• 2022 & 2023 National Runners-Up
  • 12-time National Champions
  • 40 Individual National Championships
  • 32 Relay National Championships
  • 153 Individual All-Americans
  • 31 UAA Championships
  • 29 Postgraduate Scholars

2003-04 Emory Women's Swimming & Diving Headline Archive

(July 26) 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). In addition, 19 Eagles were honored as All-Academic Individuals.

The women's squad accumulated a 3.52 GPA last spring, the fifth highest in the nation among NCAA Division III schools. Emory was the only Division III women's team to finish in the top five in both GPA and at the NCAA national swimming and diving championships. The women finished second at the 2004 NCAA nationals.

The men's team tallied a 3.44 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) last semester, which was the fourth highest in the nation among NCAA Division III men's swimming and diving programs. The Emory men were the only Division III team to finish among the top five in both GPA and at the NCAA swimming and diving national championships. The Eagles were second at the 2004 NCAA men's championships.

No NCAA school had as many individual honorees as Emory. Its women's team had nine honorees, tops in the nation in Division III. The men had 10 honorees, which tied for first in the nation (along with Johns Hopkins) in Division III.

Cited as All-Academic Individuals were David Black, Jason Bodell, Brandon Burke, Andrew Callam, Christian Groth, Justin Hake, Richard Kinnett, Tim Newton, Andrew Schapiro, John Sutter, Miriam Brown, Jessica Burley, Jamie Lawler, Julia Mavrodin, Kari Schneibel, Tracy Shessler, Alexis Smith, Samantha White, and Donley Zifkin.

Honorable mention went to Alex Emerson, Devin Rhinerson, Andrew Roos, Thomas Roos, Jennifer Kanetsky, and Heather Kuntz.

To be honored, an individual must have at least a 3.5 grade point average and qualify for the NCAA national championship meet. To be honored, a team must have at least a 2.80 GPA for a semester.

 


(May 30) Emory University sophomore Samantha White has been named to the Academic All-District second team for women's at-large sports. She is one of 20 student-athletes honored on the first and second teams combined.

The Academic All-District team honors the best student-athletes. Voting is conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

White had a 3.81 cumulative grade point average as a neuroscience and behavioral biology major. She was the NCAA national runner-up this year in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events.

This is the ninth time, eighth since 1998, that an Emory women's swimmer or diver has been honored on the Academic All-District team.

Voting for the all-district team is done by CoSIDA members in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The women's at-large sports encompasses bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, and water polo.

 


(May 4) 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).

The men's team tallied a 3.41 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) last fall, which was the sixth highest in the nation among NCAA Division III men's swimming and diving programs. The Emory men were one of three NCAA Division III teams to finish among the top 10 in both GPA and at the NCAA swimming and diving national championships. The Eagles were second at the 2004 NCAA men's championships.

The women's squad accumulated a 3.39 GPA last semester, the 12th highest in the nation among NCAA Division III schools. Emory was one of two Division III women's teams to finish in the top 15 in both GPA and at the NCAA national swimming and diving championships. The women finished second at the 2004 NCAA nationals.

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

 


(April 28) Emory University senior Tracy Shessler has been awarded a $7,500 postgraduate scholarship from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She is one of 29 female athletes nationally from all NCAA divisions to receive the award for winter sports.

Shessler is one of 13 swimmers or divers honored, regardless of NCAA affilation. She is one of three Division III swimmers or divers honored.

Shessler attained honorable mention All-America status in two events at this year's NCAA national championships. She was 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke event and 14th in the 400-yard individual medley.

She had a 3.89 cumulative grade point average as a sociology major. She has been recognized three times as an All-Academic Individual by the U.S. Swimming Coaches Association.

Shessler is the fifth Emory swimmer ever to win the NCAA postgraduate award and the third in the last three years.

 


(March 15) Emory University finished second at the NCAA Division III national championships, the best finish in school history. A school-record 14 swimmers earned All America honors in nine different individual events and all five relays.

Sophomores Holly Hinz and Samantha White placed first and second respectively in the 500-yard freestyle. Hinz became the seventh national champion in school history. She also finished second in the 400-yard individual medley.

White earned All America honors in the 200-, 500- and 1650-yard freestyle events, the most certificates in individual events of any Emory swimmer.

Junior Hillary Lane won six All America certificates: the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and the 200- and 400-yard medley relays.

Freshmen Erin Sheehy and Jamie Lawler earned their first All-America certificates and set Emory school records in the 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke respectively. Sheehy finished fourth and set the school record with her prelims time of 2:05.25 and Lawler finished sixth and set the school record with her prelims time of 58.00 seconds.

The Eagles have improved or equaled their national finish for seven consecutive years. They placed third for the last two seasons.


(March 1) The NCAA invited 18 Emory University swimmers, the maximum allowable team size per NCAA rules, to the national championships.

Emory was the only school to have 18 swimmers selected for the meet. This is the second year in a row that Emory has qualified the maximum 18 swimmers.

In five of the 18 swimming events, Emory has at least two swimmers seeded in the top eight, based on their season-best times. Those events are the 400-yard individual medley, 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 1650 freestyle, and 200 butterfly. The top eight finishers in each event are accorded All-America honors.

In the 400 individual medley, Emory entrants are seeded 1-4-6. Holly Hinz has the fastest time in the nation followed by Tracy Shessler in fourth place and Julia Mavrodin in sixth.

