W. Swimming: Veteran squad hoping to finish in third place

If the Penn women's swimming team fulfills its expectations this year, it will shatter the Quakers' record books.

After achieving the best Ivy finish in Penn history last year, this year's team returns 10 school record holders. Also, the loss of only one senior to graduation coupled with the team's highly touted freshman class means that the sky's the limit.

"This should be our best team ever," coach Mike Schnur said. "The women have a lot of potential. We have a very directed, united group this year that is very dedicated."

Looking to improve on their fifth-place finish at last year's Ivy League Championships, the Quakers expect higher marks in 2006.

"Our goal is to come in third in the Ivies this year," Schnur said. "We've never come in third, but we certainly have the ability to do so."

The players can also see the talent that the Quakers bring back.

"We look really good this year," co-captain and senior Cammie Villarreal said. "It's definitely going to be our best season yet. It's really exciting to be a part of it."

Even the freshmen can feel the anticipation of a successful season.

"I knew coming into this year that we had the potential to be the best we've ever been," freshman Lauren Brandes said. "Our class has really helped and bolstered the team. I'm just really excited to be part of a good team."

Schnur has put together a freshman class that includes six Junior National qualifiers and a Senior National qualifier.

"We have a small freshman class, but they're all fantastic swimmers," Schnur said. "I'd stack our freshman class against any other in the Ivies."

The newcomers will be asked to provide support for the established upperclassmen, a strategy that should pay off.

"To get to the next level, fourth to third place, we have to rely on our depth," Schnur said. "We're in a unique position in our league where we can make up for some of our losses because we have a very deep team."

For the last 30 years of Ivy League swimming, Princeton and Harvard have dominated the standings. That does not look likely to change this year, but the Quakers are in the mix to compete for the spot right behind the two powers.

"The real competition this year will be between Penn, Yale, Columbia and Brown" for third place, Schnur said. "Last year, Penn, Brown, Columbia and Yale all had close meets, and we certainly traded off beating each other. All four teams are really competitive."

As such, the key meet of the year will be Penn's visit to Columbia Dec. 8.

"The Columbia meet is always a big one," senior co-captain Alison Bretherick said. "We have something of a rivalry [with Columbia]. It's the meet we all get riled up for."

The Quakers start their season this Saturday at Harvard, and then travel to Lawrenceville, N.J. next weekend to face Lehigh and Rider.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.