After a record-setting season last year, the University of Wisconsin women's swim team has a lot to live up to in 2006. A year ago, the squad sent 11 girls to nationals and ended up placing ninth overall, both of which are school records.
While they waved goodbye to some key relay swimmers, there are still hopes the Badgers can continue where they left off last season. Senior and co-captain Susan Johnson is holding the team to a high standard this year.
"We want to place better than ninth place at NCAAs," Johnson said. "[Our team] is a lot bigger, so we'll be able to have more events and will be deeper, so I think we're going to be more successful. Even though our team is young, our incoming freshmen have enough experience to bring a lot to the team, especially when it comes to championships."
Among the veterans of the squad is sophomore Yi Ting Siow who helped bring the Badgers to their highest national finish in school history. Siow placed sixth at nationals in the 200-yard breaststroke and fifth in the 200-yard individual medley. Another important relay swimmer, senior Jackie Vavrek, will be returning to the team. Vavrek, along with Johnson, was part of the 200-yard medley relay that set a new Big Ten record. Vavrek is also expected to do well in the freestyle event.
Among the newcomers to the team is freshman Gabby Maddalena, who placed second in the 800-yard freestyle at the 2006 junior nationals and has a world ranking in her event. She is looking to help lead the team in the long-distance freestyle.
On the men's side, the team is looking to improve upon their finish last year. For the first time in years, the men didn't qualify anyone to nationals. After only losing one senior last year and gaining 11 incoming freshmen, the men have bright hopes for this season. Coach Eric Hansen hopes that maturity and time are key factors in getting the men prepared for the season ahead.
"We know that a lot of the kids we get to Wisconsin have a ton of potential but just need the time physically and mentally to develop their technique and other things," Hansen said. "We had a phenomenal summer, and it's already crossed over to our training here. The kids that stuck around are at a whole new level."
This is the biggest freshmen class Hansen has ever had, but he has high hopes that they will step up and help make things happen.
"It's a really hard-working bunch, and they've blended in really well," Hansen said. "They're ready and eager to learn our system."
The team's freshmen hold several team and state records, and also have numerous state championships in their particular events.
The men's team only has one remaining senior, Tom Molzahn, to help lead them to achieve the goals they set out for this season. Although he's the oldest one in the group, Molzahn said he doesn't feel any additional pressure.
"The rest of the guys share the same vision for this team that I do," Molzahn said. "We need to get relays to NCAAs and need to improve our placement at Big 10s. We worked really hard this summer and many improvements were made. We're ready to get in the water and start competing."
Molzahn is expected to take part in a strong relay team along with junior Mike Swanson and sophomores Mike Desautels and Scott Rice. Last year this 800-yard freestyle relay team posted a third-place finish at the Big Ten swim meet, which was the highest finish Wisconsin had on the men's side.
Hansen expects that the men will qualify a good number of men to NCAAs this year but hopes for more than that.
"It's one thing to qualify men in their events versus scoring those events," Hansen said. "We will expect a top-20 finish, and with some of the talent we have, it's been a big step forward."
The Badgers kick off their season Friday against UW-Green Bay.
The meet starts at 5 p.m. and will be held at the Natatorium.