On Sunday, the women’s swimming and diving team set seven school records at the Princeton Invitational en route to a fifth place finish. Sophomore Sarah Reddick has been named The Northeastern News Player of the Week after breaking her own records in both the 100-meter freestyle and 100 butterfly. She was also member of the record setting 400 freestyle relay.
The only thing sweeter than the way Reddick has been swimming is the way she ended up at Northeastern.
Reddick went on a recruiting visit to Boston University and took a liking to the city. While meeting with the Terrier swim team, one of the members peaked her interest in Northeastern by warning her about the cross-town rivals. Before that conversation, the Texas native had never heard of the school.
Upon returning to her hometown of Tomball, a suburb of Houston, Reddick checked out NU online and submitted an online questionnaire to coach Roy Coates. Two weeks later, she visited the campus and applied.
“I liked the city, and it seemed like more of a campus [than BU],” said Reddick. “And I liked the team was better.”
Swimming coach Roy Coates took a look at Reddick’s high school times and immediately jumped at the opportunity to make her a Husky.
It was a decision he would not regret, as Reddick earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award as a freshman, after setting records in the 100 free and 100 fly.
“Sarah was great last year, but she’s been a whole different swimmer this year,” said Coates. “She has a lot of natural talent, but since about the middle of last season, she’s coupled that with working tremendously hard, pushing herself in practice to work on the technique of her stroke.”
“She is also competing in practice, gaining confidence, and confidence is everything,” continued Coates. “Now she not only swims in every workout, but she competes in every workout.”
Reddick narrowly missed joining teammate Adela Gavozdea as the only Huskies represented in the NCAA championship. Her time in the 100 butterfly earned her a spot in the consideration, or B cut, but it wasn’t enough to make the final cut.
As a whole, the Huskies are looking to win an unprecedented fifth straight America East title.
“I think we are doing really well, seven records is pretty unheard of in-season,” Reddick said. “I can’t wait to see what we do in the (AE) championship. If we are already setting best times now, we’ll be so much faster in the tournament.”
Should the Huskies take home a fifth straight AE crown, there will certainly be one Terrier who wishes she kept her mouth shut about their rivals on Huntington Avenue.
– Peter Conroy, News Staff
