This season might have been called a "rebuilding" year for the women's swimming and diving team. But thanks to the performance of two key seniors, the Quakers look as strong as ever heading into the Ivy League Championships, today through Saturday, at Princeton, N.J.
"We graduated a lot of talent last year," Penn coach Mike Schnur said. "Some people thought we would fall this season, but we've been doing well."
With the sheer talent of middle-distance and sprint freestyler Kathryn Stores and the work ethic of long-distance swimmer Maureen Schriver, Penn's hopes are high for the Ivy Championships.
"Both are great leaders and great people," Schnur said. "They've scored in every event they've entered, and they've carried the team in many ways. Our goal [in Ivies] is always to do best times and enjoy the experience. We've finished sixth for the past four years in a row and I'd very much like to finish fifth this time."
Stores has the opportunity to become Penn's all-time career scoring leader at the Ivy championships. Long distance swimmer Kathleen Holthaus, who graduated last year, currently holds the record after recording second, fourth and sixth place finishes in the 1000, 500 and 1650, respectively, at last year's championships.
"In three years, Katie [Stores] has only missed the finals [and top eight] once," Schnur said.
The Pennington, N.J., native is familiar with the pressures of championship meets. In 2002, Stores captured the league championship in the 200 freestyle, with a time of 1:49.9. This posting still is the fastest in Penn's record book. Stores also owns Penn's record in the 100 freestyle, with a time of 50.7.
"She's the most valuable swimmer we've ever had," Schnur said. "Her relay swims are amazing. She's the only woman to break 23 [seconds] in a relay."
For Maureen Schriver, the story is a little different.
"I'm not the most physically gifted person, so I have to make up for it," Schriver said. "You can quit or work around it. I've always believed in giving 100 percent."
"She's improved tremendously," Schnur said. "The team's work ethic comes from Maureen; it's unstoppable. She's trained more yards and worked harder than anyone we've ever coached."
In 2003, Schriver won Penn's Most Improved Award. That year, Schriver shaved 15 seconds off her personal best in the 1000 freestyle and 14 seconds in the 1650 freestyle.
The Lansdale, Pa., native has reached the consolation finals at the Ivy Championships five times in the past three years. This year, she hopes to break into the final championship heats of her events.
"Maureen would like nothing more than to be in the top eight in all three of her events, to go on the award stand as one of the top eight swimmers in the league," Schnur said.
"For the last four years, I've earned this prize," Schriver said. "I'd love to break time barriers. This is the reward. But I always need to be relaxed. If I have confidence, it will be my best meet."
Schriver will swim the 400 Individual Medley and the 1000 freestyle on Friday and the 1650 freestyle on Saturday.
"At the end of Ivies, they honor the seniors," Schnur said. "They've earned the honor. I don't know where we'd be without these two."
