to defeat any foe he comes up against. He also is supportive of and works together with his loyal sidekick, Robin, to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. I think the qualities of bravery, determination, support, loyalty and togetherness are those of a true Bobcat.

What is your favorite and least favorite stroke/events?

My favorite stroke is freestyle and my least favorite stroke is butterfly, (I look like I’m drowning when I swim it.) My favorite events are the 100 freestyle, 400 freestyle relay, and the 200 freestyle relay. My least favorite events are any butterfly events.

Any hobbies?

Hobbies besides swimming include: spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, and playing fetch with my golden retrievers.

Do you know what field you are going to major in?

I am going to major in biology to pursue becoming either a doctor or a marine biologist, (I’m not quite sure which yet.)

On the following 1-5 scale, how would you rate your excitement to get your degree and swim at Bates?
1 - extremely excited
2 - wildly excited

3 - uber excited

4 - infinitely excited

5 - my excitement extends beyond the bounds of infinity
I would have to rate my excitement to get my degree and swim for Bates as 5 - my excitement extends beyond the bounds of infinity!!

Thanks, Taylor! You are surely going to be a valuable asset to the team.

- Coach Jake

Dana Scholar Award Winner

2010-09-02T16:41:00.001-04:00

This was just received over email:

To Faculty and Staff:

As you know, each year ten men and ten women are selected from the first year class to be Dana Scholars. Students are nominated by faculty members, administrative staff, leaders of campus organizations, and Dana Scholars in the upper classes at the conclusion of the academic year. We are pleased to announce the Dana Scholars selected from the Class of 2013. These individuals achieved an average GPA of 3.86, had a rich diversity of extracurricular contributions, and submitted thoughtful, often provocative essays in support of their candidacy. We thank the faculty and others for helping with the nomination process with special thanks to the final selection committee – Matthew Cote, Judith Head, and James Reese.

Congratulations to Travis Jones for being a Dana Scholar for the class of 2013! Being chosen as a Dana Scholar is regarded as the highest honor that is bestowed on a first-year student. Nice work, Travis!

Update Time!

2010-08-31T09:32:00.009-04:00

Bates swimming has undergone some very nice changes this summer. The arrival of our new lanelines, flags, and a upgrade to the filtration system have the pool area looking fantastic - and ready to go. Donations from the Friends of Bates Athletics has definitely made an immediate impact with giving up twice as much as the previous year - and the proof is definitely all around us. However, the most important addition to the program, and the biggest benefit from the FBA is the addition of Jacob Shanley to our staff. Three years ago I took over a team of 25 total, and now we are sitting at over 50 in the program! Another full-time staff member was a hope of mine since day one, and it feels great to be checking off another goal accomplished.

Jake recently graduated from Kenyon College as a four year letterman, multiple time All-American, and National Championship team member. His development from a very good high school swimmer to a great college swimmer came under the tutelage of coaching great Jim Steen, but more directly it came from Jake's own desire to work hard and his ability to compete his best, against the best. A backstroker, IM'er and breaststroker, he came out of Old Town, ME as one of Maine's finest, and clearly went on to develop into one of the best collegiate swimmers in Maine's history. We are thrilled to have him come back home and join us as we take our next step as program. His help in recruiting and coaching, coupled with his knowledge of big meet swimming and championship team chemistry will help everyone in the program take another postitive step toward achieving lifetime bests, and fast swimming.

Personally, I met Jake during my last year working at the Total Performance Swim Camp, and was so impressed with his attention to detail, ability to teach, and work ethic that I called him up and asked him to help me build my own swim camp. Four years later, Jake is still on board, and remains one of our camp's most popular and admired coaches with props coming from not only the kids, and me, but also the staff and college counselors. We are thrilled to have Jake here with us - working hard and accomplishing his goals. Without the help from the FBA this would not have been possible, so thank you goes out to both Jake and all those that have given and helped us out with donations over the years.

On a more personal note, just last April Bates Swimming lost one of our best, John White '39. John was literally one of the fathers of Bates Swimming and Diving as he and his dad Harold (Bates' first swim coach) started the swim team his freshman year. The two teamed up to help Bates swim to a 3rd place finish in New Englands - our highest finish to date! John went on to live in Maine and the Lewiston/Auburn area, and not only make a name for himself locally, but also nationally and internationally as a US Masters Swimmer, and FINA World Record Holder.

As you know, you simply can't replace a great person with new lanelines and flags, or any equipment for that matter, so bringing another great person into the fold here at Bates was truly one of the best ways to remember and celebrate John. We are proud of what this program stands for, and most importantly the people associated with it - and look forward to coming together again this year to see just how good we can be!

In Bates,

Coach

Summer Time Awards!

