2005 season preview

February 4, 2005

NORTON, MA- "Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire." Believed to be the words of ex-Philadelphia Flyers head coach Fred Shero, Wheaton College synchronized swimming head coach Anna Eng has implemented this mantra for her swimmers in 2005. Eng, a native of the Philadelphia area, believes that the fire burning inside of each of her swimmers can take this year's squad to new heights.

"The team wanted something to symbolize its energy and drive," said Eng. "Everyone is on the same page and they want to go above and beyond in order to show that Wheaton is the better team."

The Lyons' dedication and drive goes without question, but with eight freshmen on a 12-member squad, the second-year coach admits there will be some obstacles along the way.

"There are so many new swimmers with us this year, and they need to learn how to gel together," added Eng. "They all come from different programs, and each one of them is used to doing something different. Once we break them of that they'll be fine."

Eng understands that a team consisting of three-fourths freshmen will have a few bumps along the way, but the group has injected new blood and bigger numbers into an already successful program that has notched 16 straight top-ten team finishes since 1989. The fun has always been there, insists Eng, but now there's a new competitive spirit in the air and even more Lyons to fuel it.

Without a B team in 2004, Wheaton missed out on valuable points in team competitions, but this year's fiery group gives the Blue and White enough swimmers to capitalize where last year's smaller team could not. In addition to having the ability to field two teams, Eng says the bigger numbers will help keep the positive energy flowing.

"The freshman class is excited and very talented and they're pushing the older swimmers to a whole new level, and in return, the older swimmers are providing the freshmen with the necessary leadership," explained Eng. "Everyone is coming together and willing to help each other out. They're willing to iron out the wrinkles and fix whatever is going wrong."

That cooperation will prove to be vital heading into the heart of the Lyons' season, as the invigorated team has set some lofty expectations for itself in the upcoming months.

"At the beginning of the year, I asked the team about its goals for the upcoming season," added Eng. "They said they wanted to win ECAC's and also qualify as a team for the United States National Championship meet. It's a very young team, but they can do it. What they don't have in experience they more than make up for in motivation and work ethic."

With a solid core of first-year swimmers in place, Eng also has a few goals of her own that she plans on meeting, including making Wheaton the top Division III synchronized swimming program in the country. It will be much easier said than done, however, as competition gets stiffer by the year. New programs always find a way into the mix, while older programs continuously retool and become stronger.

Not about to let the competition close in on Wheaton's reputation as one of the top synchro programs in the nation, Eng has done some retooling herself with a gifted first-year class headed by Sachi Maekawa (Seattle, WA/Franklin). Maekawa, who narrowly missed qualifying for the national team this year, will be the Lyons' lone soloist and A figures swimmer as well as a member of the A team.

Sophomore co-captain Elizabeth Corman (St. Paul, MN/Hill-Murray) and freshman Tori Hay (Danville, CA/Monte Vista) will compete in B figures, while the addition of first-year Megan Kinney (Los Angeles, CA/Marlborough) will make up Wheaton's first trio team. Kinney, senior co-captain Jamie Olken (Brighton, NY/Brighton), sophomore Sarah Swinkin (Hamden, CT/Hamden) and freshman Esther Kovacs (Windham, NH/Notre Dame Academy) will all be swimming in the C figures category, while Olken, Swinkin and Kovacs will combine for the Blue and White's second trio team. Maekawa, Corman, Hay, Kinney, Olken, Swinkin and Kovacs will form Wheaton's seven-member A team.

The Blue and White's five-member B team will consist of sophomore Renata Paglio (Portland, ME/Deering) and freshmen Laura Fleck (Auburn, ME/Hebron Academy), Perri Kapp (Yarmouth Port, MA/Dennis Yarmouth), Ru-Huey Yen (Des Moines, IA/Abraham Lincoln) and Ru-Shyan Yen (Des Moines, IA/Abraham Lincoln). All five swimmers will also participate in D figures.

Wheaton takes to the pool in its first meet of the season on February 12 against Canisius College and Keuka College held at Keuka. The Lyons then return home for the annual Wheaton Invitational on February 19 before swimming at the East Collegiate Regional on March 5 and 6 at Walsh University.

Wheaton then takes part in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship on March 19 and 20 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and in the United States Collegiate Championship on March 24-26 at the University of Florida. If they qualify, the Lyons would finish the season at the U.S. National Championship on April 28-30 at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Washington.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/21/07.
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News Headlines

Wheaton runs top-10 streak at Collegiate Championship to 20 years (more)

Two figures wins propel Wheaton to third at ECAC Championship (more)

Lyons place third among seven teams at East Collegiate Regional (more)

Upcoming Schedule

7-Dec Sat New England Figure Meet H TBA
9-Jan Fri Puerto Rico Routines A TBA
12-Jan Mon Puerto Rico Figures A TBA