The Penn women's swimming team has improved each of the three years that the current class of seniors has been with the program. Last year, this improvement peaked as the Quakers broke 13 school records -- 10 at the season-ending Ivy Championships alone.
But that may have been only a small sample of the Quakers' potential.
"We've been doing well in the past few years, building up and building up," co-captain Kathleen Holthaus said. "But I think we're at our peak this year."
Every one of the individual record holders will return tomorrow for the Quakers as they take on Richmond at Sheerr Pool.
The Red and Blue have beaten the Spiders the past two years, but both times the meet has come down to the last relay. Tomorrow, Penn can expect even more of a challenge.
"Richmond's much better than they've ever been," Penn coach Mike Schnur said. "They're the best team we'll swim all year other than Princeton and Harvard."
Schnur has set escalating goals in each of his five seasons as head coach and this one will be no exception. This season, the Quakers hope to go undefeated in home meets, have every swimmer reach her best time and improve upon last season's sixth-place finish at the Ivy League Championships.
Despite graduating five seniors from last year's squad, all of these goals should be attainable. Eleven freshmen -- eight swimmers and three divers -- will join the upperclassmen as they take on Richmond. The class is considered to be one of the best in the program's history.
"Our freshman class is going to be awesome," senior co-captain Rachel Zappalorti said. "They're all very strong and are going to make a huge contribution right away."
Zappalorti has made significant contributions herself, scoring points in the 200 butterfly for the past three years. This year, she is looking to contend for an Ivy title.
Zappalorti will not be the only Penn captain in contention for an Ivy title.
At the Ivy League Championships last year, Holthaus finished in the top four in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. She is also a two-time second-team All-Ivy selection and has been nationally ranked in the 1,000 free.
But the captains are only a small part of a team that is believed to be the most talented in Penn's history.
Schnur is optimistic about the upcoming season, but does not expect anything to come easily, including tomorrow's opening meet.
"The only way we can win is through a full team effort," he said. "Everybody on our team has to show up with their best."
Coming together as a team is important for the Quakers, who place a strong emphasis on encouraging each other.
"I think everyone works really hard, everyone wants to be here, everyone's talented," Holthaus said. "We're definitely ready to go this year."
Tomorrow will tell if Penn is actually ready for Richmond.
