A more challenging season opener could not have been scripted.
Tomorrow, Penn women’s swimming will face Olympic Qualifier Alicia Aemisegger and a powerful Princeton team that finished 7-0 in the Ivy League last season. The Quakers will also compete against Cornell in the dual meet held in Princeton, N.J.
Coming off a sixth-place finish in the Ivy League last year, the Quakers are eager to move up in the standings. The additional fact that this year’s opener is the latest start ever for the program has both swimmers and coach itching to dive in already.
“We just want to see what the team can do in a competition,” captain Sara Coenen said. “We have been working since August and it is time to put it to a test. I am especially excited to see what the freshmen can do.”
The Red and Blue are anchored by a group of eight seniors, led by captain Amy Reams — who set the 50-yard freestyle record last year with a time of 23.54.
“We have great potential,” coach Mike Schnur said. “This team is a tight group of girls and the senior class is amazing. I’m just excited to start the season. This weekend should be fun.”
But Penn’s “fun” might be put on hold as they face world class swimmer Aemisegger. The Oreland, Pa., native has never lost a race in the Ivy League and reached two NCAA Championship finals in 2009. Perhaps most impressively, Aemisegger reached the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials finals in the 400-yard individual medley.
Despite the competition that the Tigers and their star swimmer will bring, the Quakers are excited to be swimming on the road against their rivals to kick of their 2009-10 campaign.
“It is a great place to swim,” Schnur said. “The atmosphere is incredible.”
And Penn’s other opponent, Cornell, is not to be overlooked.
A stark contrast to the Aemisegger-led Tigers, the Big Red finished last in the Ivy league in the 2008-09 season. But Schnur and the Quakers know that last year is ancient history.
And with a new heavily-recruited freshman class, the Big Red appear ready to shed its title as perennial Ivy League doormat.
“Cornell is a different team this year,” Schnur said. “They are worlds better than they have been these past couple years, and I expect them to give us some great competition.”
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