The national championship is nothing new to the members of DePauw's swimming and diving teams. Out of the eleven competitors headed to the NCAA championship, almost 75 percent have competed at the national level in previous years.
The gentlemen’s nationals squad will consist of Blake Lehmann, Kurt Swieter, Adam Pircon, Mitch Davis, and Alex Grissom. Out of the five student-athletes, all but Pircon competed at that national championship last season.
The men’s team will be led by senior captains Blake Lehmann and Alex Grissom who have competed in the national championship since their freshman year. Having swam at the highest level of Division III athletics three times before, Lehmann is more relaxed headed into the meet than in previous seasons.
“It hasn’t quite hit me yet that it’s my last [meet],” said Lehmann. “I don’t have as many jitters or nerves this time around.”
Lehmann, who placed fifth nationally in the 100-yard butterfly last season, is hoping this lack of nerve will boost his performance.
“Last year, I went into the final as the second seed, and l think the seed got to me. This year I just have to get in the top eight in the prelims, and as long I make into the top eight, I will know what I need to do in the finals,” said Lehmann, who has the seventh fastest time nationally in the event this season.
Sophomore Mitch Davis is also primed for a standout performance coming into the meet with the ninth fastest time in the nation this season in the 100 yard breaststroke.
In addition to the individual events, the relay consisting of Swieter, Grissom, Lehmann and Pircon will be competing in the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 800 freestyle events. The Tigers' best chance for success rides on the 800 freestyle event which finished last season with a fifth place performance and possesses the seventh fastest time in the event nationally so far this year.
On the team level, the men are also striving to better their 11th place finish last year. “We are looking to post some (personal) best-times and place top eight in as many events as we can,” Grissom said.
Outshining the men, the women’s squad is sending six members to the national championship including seniors Erin Horne and Caroline Bridges as well as juniors Angela Newlon and Kirsten Olson, all of whom have previously competed on the national level. Making their first appearance at the national level are junior Ellen Riehle and first-year Mary Woods.
Unintimidated by the larger stage, Woods said, “the excitement outweighs the nerves for sure. I think the six of us are in a really good place going into the meet.” Woods will be competing in both the medley and freestyle relays at the 200 and 400 yard lengths.
Coming off a first place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference meet, Angela Newlon is a contender for gold in the 500 and 1650 freestyle events. Despite sporting the fastest time nationally this season in both races, Newlon enters the championship knowing her past success is no determination of how she will do in Greensboro.
“It's definitely exciting to come into the meet ranked first in two events, but my seeding isn't a guarantee about where I'm going to place at nationals,” said Newlon via email on Monday.
The 2016 NCAC swimmer of the year is also trying to focus on effort instead of the podium. “I can't be complacent with what I did at conference, and I just need to remind myself to swim my hardest. If I can do that, I'll be happy with whatever place I earn,” Newlon said.
Newlon along with Bridges, Horne and Olson compose the 800 freestyle relay, which nabbed sixth place in 2015. The relay has the 11th fastest time in the country this season headed into the meet.
The national championship will kick-off on Wednesday with the 500 freestyle event at 10 a.m in Greensboro, N.C. The meet can be viewed live on the NCAA website.