University of Denver
Sun Belt Conference Championship
Women's Swimming Finishes in Second at SBC Championships
2/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 14, 2004
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Sophomore Michaela Amereller (Munich, Germany) took first place in the 100-yard freestyle to lead the University of Denver women's swimming and diving team to its best finish ever at the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Championships, second place (600). The Pioneers trailed Western Kentucky (968) and defeated New Mexico State (493).
"Our goal was to move up a spot at the championships and we did," head coach Jim Henry said. "This was a total team effort and the girls should be very proud of themselves. I'm excited to see what next season will bring."
The evening's finals commenced with an amazing swim by freshman Harmony Zeller (Arvada, Colo.) in the 1650-yard freestyle. She took second place (17:16.58), followed by teammate freshman Natalie O'Rourke (Meadow Vista, Calif.) in sixth place (17:32.72). O'Rourke slashed her previous time in the mile by over a minute. Sophomore Rina Hayashi (Aurora, Colo.) and junior Katey Dorweiler (Urbandale, Iowa) also set personal events, with Dorweiler making a time of 17:48.62 and Hayashi swimming to a 17:59.73 finish.
Amereller dominated the second middle-distance freestyle event of the championships, clinching the win in the 100-yard freestyle (52.56). Also scoring for the Pioneers and setting season-best times were sophomores Lauren Miranda (Louisville, Colo.) in third place (53.07) and Hillary Davis (Englewood, Colo.) finished in ninth place (55.11).
Junior Katie Eisenhard (Brownsboro, Ala.) once again stepped up for the Pioneers, taking seventh place in the 200-yard backstroke (2:10.34). Senior Charity Zeigler (River Ridge, La.) also fared well for Denver, notching the 11th spot in the same event (2:16.28). Freshman Katie Conyers (Lakewood, Colo.) shined for the Pioneers in the 200-yard breaststroke. She took third place (2:23.69), while teammate Ana Gieseking (Orlando, Fla.) finished in 15th (2:35.28).
Freshman Meghan McNally (Lonetree, Colo.) was the Pioneers top finisher in the 200-yard butterfly, taking sixth place (2:11.55). Caroline Nystrom (St. Paul, Minn.), Dorweiler and sophomore Christy Breen (Fairport, N.Y.) all recorded season-best times for Denver in the 200-yard butterfly. Senior diver Keelan Smith (Denver, Colo.) was the top finisher for the Pioneers as she took fifth place (353.00). Freshman Erin Perko (Arvada, Colo.) also fared well, notching the eighth-place spot (261.10).
The evening ended with the Pioneers taking second place in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:31.17), tallying a season-best time. The relay win, comprised of Zeller, Eisenhard, Miranda and Amereller, secured Denver its best SBC finish ever, second place.
This meet concludes the women's swimming season. The men's team will travel to Oakland, Mich., next week to compete in the NIC Championships.
SUN BELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (SATURDAY)Final Standings
1. Western Kentucky 9682. DENVER 6003. New Mexico State 4934. FIU 3895. North Texas 3876. Louisiana-Monroe 3267. Arkansas-Little Rock 204
SBC Swimmer of the Year: Danielle Adams, NMSUSBC Diver of the Year: Megan Balkenbush, FIUSBC Coaches of the Year: Bill Powell, WKU and Mark McFarland, NMSU
