2004-05 Emory Women's Swimming & Diving Headline Archive

(June 16) Samantha White of Emory University has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America first team.

This is the first Academic All-America honor for White. She was chosen for the Academic All-District first team last month.

White is one 15 student-athletes, six of them swimmers, nationwide from NCAA Division II and III, and NAIA schools to be honored on the first team for at-large sports, which consists of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

White had a 3.84 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as a neuroscience and behavioral biology major. The junior is a nine-time swimming All-American, including national champion in the 500-yard freestyle this spring. White became the third Emory swimmer ever to earn All-America honors in at least three individual events in one meet in back-to-back years.

White is the seventh member of the Emory women's swimming and diving team ever to be honored as an Academic All-American, and the fifth since 2000.

Voting for the Academic All-America team is conducted by a national committee of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The Academic All-America program is sponsored by ESPN The Magazine. To be eligible, a nominee must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 GPA and a starter or key reserve on their team.

(May 31) Two members of the Emory University swimming and diving team have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team. Samantha White made the first team and Jamie Lawler the third team.

White's name will be placed on the national ballot for the Academic All-America team to be announced in June. This is the second time White has made the Academic All-District team and the first for Lawler. Last year, White was a district second-team selection.

White and Lawler were among the 21 student-athletes selected to the first or second team for at-large sports which consists of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. Also selected from Emory was tennis player Carina Alberelli, making Emory one of two schools with three honorees.

Lawler, a sophomore, had a 3.83 cumulative GPA with a major in psychology. She earned All-America honors on three relays this spring. Lawler holds the school record for the 100-yard backstroke event.

This is the sixth consecutive year that an Emory women's swimmer/diver has made the Academic All-District team. White and Lawler are the ninth and 10th members of the Emory swimming and diving team to be so honored in the last eight years.

Voting for the Academic All-District team is conducted by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To be eligible, a nominee must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 GPA and a starter or key reserve on their team. Emory nominees are placed in the "college division" category, which is composed of all NCAA Division II and III and NAIA schools.

(March 31) The Emory University men's and women's swimming and diving squads have been recognized as All-Academic Teams by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) based on team GPAs for the Fall 2004 semester.

The men's team had a 3.43 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) last fall, which was the highest in the nation among NCAA Division III men's swimming and diving programs, and the second highest in the nation among all divisions. The Emory men were one of three Division III teams to finish among the top 10 in the nation in both GPA and at the NCAA swimming and diving national championships. The Eagles were second at the 2005 NCAA men's championships.

The women's squad amassed a 3.47 GPA last semester, the 10th highest in the nation among NCAA Division III schools. Emory was one of two Division III women's teams to finish in the top 10 nationally in both GPA and at the NCAA national swimming and diving championships. The women won the 2005 NCAA national meet.

To be honored, a team must have at least a 2.80 GPA for a semester.

(March 12) Emory University snared its first NCAA Division III national team championship. Emory finished ahead of second-place Kenyon College (Ohio), champions for 20 of the last 21 years. Prior to this year, Emory had a total of 14 top-10 national team finishes, including second place last year.

Emory had 13 individuals earn All-America honors, amassing 33 All-America certificates. Emory had the largest squad, 18 competitors, at the meet and each person scored points by finishing in the top 16 in their events. Top point scorer for Emory was Samantha White with 61 points, accounting for 15 percent of the team's total.

On the final day, Emory had four individuals and one relay team earn All-America honors.

Samantha White and Leigh Campbell placed second and fourth, respectively, in the 1650-yard freestyle event. White has one previous All-America honor for the 1650-yard freestyle.

White's time of 17 minutes and 3.80 seconds in the 1650-yard freestyle event makes her the fourth-fastest individual in Emory history, while Campbell is the fifth fastest. Campbell is the first individual in Emory history to earn All-America honors in the same individual event all four years.

White finishes this year's nationals with four All-America honor awards and the national titile in the 500-yard freestyle event. She is the third Emory swimmer ever to earn All-America honors in at least three individual events in one meet in consecutive years.

White has a total of nine All-America awards for her career. This is the ninth highest total in school history.
In the 200-yard backstroke, Sarah Gardiner earned All-America honors with a seventh-place finish. This is the second All-America honor in her career. Gardiner is the third-fastest individual in school history in the 200 backstroke.

