By Kevin Williamson
The swim team crossed the river this weekend to compete against women’s swimming and diving powerhouses Kansas and host Harvard. Northeastern was defeated 244 – 74 by Harvard and 233 – 85 by Kansas in what coach Roy Coates predicted would be their toughest meet of the year.
“I knew it would be our hardest competition,” freshman Elena Alvarez said. “I was really excited.”
Coates, not expecting a win against either team, found the Harvard/Kansas competition to be a blessing in disguise.
“It put them in a situation to compete over their head,” Coates said, “to make them comfortable being uncomfortable.”
Coates was overall pleased with the performances.
“[The women] don’t always get a chance to compete this above their level,” he said. “[I’m] very happy.”
Despite the heightened competition in the meet, Coates cited strong performances from “the usual” women: Captain Sarah Reddick, Kara Lane, Alexandra Doty, Elena Alvarez and Emily Crookall-Nixon and divers Brittany Gilles, and Brooks Wallace.”
Alvarez, who consistently scores points in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke, took second place in the 100 and fifth in the 200.
“I’m really happy with the first day,” Alvarez said. “My 100 breast was my best unshaved time. I thought I’d do a little better the second day, but I’m not disappointed at all.”
Overall, the meet served as a valuable experience, as well as a heightened training session.
“It was an opportunity to swim in a great pool against some great competition,” Coates said. “Some got beat considerably, but it was a good experience. I just wouldn’t do it every week.”
While Harvard and No. 24 Kansas are stronger programs than NU, Coates remained positive about the outcome.
The 4-4 Huskies travel to Key Largo, Fla., Jan. 7 to compete in the Orange Bowl Classic, a trip the women raised the funds to finance personally.
“It will be an opportunity to get off campus,” Coates said.
The team will endure seven days of training at five hours a day in Florida before the meet.
“My main thing is to have fun,” Alvarez said, “but there are a couple things I want to retune in my breaststroke
