For the fifth consecutive year, the Northeastern swimming and diving team opened their season with a victory against neighboring Boston University. Two relay teams combined with six individual efforts to bring home first place finishes in 10 separate events at the Case Center on Terrier territory. The four-time America East champion Huskies ended up with a 25-point margin of victory, officially recording a score of 161.5 to 136.5.
Coach Roy Coates, now in his 11th season at Northeastern, has watched the rivalry develop into a rather one-sided match up. “At this point in our history, we kind of expect to beat BU,” he said. “But things cycle through, and we’re in a good cycle now, our expectations are higher. Traditionally, we haven’t done that. I guess coming into this meet they’ve have to not only replace what they lost from last year but had some catching up to do to us.
“The victory wasn’t totally unexpected, but it’s always hard on the first meet, cause we’re going in blind,” he added. “I think our team surprised us in terms of how well we performed and how many people performed well. We’re the best team in our conference because we are the best team. There are others who have terrific individuals, but we have 28 athletes who are really exceptional. Our team has got to a point where our best 100 stroke person is not our best 200 person. That’s how diversified and talented and deep we are. I knew that BU was going to be good, and have some outstanding recruits, but the bottom line is we wear them down. We’re not just going to take firsts, we’re going to take seconds and thirds and fourths all over the place.”
Junior Katie Schmaling had a particularly impressive day, taking first in two individual events, the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke, as well as being a member of both winning relay teams, the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
Coates attributed some of her success to the positive energy that resulted from a change in the role she plays on the team. “Our expectations are different this year. We’re moving her to more sprint events; I think that she’s got off to a really good start. We’re going to rely on her heavily for the sprints, the frees and the backstrokes. I think with new events, she brings new excitement to her training, and a little different outlook, and that makes everything a little more exciting. Sophomore Sarah Reddick also took home first place in two events, winning the 100 butterfly and the 50 freestyle. To freshman Joanne Gallahue, one of nine freshman on the team, history still couldn’t override first-day nerves.
“I’m in a division one swimming school, and it was my first collegiate meet,” she said. “How could you not be nervous?” Regardless, junior Kelly McIsaac, who won the 200 freestyle, and was a member of the first place 400 freestyle relay, was pleased with the performances of some of the younger swimmers.
“The freshmen class continues to impress me, and they have been a great addition to our team. It can be a hard transition to go from USS swimming in high school to division one college swimming. They all really stepped it up this weekend and did a great job for their first college competition.”
Freshman Kerby Lewis was one of three others to swim with Schmaling on the 200 medley relay, and was the only freshman to accumulate official points on the day.
“I knew that we had a really strong relay team, and I was excited that I got to anchor it. I knew the girls on the relay would give me a big enough lead that I wouldn’t have to be too stressed out for my first collegiate race,” she said.
This meet marks the first of eight for the season, not including the three-day long Princeton Invitational held in early December. The Huskies will swim on the road again for their next meet, a match up with Southern Connecticut State and Central Connecticut State on Saturday, Nov. 8. While the expected level of competition for the team might not be as strong as it was in the meet against BU, Coates is hoping to use this upcoming meet to create individual challenges for his swimmers
“We plan to hand-pick events for an individual or two, or swim people in off events, so we can get some information on their range. I think I’ll take one opportunity with most people to see what range they have, to see if they have a different stroke or if they have that flexibility in their training,” Coates said.