Dana Inserra earned All-America honors with a fifth place finish in the 200-yard butterfly event. Inserra holds the second-fastest time in this event in school history.

The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Hillary Lane, Sarah Nicholson, Inserra, and Jamie Lawler, concluded Emory's competition by earning All-America honors for finishing in seventh place.

Emory had five individuals earn All-America honorable mention. Holly Hinz and Kelly Riesterer in the 1650-yard freestyle, Lane in the 100-yard freestyle, Julia Mavrodin in the 200-yard breaststroke, and Suzanna Zifkin in the 200-yard butterfly.

Emory head coach Jon Howell received the national swimming Coach of the Year award. Since Howell took over at the start of the 1998-99 season, his Emory teams have finished, in sequence, 12th, seventh, fourth, third, third (again), second, and first at the NCAA national championships.

(March 11) Emory University continues to lead the standings after the second day of the NCAA Division III championships. Emory is battling for the national championship with a score of 293.5 followed by 20-time defending champion Kenyon (Ohio) with a score of 215. Emory had three individuals and two relay teams earn All-America honors on Friday.

Emory won the national title in the 800-yard freestyle relay event, the first in school history for any relay event. Samantha White, Holly Hinz, Dana Inserra and Leigh Campbell set the winning time of seven minutes and 36.82 seconds, which is the second-fastest time in school history.

In the 400-yard individual medley event, junior Holly Hinz finished in third place followed by sophomore Alexis Smith in fourth and junior Karyn Henderson in fifth. Hinz, Smith and Henderson all earned All-America honors for their performances. Hinz has two previous All-America honors for this event. This is the fifth time in school history that three swimmers have earned All-America honors in a single event.

Having three swimmers achieve All-America honors in the 400-yard individual medley has only occured once before in school history. In 2002, Leigh Campbell, Julia Mavrodin, Becky Mutz, and Tracy Shessler recieved All-America honors for this event.

Junior Samantha White received All-America honors for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle event. This is White's second career honor in this event. White's time of 1:54.34 is her career best time and makes her the third fastest individual in school history. White has earned a total of three All-America honors in the championship thus far.

The 200-yard medley relay--Jamie Lawler, Ellen Flader, Dana Inserra and Hillary Lane--finished in fourth place to pick up All-America honors.

Emory had four individuals earn All-America honorable mention: Julia Mavrodin in the 400-yard individual medley, Inserra in the 100-yard butterfly, Ellen Flader in the 100-yard breaststroke, and Sarah Gardiner in the 100-yard backstroke.

If Emory wins the national title, Emory will be the fourth team to ever win the NCAA Division III title. The other schools are Kenyon (20 times), Williams (twice), and Denison (once).

(March 10) Emory finished the first day's competition at the NCAA Division III national meet in first place with 130.5 points followed by Kenyon (Ohio) with 105. Emory had four individual swimmers and two relay teams earn All-America honors.

Junior Samantha White won the national title in the 500-yard freestyle event (4:57.50). White is the eighth swimmer to win a national title in school history. This is the second straight year Emory has won this event, following Holly Hinz last year. White has earned All-America honors for this event three times in her career. White had previous finishes in second with a time of 4:56.66 in 2004 and sixth with a time of 5:00.87 in 2003 in this event.

Senior Leigh Campbell and junior Holly Hinz also earned All-America honors for the 500-yard freestyle event by placing third and eighth, respectively. Campbell and Hinz each have earned one previous All-America honor for this event.

This is the first time in Emory school history that three swimmers have earned All-America honors in the 500-yard freestyle event in the same year. This is the fourth time that three Emory swimmers have ever done so in any event.

Senior Hillary Lane finished in sixth place earning her All-America honors in the 50-yard freestyle event (24.01 seconds). This is the third year Lane has earned All-America honors for this event.

Both Emory relay teams finished in the top eight for All-America honors. In the 200-yard freestyle, Hillary Lane, Sarah Nicholson, Dana Inserra and Jamie Lawler came in fifth place. In the 400-yard medley relay event, Lauren Bernstein, Samantha Gillen, Dana Inserra and Hillary Lane finished in seventh.

Sophomore Alexis Smith and junior Karyn Henderson received All-America honorable mention for the 200-yard individual medley.

(Feb. 28) Emory University qualified the maximum contingent of 17 swimmers along with one diver for the NCAA Division III national championships. Emory is the only school in the nation to qualify 18 competitors this season.

