Belles look past loss to conferences
By JANEL MILLER
Sports Writer
The Belles swimming and diving team ended its regular season with another close loss, this time to Kalamazoo, 122-12.
"Everyone swam really well and we're not disappointed with our performance," said captain Olivia Smith. "As of right now, we're swimming to improve our times for conferences. I'd rather do well at conferences than win a few meets. We have been swimming well and our times are great even while our win-loss columns may not reflect it."
Smith's sister, sophomore breaststroker Lauren Smith, agreed.
"It [Saturday] was a good meet to end on, but we're not done, we are just beginning, and it all comes down to how you are seeded at Conference and how well you are prepared. I think we swam well against the teams in the conference and are ready to get there and face them again."
The Belles will count on the depth that has buoyed them thus far to carry them once again into a top finish at the MIAA Conference meet in two weeks. Key performers for the Belles will include freshman Megan Ramsey, who has broken various school records over the season. Ramsey led the Belles on Saturday, taking the 200-yard freestyle, 200 individual medley and the 200 butterfly — an event in which she will hope for a bid at the NCAA championship meet.
Ramsey was joined by senior co-captain Colleen Sullivan in the 200 freestyle to give the Belles the one and two spots with times of 2 minutes, .81 seconds and 2:4.41, respectively.
Maureen Palchak grasped the 500 freestyle from Kalamazoo with a time of 5:28.07, out-touching the next swimmer by only .13 seconds. Lauren Smith took a close first in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:36.43.
Diver Ryann Cox contributed very strong performances in both the one and three meter diving events. Cox proved she can handle pressure, edging in for second place in both heights.
Overall, the women of the Saint Mary's swimming and diving team are "pumped" and ready for the next two weeks of practices and the long-awaited conference meet. Head coach Gretchen Hildebrandt said, "They have been swimming well, and I am pumped for conferences because I know they will do very well."
As the Belles prepare for conferences, they have high hopes for their performance at Hope College Feb. 15-18.
"It will be close but we can do well — we can definitely beat Alma and Albion and we were close to Kalamazoo, so we know we can take at least third," said Smith. "I would love for us to beat Calvin as well, and we could do it."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, January 30, 2001
