1/28/2007 - Gambier, OH - The RedHawks are now off for two weeks as they prepare for the MAC Championships which begin on Wednesday, February 14th at Eastern Michigan.
Recap of Miami vs. Kenyon
Written by Dave Kiefer
Completing its first perfect regular season since 1977, the Miami University women's swimming and diving team (12-0; 7-0 MAC) downed the Kenyon Ladies, 177-118, Saturday afternoon at the KAC Natatorium. Miami won 12 of the 16 events and had four different athletes win multiple events as it finished the 2006-07 regular season with a flawless dual meet mark of 12-0.
Sophomores Jenn Flaherty, Malarie Schmidt and Melissa Roemmele and senior Margaret Patrick each posted a pair of wins, combining for eight of Miami's 12 event victories. Flaherty posted first-place swimming finishes in the 1,000 freestyle (10:28.50) and 400 individual medley (4:35.32), while Schmidt took top honors in the 200 butterfly (2:06.63) and 200 backstroke (2:05.96).
Completing an impressive run for Miami's sophomore class, Roemmele swept the 1-meter (274.87) and 3-meter (295.13) diving events. Patrick, meanwhile, swept the sprint freestyle events, posting first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle (23.77) and 100 freestyle (53.18).
Miami kicked off the meet with three straight wins, beginning with a top finish in the 200 medley relay (1:46.16). Flaherty followed with her first-place clocking in the 1,000 freestyle, and sophomore Allison Stevens, the reigning Mid-American Conference Swimmer and Scholar Athlete of the Week, added a first-place time in the 200 freestyle (1:54.86).
Following back-to-back wins from Kenyon in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke, Miami ripped off five straight victories, starting with Schmidt's top finish in the 200 butterfly. Patrick added her first-place finish in the 50 freestyle, and after Roemmele notched her first diving win on the 1-meter board, Patrick and Schmidt capped the win streak with top times in the 100 freestyle and 200 backstroke, respectively.
Kenyon responded with a first-place finish in the 200 breaststroke, but Miami won the next four events, clinching its first perfect season since going 10-0 in 1977, which was only the third season the Red and White fielded a women's swimming and diving program.
Senior Ashley Seymour started the four-event winning streak with a first-place time in the 500 freestyle (5:02.30), and junior Kathryn Stephens followed with her top time in the 100 butterfly (58.11). Roemmele and Flaherty then added first-place finishes in the 3-meter dive and 400 individual medley. Kenyon capped the meet by winning the 400 freestyle relay.
Looking to ride the momentum from its perfect regular season, Miami now has two weeks until the 2007 MAC Swimming and Diving Championships, which are slated for Feb. 14-16 in Ypsilanti, Mich. Miami has won eight of the last 11 conference crowns but finished as the runner-up to Eastern Michigan last season.
