2008 Woodie Awards
Swimming ends season with progress
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
The Lady'Back swimming and diving team finished the season by sending four individuals to the NCAA Championship meet at Columbus, Ohio.
All four individuals claimed all-American honors. Freshman Katie Kastes earned two by placing top 16 in the 500 free style and the 200 butterfly events. Kastes finished ninth in the 200 butterfly while placing No. 15 overall in the 500 free style.
Juniors Stephanie Carr and Madison Palmer reached all-American status by finishing No. 15 in the 1,650 freestyle while Palmer finished No. 16 on the one meter springboard, respectively.
Freshman Ashley Largo was No. 50 in the 500 free with a 4:53.78, which was only .10 seconds away from her individual best.
The Lady'Backs finished No. 35 overall at the event as they tallied 14 points.
The squad had a quick turnaround and was looking at the event as a stepping stone for next year, but the team was able to make advances by posting impressive marks to end the season.
"This meet was a fantastic way to end our season," Arkansas head coach Jeff Poppell said. "It was a fantastic meet with fantastic competition. It is difficult to come off an SEC championship meet and then have to re-repair for the NCAA meet and still be able to do achieve the same results if not better."
The year was a successful one for the young team that was ranked No. 25 during the year and is still receiving votes in the CSCAA coaches' poll. It was the first time in 16 years that the team was ranked, which shows signs that a young team will be able to make improvements next year, Poppell said.
"It was a huge step for us this year with where we want to go in this program, and everyone noted that in our conference," Poppell said. "There was a lot of talk at the NCAA meet of how quickly Arkansas is climbing the ranks."
Poppell sees the squad doing nothing but improving next year as a young team will be able to improve on their marks this year, he said.
"We are a very young team as three of the four individuals that went to the NCAA tournament meet was their first appearance," Poppell said. "We have had other individuals that have made dramatic improvements in their swimming over the course of the year, and if those individuals are able to emulate that performance this year, we will have an opportunity to take twice as many to the NCAA meet next year.
"Taking into consideration the recruiting class that we have coming in next year, it will be an exciting year for us next year."
The four swimmers sent to the NCAA event were the most for the Lady'Backs since 2004.
All four individuals claimed all-American honors. Freshman Katie Kastes earned two by placing top 16 in the 500 free style and the 200 butterfly events. Kastes finished ninth in the 200 butterfly while placing No. 15 overall in the 500 free style.
Juniors Stephanie Carr and Madison Palmer reached all-American status by finishing No. 15 in the 1,650 freestyle while Palmer finished No. 16 on the one meter springboard, respectively.
Freshman Ashley Largo was No. 50 in the 500 free with a 4:53.78, which was only .10 seconds away from her individual best.
The Lady'Backs finished No. 35 overall at the event as they tallied 14 points.
The squad had a quick turnaround and was looking at the event as a stepping stone for next year, but the team was able to make advances by posting impressive marks to end the season.
"This meet was a fantastic way to end our season," Arkansas head coach Jeff Poppell said. "It was a fantastic meet with fantastic competition. It is difficult to come off an SEC championship meet and then have to re-repair for the NCAA meet and still be able to do achieve the same results if not better."
The year was a successful one for the young team that was ranked No. 25 during the year and is still receiving votes in the CSCAA coaches' poll. It was the first time in 16 years that the team was ranked, which shows signs that a young team will be able to make improvements next year, Poppell said.
"It was a huge step for us this year with where we want to go in this program, and everyone noted that in our conference," Poppell said. "There was a lot of talk at the NCAA meet of how quickly Arkansas is climbing the ranks."
Poppell sees the squad doing nothing but improving next year as a young team will be able to improve on their marks this year, he said.
"We are a very young team as three of the four individuals that went to the NCAA tournament meet was their first appearance," Poppell said. "We have had other individuals that have made dramatic improvements in their swimming over the course of the year, and if those individuals are able to emulate that performance this year, we will have an opportunity to take twice as many to the NCAA meet next year.
"Taking into consideration the recruiting class that we have coming in next year, it will be an exciting year for us next year."
The four swimmers sent to the NCAA event were the most for the Lady'Backs since 2004.
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