SMC SWIMMING: Saint Mary's sinks its teeth into Transylvania
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
Kelly Nelis didn't know it, but her race was a turning point.
Although her victory in the 200-yard freestyle was just one of 11 Saint Mary's victories, it gave the Belles the emotional edge they needed to take the bite out of Transylvania and take home the 145-138 win.
"[The win] lifted the team that final little bit," coach Greg Petcoff said. "… When Kelly won that, the whole team thought, `We're going to win this.'"
Despite the fact that Saint Mary's took home 11 first-place victories, Transylvania's swimmers stepped up and took home some imperative second and third place finishes, bringing the meet down to some very key races.
Nelis' victory in the 500-yard freestyle was the most important of those races, Petcoff said.
She beat four Transylvania swimmers, who finished second through fifth respectively, finishing with a time of 5 minutes, 33.21 seconds for first place.
"It was wild," Petcoff said. "The whole team was screaming. It was a 500-free, and she started off a little fast and we wondered if she was going to be able to hold it. The other girl was catching her at the end, but her lead was just too big."
Nelis also anchored two winning Saint Mary's relay teams — the 200-yard medley relay that finished with a time of 1:58.48, defeating Transylvania by more than a second, and the 200-yard freestyle relay that defeated Transylvania by more just about four seconds. That freestyle team, that finished with a time of 1:43.85, was just .81 seconds away from the school record of 1:43.04.
"Last season we didn't even hit 1:45 until the conference meet," Petcoff said. "That shows huge improvement."
But Nelis wasn't the only swimmer who stepped up when it mattered for the Belles.
Megan Ramsey, who struggled through last weekend's meet due to illness, seemed to settle back into peak form when it most counted.
With just two races left in the meet, the junior was in second place by more than a body length with 100 yards left.
She kicked in on her final laps and took home a first place finish in the 400-yard individual medley, that allowed the 200-yard medley team to give Saint Mary's the final victory.
"Kelly [Nelis] was the turning point, but [Ramsey] had to win that or else it wouldn't have mattered who won the final relay."
Ramsey took home two other first place victories — one in the 200-yard butterfly, finishing with a time of 2:15.66, and in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:00.89. The times she turned in were the best times she has seen since her freshman season.
Maureen Palchak also added three first place finishes for the Belles, in addition to swimming on the 200-yard freestyle medley. She medalled in the 200-yard freestyle, the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle.
Senior captain Lauren Smith also made a solid contribution, adding two first place victories in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard breaststroke.
But the first place finishers weren't the only key finishers, according to Petcoff. The Belles had some solid second and third place finishes that added needed points to the Belles victory. Leeann Godfrey, Katie Dingerman, Lane Herrington and Nelis all added top three finishes.
"A couple of people who don't usually get mentioned because they don't win were really important," Petcoff said. "They really stepped up when we needed them."
Saturday's victory marked the first time Saint Mary's has ever defeated Transyl-vania. The two schools have faced each other since Saint Mary's began swimming in the IUPUI invitational and the Belles have never won.
The early-season victory, Petcoff hopes, will motivate the Belles.
"[The effect] is perhaps immeasurable," Petcoff said. "… Not only the win but the way they swam to win, they are ready to go."
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, November 13, 2002