Schools are allowed to qualify a maximum of 18 swimmers, or 17 swimmers and up to three divers. This is the third year in a row that Emory has qualified the maximum number of swimmers.

Emory is seeded in the top 10 for eight out of the 18 swimming events.

Emory is seeded first in the 800-yard freestyle relay event and seventh for the 400-yard medley relay event.

In the 1650-yard freestyle, Emory entrants are seeded 1-5-7. Leigh Campbell is seeded first followed by Suzanna Zifkin in fifth place and Samantha White in seventh. White and Campbell are seeded third and ninth in the 500-yard freestyle, respectively.

Other entrants seeded in the top eight include Hillary Lane who is seeded fifth and sixth in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, respectively. Holly Hinz is seeded eighth for the 400-yard individual medley event. Lauren Bernstein is eighth for the 100-yard backstroke.

The top eight finishers in each event are accorded All-America honors. Competitors placing in ninth through 16th are awarded All-America honorable mention.

The Eagles have finished in the top three at the NCAA meet the last three years, including second place last season.

(Feb. 20) During the Emory Invitational, Emory University had nine individuals qualify provisionally for the NCAA Division III national championships.

Sophomore Jessica Ivry qualified provisionally for nationals in two events. Ivry qualified in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events with times of 1:07.37 and 2:24.49, respectively.

Junior Holly Hinz qualified provisionally in the 400-yard individual medley. Hinz currently holds the sixth-fastest time in the nation among Division III swimmers in this event.

Sophomores Sarah Nicholson and Jamie Lawler both surpassed the NCAA B standard in the 100-yard backstroke with times of 59.04 seconds and 59.53 seconds, respectively. Lawler qualified provisionally three times, once in the preliminaries, once in the finals and again in the time trial for this event. Nicholson's time places her 20th in the nation for this event, while Lawler is 21st.

Senior Kelly Riesterer and junior Laura Blackwell provisionally qualified in the 1650-yard freestyle event. Riesterer currently holds the 17th fastest time in the nation among Division III swimmers in this event.

Emory now looks towards the NCAA Division III national championships where it finished second last season.

(Feb. 14) Emory University won its seventh consecutive and 13th total University Athletic Association conference title in 17 years. The Eagles won the meet with a total of 1,098.5 points.

In the finals, the Eagles finished with nine automatic 'A' cut qualifying times and 22 'B' cut qualifying times for the NCAA Division III national championships. Emory University had nine conference champions, six individual and three relay.

Fourteen athletes made the all-conference team.

Seniors Hillary Lane and Leigh Campbell were conference champions and swam NCAA 'A' cut qualifying times. Lane won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. Lane set a conference record for the 50-yard freestyle event with a time of 23.95 seconds. Campbell won the 1650-yard freestyle event with a conference record time of 17:07.70. Lane and Campbell have a total of 15 and eight conference titles for their careers, respectively.

Emory went 1-2-3 in the 500-yard freestyle event. First was junior Samantha White (5:01.0), followed by junior Suzanna Zifkin (5:02.36), and senior Leigh Campbell with a time of 5:03.16. White and Zifkin's times were NCAA 'A'cut times and Campbell had an NCAA 'B' cut time.

(Jan. 31) In a double dual meet against the NCAA Division I schools, Emory University lost against Georgia Tech, 184-118, and triumphed over the University of North Florida, 171-129.

Senior Leigh Campbell took second place in the 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and 1000-yard freestyle events. Campbell has the fastest times in the University Athletic Association ( UAA) this season in the 1000- and 1650-yard freestyle events. She is the second-fastest swimmer in the UAA in the 200-yard butterfly.

Emory had two first-place finishers against Division I school.

Senior Hillary Lane took first place in the 100-yard freestyle and sophomore Alexis Smith won the 400-yard individual medley. Lane is the fastest swimmer in the UAA this season in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.

Emory finished the dual meet season with a 7-2 record. Emory is looking ahead to the UAA championships, which Emory has won six years in a row.

(Jan. 24) Emory University took first place in the first meet of the season against Translvania University (KY) 166-123. Emory won 10 of 16 events. Seven of the first-place finishes were followed by a second and third-place showing by Emory as well.

Emory surpassed the NCAA qualifying standard four times. Of the four times, two were A cuts and two were B cuts.

