2004 preview
February 10, 2004
NORTON, MA- When one hears of Pyramid of Success, it's difficult not to think of UCLA basketball coaching legend John Wooden's well-known blueprint for success both in and out of sport. First-year head coach Anna Eng has implemented her own pyramid in Wheaton College's synchronized swimming program and aspires to have similar results. Eng, who was a part of two national championships at The Ohio State University, served as the head coach for the University of Pennsylvania club team for two seasons prior to her arrival at Wheaton.
Eng's pyramid's underlying theme is based on the overall improvement of the team. "The foundation of the pyramid focuses on team unity and positive experiences," said Eng. "The next level is to accomplish something new at every practice, followed by two levels of goal setting, one which includes techniques and the other incorporates individual goals."
Understanding that there is going to be a transition period with a new coaching philosophy, Eng remains optimistic as to how the team has responded to all the change. "Each swimmer responds to a new coach in a different way, but overall everyone has adapted very well," acknowledged Eng. "The team has been accepting of change and with a new training regimen in place they have already begun to reap the benefits. The training program was strenuous at first, but the swimmers are now physically stronger and have progressed nicely. I've been impressed to see their improvements."
Seeing the team's hard work already paying dividends, Eng and third-year assistant coach Debra Fornasaro are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2004 season. Returning to the pool following a ninth-place finish at the 2003 United States Collegiate Synchronized Swimming Championship last March, Wheaton's focus will be on the bigger meets this season. With six returning members and three newcomers, Eng and the Lyons don't look at this year as rebuilding.
"We still have quality swimmers who are all working very hard," added Eng. "Our numbers will hurt us at the smaller meets, but things in the end will work out just fine. We will be doing some experimenting along the way, shaking things up a bit. In the end, we can't control the outcome of the competitions, but what we can control is preparation. We want to make sure that we do everything possible in order for this team to be successful entering each meet. By the time the national meet arrives, I want every athlete to have her best swim."
Looking to extend a very impressive string of 15 straight top-ten team finishes since 1989, the Lyons will definitely be challenged as the sport is continually growing and adding new programs every year. More than 200 athletes from 24 institutions were on hand competing for collegiate national titles in the solo, duet, trio and team events at last year's national championship. The championship is an open-class meet, combining competition for NCAA Divisions I, II and III, plus NAIA schools.
Wheaton will open its season against Division III rival Keuka College at Middlebury College, one of several New England schools that have expressed interested in adding a synchronized swimming program. Wheaton and Keuka are two of the 33 teams that compete each year for the collegiate title. The Lyons will also participate in the annual Wheaton Invitational on Saturday, February 28; the East College Regional on Friday, March 5; the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship on Friday, March 19; and the United States Collegiate Championship from Thursday, March 25 through Saturday March 27.
Leading the way for Wheaton will be senior co-captains Beth Percy (St. Louis, MO/Parkway West) and Aimee Sears (Norwell, MA/Thayer Academy). Percy captured top honors for the Lyons at the 2003 national meet, as she was named to the All-Collegiate team as the top Division III swimmer. In addition to being selected to the All-Collegiate team for the third straight season, Percy was also named to the All-Academic team for maintaining at least a 3.25 grade point average. At the national championship, Percy finished seventh in the solo competition and 11th in the trio.
Percy will lead a solo routine in addition to swimming team and trio, while Sears will join Percy and four other swimmers in the team competition. First-year Elizabeth Corman (St. Paul, MN/Hill-Murray) will be Wheaton's second soloist, while junior Jamie Olken (Brighton, NY/Brighton), who was traveling abroad in the fall, will side with sophomore Jocelyn Phillips (Belmont, MA/Belmont) in a duet. Percy and Corman will be joined by junior Blair Feldman (Tucson, AZ/Green Fields Country Day School), who also went abroad in the fall, in a trio routine. Both Feldman and Phillips also made the All-Academic team a year ago.
A second trio will feature Sears, senior Liana Cardillo (Bedford, NH/West) and freshman Renata Paglio (Portland, ME/Deering). Percy, Sears, Feldman, Olken, Phillips and Corman will comprise Wheaton's team competition. Rounding out the nine-member squad and currently recovering from a shoulder injury is freshman Sarah Swinkin (Hamden, CT/Hamden).
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/21/07.
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12-Jan Mon Puerto Rico Figures A TBA
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23-Mar ECAC Championship - 3rd
2-Mar East Collegiate Regional - 3rd
