Swimmers aim to peak at Ivies

By Alice Kim

This year, the Ivy League champion will be determined by next weekend's title meet in Cambridge. In seasons past, the crown has gone to the squad with the best overall record. With a 7-4 (4-3 Ivy) mark, Yale would have already been eliminated from championship contention last year. This year, the women have a second life.

"We didn't expect to go undefeated, so this season is not as much of a disappointment," team captain Janae Deverell, MC '98, said. "We're just getting used to that change."

Julia Tiernan/YH

In past seasons swimmers would shave and taper throughout the season to maximize their performance levels for some important dual meets. Now, swimmers shave and taper before only the championship meet. The team, therefore, expects to peak next weekend. Malindi Davies, ES '98, remarked, "We should see some spectacular swimming at the Championship meet."

This season, the swimmers have endured a more rigorous training regime throughout the dual meet season. "This change has made it less fun to swim in the dual meets where the importance has diminished," Davies said. Teammate Christina Rhee, ES '99, added that, "Before, we tried to focus on an undefeated dual meet season because it meant an Ivy Championship; now it's just an added bonus."

The change in rules has perhaps come at the perfect time for the Bulldogs. This season, the team has been plagued by injuries. With swimmers taking their time to heal in anticipation of the Ivy meet, the team is optimistic that come tournament time, the Bulldogs will be at full strength. "Swimmers have been in and out because of injuries, and it has hurt us," Deverall remarked. The swimmers have had to face these obstacles since the beginning of the season, however, and the team has adapted and performed admirably. "Injuries don't affect the people that are already in the water and swimming; they'll perform the same," Davies said.

Rhee, who has not competed the entire year because of a shoulder injury, gave another reason why this was a more challenging season for the Bulldogs. "A lot of schools are recruiting more, and the league has become more competitive," she said.

This weekend, the Bulldogs host the Yale Invitational at Kiphuth Pool. The swimmers know they could use a strong performance to boost their confidence going into the Ivy League championships. "We know that we're improving because the clock doesn't lie," Davies said. "I'm not disappointed at all."

When next weekend comes, throw out all the teams' records. They will be insignificant. It's safe to presume that the league's swimmers have been saving up for the showdown. The Bulldogs are still the three-time defending league champions. They're still the favorites. They're still dangerous. When everything is on the line, you better believe they will be at their best.

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