Samantha White surpassed the A standard in the 1650-yard freestyle event in 17:24.99. Leigh Campbell also obtained NCAA automatic qualification the 200-yard butterfly event with a time of 2:07.18.

Campbell also surpassed the B standard for the 200-yard freestyle event. Ellen Flader also surpassed the B standard in the 100-yard breaststroke event.

(Jan.12) Emory University lost to an NCAA Division II school, University of Tampa (FL), 154.5-107.5.

Junior Samantha White swam for two first-place finishes in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. Leigh Campbell in the 1000-yard freestyle event and Sarah Nicholson in the 100-yard freestyle event also took first-place finishes.

Emory had four individual second-place finishes.

Holly Hinz placed second in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. Samantha Gillen swam for second in the 100-yard breaststroke. Dana Inserra took second place in the 100-yard butterfly event.

The loss leaves Emory University with a 5-1 record.

(Dec.6) In the last dual meet of the semester, Emory University defeated University of the South (TN), 130-91. Emory took first and second place in nine out of 12 events.

Senior Kelly Riesterer won two individual events--500- and 1000-yard freestyle-- and swam a leg on the first-place 400-yard freestyle relay.

Other individual winners were Keely Delcore in the 200-yard freestyle, Mackenzie Hurlston in the 200-yard individual medley, Olivia Rzepczynski in the 200-yard butterfly, Michelle Faurot in the 200-yard backstroke and Amanda Moser in the one meter diving event.

Emory is undefeated with a season record of 5-0 and is ranked first in the nation according to CollegeSwimming.com.

(Dec. 6) Emory University had numerous qualifying performances at the University of Georgia Fall Invitational. Emory automatically qualified for the NCAA national championships 38 times in 16 events. Emory had eight times that made the A cut.

Hillary Lane automatically qualified for the NCAA national championships in two individual events and two relay events. Lane surpassed the A cut in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, and she did it in the preliminary and final sessions.

Holly Hinz surpassed the A cut in the 400-yard individual medley and Lauren Bernstein did the same in the 100-yard backstroke. Emory's relays made the A cut in the 200- and 400-yard medley.

Of the 30 provisional qualifying times, four Emory swimmers surpassed the B cut in both the preliminary and final sessions. Those swimmers were Alexis Smith and Karyn Henderson in the 400-yard individual medley, Sarah Gardiner in the 200-yard backstroke, and Ellen Flader in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Emory is ranked first among in the NCAA Division III according to CollegeSwimming.com.

(Nov. 29) Emory University is first in the national rankings released by CollegeSwimming.com. CollegeSwimming.com and D3Swimming.com produce a Power Ranking for NCAA Division III institutions. Rankings are based on each team's best dual meet lineup as judged and submitted by participating teams. Rankings are announced four times throughout the season. Emory finished second in the NCAA national championships last season.

(Nov. 15) In its fourth meet of the season Emory University defeated Savannah College of Art and Design (GA) 91-77. Emory took first and second place in five of nine events. Emory swept the top four places in two events, the 200-yard freestyle and the 400-yard individual medley. Emory's 200-yard medley relay team made a "B cut" time 1:51.87, which qualifies it for the NCAA national championships. Emory is now 4-0 and is ranked second in the nation.

(Nov. 8) Emory University took first place in the Carnegie Mellon Invitational. Emory won 13 of 19 events. Seven of these first-place finishes were followed by a second-place showing by Emory as well.

Emory surpassed the NCAA qualifying standards 12 times in 10 events. Of the 12 times, two were A cuts and 10 were B cuts.

Holly Hinz surpassed that A standard in the 400-yard IM in 4:33.22. Leigh Campbell obtained NCAA automatic qualification for the 1650-yard freestyle event with a time of 17:18.71.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Emory has won the fall quadrangular featuring new and past conference schools

Emory individual event winners were Holly Hinz (400-yard IM, 200 & 500 Freestyle,), Leigh Campbell (1650 Freestyle), Dana Inserra (100 & 200 Butterfly), Sarah Gardiner (200- Backstroke), Hillary Lane (50 &100 Freestyle), Ellen Flader (100 Breaststroke), and Lauren Bernstein (100 Backstroke).

(Nov. 5) Emory University is second in the national rankings according to CollegeSwimming.com. CollegeSwimming.com and D3Swimming.com produce a Power Ranking for NCAA Division III institutions. Rankings are based on each team's best dual meet lineup as judged and submitted by participating teams. Rankings are announced four times throughout the season. Emory finished second in the NCAA national championships last season.