2010-08-10T08:23:00.000-04:00

We just received word from the College Swim Coaches Association that our Men's and Women's team were honored as Scholar All-American Teams! As a whole last Spring the men's team received a 3.12 GPA while the women took home an amazing 3.46 GPA (13th in the country!). My records indicate that at this point Bates College Swimming and Diving has now received Scholar All-American status for 24 straight semesters! Twelve years in a row... wow.

I also had the privilege this year of coaching three women that received Scholar All-American Certificates. A minimum 3.5 GPA and a national consideration performance qualifies you for this award.

Katelyn Drake '10 - 4.0 GPA, National Cut in the 100 and 200 Back
Charlotte Green '11 - 3.77 GPA, National Cut in the 50, 100, and 200 Free
Annaliese Rudis '10 - 3.76 GPA, Nationcal Cut in the 1 and 3 Meter Diving

Only 6% of all college swimmers qualified for this award this year. The combination of being the best in the classroom and the pool is something very special... something very few can accomplish. Congratulation Ladies!

(pictured above, right to left, Katelyn Drake, Charlotte Green, and Annaliese Rudis)

Swim Camp!

2010-07-05T07:27:00.003-04:00

Your browser cannot play this video. Learn how to fix this.

Here is a highlight film from last week! Thanks Joe for doing such an awesome job!

Camp Size:

2008 Bates College Swim Camp - 80 Campers

2010 Bates College Swim Camp - 187 Campers

Staff Details:

5 College Coaches whom have coached over 100 all american performances and 2 national titles

- William and Mary, Columbia, Davidson, Carthage, and Bates

2 Prep School Coaches

- St Andrews High School in DE and Kingswood Oxford in CT

8 College Swimmers with over 30 varsity records, 25+ all-american performances, 4 national team titles, and 1 national record among them.

Staff Geography:

3 from MA, 3 from ME, 2 from OH, 1 from NC, 1 from WI, 1 from IL, 1 from NH, 1 from CT, 1 from NM, and 1 from Brazil!

Highlight Film

1 Amazing Video courtesy of Joe DeMatteo

World Cup 2010

2010-06-10T10:53:00.003-04:00

Sports at its best. Enjoy.

Swimnetwork - What Your Goggles Say About You

2010-06-10T09:26:00.003-04:00

FUNNY!

(Click on title for article)

Mind over Matter

2010-06-08T10:52:00.011-04:00

The World’s Most Dangerous Deep-Water Dive. William Trubridge just broke the world record for deepest free dive. He dove 288 feet underwater using nothing, no equipment. You can see how black the water gets as he dives deeper and deeper into the abyss below. It’s beautiful, terrifying, thrilling, and utterly captivating. Especially considering I can barely get myself down to the bottom of a 12-feet deep diving well. (To put things in perspective: most college diving wells are 24 ft. deep. This guy went down 12 – that’s right, 12 – diving wells, back-to-back-to-back, using nothing. And he lived to tell about it.

Bill Boomer

2010-05-25T14:59:00.005-04:00

I learned about the legend of Bill Boomer in the late 90's. I got to meet Boomer at the Men's NESCAC meet in 2008 in Middlebury. An Olympic Coach with a DIII background who thinks outside the box is pretty much everything I dream to be. It was honor to talk with him then, and this year when we returned to Midd for Women's NESCACs we became even a bit closer. Fantastic conversations flew all weekend, and he even took some time to work with my athletes on a few things that made immediate difference (he did invent the track start you know). Check out this video and you'll start to get a bit of a feel for some of the things that keep my mind busy. Heady stuff, but a lot of it we can all wrap our brains around.

Player Profile! Andrew Buehler '13

2010-05-19T10:41:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since we've done a player profile... and as the team sends me their info, I'll put it up and post some photos too. Here, our man Buehler kicks off the Springtime Player Profiles (and he's definitely putting the "player" in Player Profile)

Name: Andrew Buehler
YOG: 2013
Academic Interest: Economics and Chinese
Events: 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 FLY, 1000 Free
Favorites
-Meal at Commons: Chicken Fingers
-Musician: Dr. Dre
-Hobby/Free time activity: rapping

George L. Wigton Award - Charlotte Green!

2010-05-18T09:52:00.007-04:00

George L. Wigton served Bates College from 1965 until his retirement in 1996. During that time he was Bates’ longest serving coach of men’s basketball (20 years), and at 26 years the longest serving coach of men’s tennis. He coached men’s soccer and women’s tennis. He was instrumental in bringing squash to Bates, and served as head coach for men’s and women’s squash. For the 10 years between 1974 and 1984 he was Assistant Director of Athletics.

