By: Mike Brown, News Correspondent
In just her first semester with the swimming & diving team, freshman Dana Schleif has written herself into the school’s record books.
At the Terrier Invitational Nov. 19-21, Schleif set records in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and helped the Huskies to a second-place finish in the tournament. Her efforts have earned her Huntington News Player of the Week honors.
Her 100-yard backstroke time of 57.67 was just enough to break the second-oldest women’s swimming record, set in 2003 by Katie Schmaling. Her 200-yard time of 2:03.09 broke the record previously held by sophomore teammate Cassandra Cesaro, who finished with a time of 2:04.55.
“It was really unexpected and felt great,” Schleif said. “I couldn’t even believe it.”
In addition to setting the school records, she won both events at the Terrier Invitational. Head coach Roy Coates said Schleif “crushed” her 200 backstroke time.
“I was just feeding off of everyone’s energy,” Schleif said.
She called her performance at the meet her proudest moment in her 13-plus years that she has been swimming, “because it contributed towards the team having a great meet.”
Coates was full of praise for Schleif and said she came into Northeastern well-credentialed.
“She was very good in high school,” he said. “She’s a very talented backstroker, great worker [and a] good kid.”
Schleif swam four years of varsity for Hempfield High School in Landisville, Penn., where she was a team captain during her senior season. While there, she was also a member of the student council and Varsity Club.
The transition from high school to college has been fairly smooth for Schleif, who said Northeastern was the last school she visited.
“At other schools, there was always something missing,” Schleif said. “Then I came to Northeastern and it had everything,” she said.
The Landisville, Penn., native also looked at Colgate University, the University of Delaware, Franklin Marshall University, East Carolina University and George Mason University.
Schleif said that it has always been her dream to swim in college. and she has found balancing school and swimming to be difficult, but manageable.
“It’s definitely hard work, but it makes me work harder, which I think is better for me,” she said.
Schleif is currently in the General Studies program, but she is interested in studying science or psychology.
Coates said he has been pleased with Schleif’s transition to college, which doesn’t always go smoothly for student-athletes.
“[Coming to college], you change every single thing about your life, whether its class, living away from home, coaches [or] training,” he said.
Schleif gives some credit to her teammates for helping her performances improve this season.
“Everyone’s been so great,” she said. “Even though it’s [an] individual [sport], everyone’s rooting for you. We’re really close.”
Schleif and the Huskies look to keep their momentum going as they return to the pool on Saturday against UMass-Amherst at the Barletta Natatorium at noon.