(Nov. 5) Holly Hinz has been named the National Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com. Hinz is the sole Division III female honoree.

Hinz won all three of her races against an NCAA Division I school in addition to attaining a qualifying standard for the NCAA Division III national championships. Hinz automatically qualified for the NCAA nationals with her winning time of 4:33.36 in the 400-yard individual medley.

Hinz, a five-time All-American in her career, is the defending national champion in the 500 freestyle and the reigning national runner-up in the 400 individual medley.

Six swimmers consisting of one male and one female from each of the three NCAA Division I, II, and III earned National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week honors. The six were selected by a panel of collegiate coaches and nominated by coaches, sports information directors, conference representatives and CollegeSwimming.com staffers.

Hinz is Emory's third female swimmer to be awarded the honor this season. Previous honorees were Sarah Nicholson (Oct. 27) and Hillary Lane (Oct. 18.).

(Nov. 1) Emory University defeated University of North Carolina-Wilmington, an NCAA Division I school, 201-99. Emory has six wins over Division I schools for the past three seasons. Holly Hinz won three individual events. Hinz won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events and the 400-yard individual medley while surpassing the qualifying standards for the NCAA Division III national championships. Freshman Ellen Flader also won three events. Flader won the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events and swam on the winning 200-yard medley relay team. Emory divers took first, second and third in both diving events. Junior Lisa Parton won first place for the one-meter board followed by freshmen Sarah Halperin and Amanda Moser. Moser won first place on the three-meter board followed by Halperin and sophomore Erin Graves.

(Oct. 30) Emory University defeated University of North Carolina-Wilmington, an NCAA Division I school, 201-99. Emory has six wins over Division I schools for the past three seasons.

Emory had a total of 13 NCAA qualifying times, two A cuts and 11 B cuts. Dana Inserra and Holly Hinz attained automatic NCAA qualifying times for the 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard individual medley, respectively.

Hinz won three individual events. Hinz won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle and the 400-yard individual medley.

Freshman Ellen Flader also won three events. Flader won the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events and swam on the winning 200-yard medley relay team.

Emory divers took first, second and third in both diving events. Junior Lisa Parton won first place for the one-meter board followed by freshmen Sarah Halperin and Amanda Moser. Moser won first place on the three-meter board followed by Halperin and sophomore Erin Graves.

(Oct. 27) Sarah Nicholson has been named the National Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com. Nicholson is the Division III female honoree. Six swimmers consisting of one male and one female from each of the three NCAA Division I, II, and III earned National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week honors. The six were selected by a panel of collegiate coaches and nominated by coaches, sports information directors, conference representatives and CollegeSwimming.com staffers. Nicholson won two individual events and one relay event in the meet against Agnes Scott College (GA.). Nicholson won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle events and swam on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team. Nicholson is the second Emory female swimmer to earn the national honor. The previous Emory winner was Hillary Lane.

(Oct. 25) In the second meet of the season Emory University defeated Agnes Scott College (GA) 188-52. Emory took first and second place in nine out of eleven events at the meet. Sophomore Sarah Nicholson won two individual events and one relay event. She was victorious in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle events and swam on the triumphant 200-yard freestyle relay team. Junior Sarah Gardiner took first place in the 100-yard backstroke and second in the 100-yard butterfly. Freshman Lauren Bernstein took first in the 100-yard butterfly. Emory in now 2-0 in the season.

(Oct.25) Hillary Lane has been named the National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com. Lane is the sole female Division III honoree. A panel of collegiate coaches, sports information directors, conference representatives and CollegeSwimming.com staffers selected six swimmers total for this honor. The six swimmers are comprised of one male and one female swimmer from each of the NCAA Divisions I, II, and III. Lane helped the Eagles to a win over Davidson College (N.C) with victories in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events and swam on a victorious 400-yard medley relay.

(Oct.19) In the opener of the season Emory University defeated Davidson (N.C), an NCAA Division I school. Emory won with a score of 145.5-97.5. Emory has five wins over Division I schools for the past three seasons. Senior Hillary Lane won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle events. She also swam on Emory's first-place 400-yard medley relay. Freshmen Ellen Flader won the 200-yard breaststroke and also swam on the 400-yard medley relay. Emory finished second at the NCAA national championships last season.