Oct. 7, 2004

As the University of Northern Colorado swimming and diving program continues its reclassification to Division I, new challenges and tougher opponents await the Bears. Last year the program tackled all comers, compiling an 8-3 dual record and placing second at the Midwest Classic Championships, an independent "conference" meet featuring six teams.

The Bears were not intimidated by the other teams, as they bested four already established Division I programs by a substantial margin, had Saree Hoopii claim "Swimmer of the Year" honors and head coach Nancy Hinrichs claim "Coach of the Year" honors.

"When we were scheduling last year I looked for a meet where we could be competitive as a team," said Hinrichs, who beings her 17th year as head coach of the program. "I was looking for teams that were very similar to us and were within our reach. I was very surprised that we did so well. Going into the meet I thought we'd get third or fourth but our girls stepped up in a big-way.

"It was a nice meet to end the season. You have to have some type of season-ending meet, you just cannot simply say the season is over. A lot of other Division I schools have their conference meet in December and then look for a meet like this in at the end of the year. It was a perfect meet for us."

Junior Lindsey Gaudielle was the team MVP in 2003-04.

The senior Hoopii set five school records (four individual) during the season and will look to anchor a team that boosts nine seniors and a strong upper class. Hoopii is joined by junior Lindsey Gaudielle, last year's team MVP after scoring a team-high 441 points, who was part of a record-breaking relay team and who also won the 400 IM at the Midwest Classic. That duo is joined by a pair of school record holders in seniors Megan Crouch (200 back) and Suzanne Lorimer (200 fly).

"Our senior class is dynamic," Hinrichs added. "It will be tough to see them leave, they have really helped bring our program to a different level. They were here when we were Division II but they are also our top competitors going into Division I and they could compete against those types of teams all along. We will just need to recruit those type of kids for the future, that will be our challenge."

Other returnees include seniors Sierra Binek and Josie Miranda and juniors Michelle Coler, Katelyn Hamilton, Shauna Hicks and Lindsey Sebastian.

Senior Suzanne Lorimer, the school-record holder in the 200 fly, is one of three captains for the Bears this year.

Although it numbers only three, the sophomore class features Nikki Plunkard, who made an immediate impact as a freshman. Plunkard ranked second on the team in scoring, as she earned team "Rookie of the Year" honors and was part of the school record-breaking 400 free relay team. The sophomore class is rounded out by Danielle Luciani and Brittni Lowry.

"I think we have a group of returnees that we can really count on this year," said Hinrichs.

The future of the team is with a strong freshman class, which numbers 15 this season. Among the newcomers who could make an immediate impact are Heather Gregg, Kati Falger, Katie Klane and Lizzy Wyman.

The freshman class is rounded out by Jennifer Bailey, Brittany Bethel, Kimberly Brown, Theresa Collins, Michelle McReynolds, Mallory Misare, Lauren Peters, Claire Rawley and Carlie Smith.

"With the majority of our young swimmers, they are not different than what we have had before," Hinrichs added. "There is potential there, we just need them to develop. We really need to help them come along both physically and mentally."

The divers are anchored by a pair of seniors in twin sisters Veronica and Valerie Lucas. Veronica set the school record in the 1-meter (6 dives) event last season, to go along with the 1-meter (10 dives) record she set her sophomore season. The sister tandem is joined by junior Oakley Johnson, who named the "Most Improved Diver" a year ago, junior Becky Marschner, and a trio of newcomers in Jessica Leach, Tammy Timko and Amy Williams.

"I do not know what to really expect," said Sarah Easter, the former Thompson Valley and Colorado State standout who begins her first-year as the diving coach in 2004-05. "The divers have been working very hard; this program has changed a lot from last year and there have been noticeable improvements. I think they are excited for competition to start and have higher expectations this season. We also have a bigger team this season, seven divers, as I think the interest in our program is growing."

Senior Veronica Lucas set the school record in 1-meter diving last year.

The schedule features home meets with San Diego State and in-state rival Colorado State as well as away meets at New Mexico State, Air Force, Denver, Nebraska-Omaha and Nebraska. The season ends once with the Midwest championships, this year called the "House of Champions Invitational."

"The dual meet schedule is very tough this year," Hinrichs added. "In the past we have had a few tough duals interspersed but we do not have an easy dual meet this year; there are no gimmes. We are going to have to go out and swim and swim well to get wins this year."

Overall, Hinrichs is looking forward to an even better season in 2004-05.

"Our goal is to do better than we did last year," said Hinrichs. "We are going to look to score more points at the House of Champions meet than we did last year as that was our goal last year; we looked to score more points last year than we did at the North Central Conference meet the year before. We want to go out and swim our best and also break some school records in the process."