George’s early career reflects his Buckeye origins. He was an All-Ohio basketball player, and all-conference in the Cleveland Southwestern Conference in basketball, football and track. His basketball team at the U.S. Naval Base in Norfolk, Va., was All-Navy champion. He was on the varsity basketball and track teams at Ohio State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1956.

Alumni and friends have endowed the George L. Wigton Scholar Athlete Award that supports a student who exemplifies the qualities Coach Wigton embodied. Nominees for this award must have a B average or better; demonstrated leadership qualities reflective of Coach Wigton’s lifelong commitment to the values of athletics participation; and a willingness to participate in a research project that links sport and education.

This year's winner is of the George L. Wigton Scholar Award is Charlotte Green from the Women's Swimming & Diving team who will be using the award funds to research how, over time, swimming appealed to, or was available to, certain types of people and races over others. She will use what she learns in her research in her volunteer role at the Bridgeport YMCA, a local partner of the Make a Splash Foundation. The latter is a program designed by USA Swimming to change the statistics about minority swimming by providing swim lessons to children from minority families. Ultimately, Charlotte hopes with her research project to continue to help the cause of fostering the interest in swimming in minority children thereby reducing the statistics of drowning and providing more people with the important life skill of swimming.

CONGRATS CHARLOTTE - WHAT AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!

Breakfast Tacos at Masa

2010-05-17T11:02:00.002-04:00

Breakfast Tacos at Masa (Click the title to watch the video!)

My best friend from college, Gregory Stevcic, is quickly becoming the most famous chef in Boston. A 4 year MVP and All-American for Gettysburg College Soccer, he never missed a swim season, and always found a way to get inspired and go lifetime bests at our conference championships. Always qualifying for the championship final in the 200 IM!

He is another reason why I am here at Bates, coaching DIII. Greg simply knew how to do it all. If I can do one thing here it would be to get people inspired about what they can achieve - and how good they are when they put their mind to something. Greg loved life, and loves to cook, and I benefited greatly my 4 years during every cookout! It's no surprise his talents have paid off by becoming an executive chef at both MASA restaurants in Boston... and he is taking the restaurant to new heights. Greg could do that on the pitch, in the pool, and with our friendship. Congrats buddy!

The Bobcat Chronicle

BOBCAT OF THE WEEK!

Travis Jones ’13

Emilie Geissinger ’14

NESCAC Swimmer of the Week!

Geissinger ’14; NESCAC Swimmer of the Week

MIDD RECAP!

Men’s swimming and diving trumps Middlebury

Very cool video

Player Profile! Rachel Pedersen '14

UMaine Dual Meet Recap

Abroad Update! TURA dugan

Brendan Hanson

Winter Nationals Performance of the Meet

Alumni Update! Annaliese in Thailand!

Player Profile!

Thailand, Peem, and Lacrosse

Name that Lane Celebration!

Wesleyan Trinity Dual Meet Recaps

Bobcats Abroad!

Senior Citation Awards

Player Profile!

Player Profile!

Player Profile!

Player Profile!

Player Profile!

Player Profile!

Player Profile!

Player Profile!

Gold Medal Team - Our Passion

NEW APPAREL!!!

An All Time Favorite Athlete

Research in the Shetland Islands!

Charlotte Green - Senior Sportsmanship Award

GAME DAY

Welcome the Class of 2015!

Name That Lane!

Bates Swimming and Diving Store!

National Student Athlete Day!

Award Season!

NESCAC WRAP UP

MNESCAC Session V & VI

MNESCAC Session IV

MNESCAC Session III

MNESCAC Session II

MNESCAC Session I

MEN'S NESCACs!

WNESCAC Session VI

WNESCAC Session IV

WNESCAC Session III

WNESCAC Session II - Friday PM

WNESCAC Session I

Dual Meet Season Recap

Bobcat of the Week - Charlotte Green!

Bates vs Colby Update

Bowdoin Recap

Bobcat of the Week! Won Ho Chang

Bobcat of the Week!

Training Trip Recap

Bobcats of the Week!

National Performance Index

UMO Recap

Greetings From Abroad!

The Blind 50

Diving Right In (Tufts/Wesleyan/Trinity Recap)

Season Begins!

Hour of Power

New Football Field!

2011 Captains

Swimnetwork - Be Inspired By Fran Crippen - Mike Gustafson, Senior Analyst Commentary Blog Article

Swimnetwork - Swimming Mourns the Loss of Fran Crippen - USA Swimming Article

Swimmer Bio: Molly Corcoran

Player Profile! Carly Hinkle '14

Top Jock Schools?!

The 25 Schools Stocked With Jocks

4. Bates College

Do the Michael Phelps

New Bobcat - Lyndsay Wallace

New Bobcat - Taylor Roach

Dana Scholar Award Winner