Hinz also is the fourth seed in the 500 freestyle with Samantha White seeded eighth in the same event. Leigh Campbell and White are fourth and sixth in the 1650 freestyle.

Dana Inserra and Erin Sheehy are third and eighth in the 200 butterfly. Ali Smith and Jessica Ivry are fifth and eighth in the 100 breaststroke.

Four of the five Emory relays received top-eight seeds.

Emory has has finished in the top three at the NCAA nationals the last three years.

The competition, to be hosted by Principia College in St. Peters, Mo., takes place March 11-13.


(Feb. 23) Eleven swimmers from Emory Universtiy qualified for the NCAA Division III national championships at the Emory Invitational.

Freshman Suzanna Zifkin swam an NCAA provisional 'B' cut time in the 1650-yard freestyle (17:36.68).  She also qualified in the 500-yard free (5:10.73) and the 200-yard butterfly (2:12.17).

Seniors Tracy Shessler and Jessica Burley, Junior Kelly Riesterer and Sophomore Heather Kuntz also qualified in the 1650-yard free.

Sophomore Karyn Henderson swam 'B' cut times in the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.08), 200-yard breaststroke (2:27.83) and 100-yard butterfly (59.79).

Senior Jennifer Kanetsky and Junior Dana Inserra qualified in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events. Freshman Miriam Brown qualified in the 100-yard back and Sophomore Holly Hinz in the 200-yard back.  Sophomore Laura Blackwell qualified in the 400-yard IM.

 


(Feb. 16) Emory University won its sixth consecutive and 12th total University Athletic Association conference title. The Eagles won the meet by 548 points, the largest margin of victory in UAA history, for a total of 1,182 points.

The Eagles touched the wall with NCAA qualifying swims 92 times, including 10 automatic 'A' cut qualifying times. Twenty of 22 athletes qualified individually for the nationals.

Fourteen athletes made the all-conference team including five individual conference champions. Emory won all five relay events.

Sophomores Kari Schneibel and Holly Hinz were conference champions and swam NCAA 'A' cut qualifying times. Schneibel won the 100- and 200-yard backstroke events with times of 58.76 seconds and 2:05.59, respectively. Hinz won the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:30.13.

Rounding out the top three in the 400 IM was freshman Alexis Smith (4:33.26) and junior Julia Mavrodin (4:34.05). All three swims were NCAA 'A' cut qualifying times.

Smith also won the 200-yard individual medley (2:09.02) and placed third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:24.57). She was voted UAA Rookie of the Year.

Junior Hillary Lane won the 50-yard freestyle (24.13) and the 100-yard freestyle (53.16).


(Feb. 9) CollegeSwimming.com named Hillary Lane, a junior at Emory University, NCAA Division III Swimmer of the Week. Lane won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.15 seconds in a dual meet against NCAA Division I Georgia Tech. She also placed second in the 100-yard free (52.98). Lane anchored the second-place 400-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relays.


(Feb. 4) CollegeSwimming.com named Holly Hinz of Emory University NCAA Division III Swimmer of the Week. Hinz won the 400-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle helping the Eagles to victories in a double-dual meet against Transylvania (KY) and Wittenberg (Ohio).


(Feb. 2) Emory University swam nine provisional 'B cut' qualifying times for the NCAA Division III national championships in a dual meet against Georgia Tech.

Junior Hillary Lane finished first in the 50-yard freestyle with an NCAA 'B-cut' qualifying time of 24.15 seconds. She also swam a 'B-cut' time in the 100-yard freestyle.

Junior Dana Inserra swam 'B-cut' times in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly races. Freshman Alexis Smith swam 'B-cut' qualifying times in the 200-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley. Sophomore Sarah Gardiner achieved a 'B-cut' time in the 100-yard backstroke.

The Eagles lost the meet 160-122 against Georgia Tech, an NCAA Division I school.


(Jan. 21) Emory University is ranked second in the nation in an NCAA Division III power ranking. The ranking is compiled by Collegeswimming.com and the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

Emory was ranked second behind Kenyon, the reigning NCAA Division III national champion.

The rankings are calculated by hypothetical dual-meet lineups and best times submitted by participating teams and recognize teams' relative strengths in-season.

Emory finished third at the NCAA national championships last season.


(Jan. 19) Emory University won a dual meet against Agnes Scott. The final score was 110-75. The Eagles won all 13 events.

Junior Dana Inserra won the 100-yard butterfly with an NCAA national chapionships qualifying time of 59.13 seconds. The time was the 24th fastest in the nation in NCAA Division III this season.

Freshmen Jessica Ivry, Jamie Lawler and Sarah Nicholson won two events each. Other event winners include junior Kelly Riesterer and freshman Suzanna Zifkin.


(Jan. 12) Emory University narrowly lost a dual meet against NCAA Division II University of Tampa. The final score was 136-126.

Emory won five of fourteen events against Tampa, a top-10 nationally ranked team.

Junior Hillary Lane and sophomore Samantha White won two events each. Lane finished first in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. White won the 500- and 1000-yard freestyle events.

Freshman Ali Smith, senior Tracy Shessler and junior Julia Mavrodin finished 1-2-3 in the 200-yard breaststroke.

 


(Dec. 8) Emory University finished fourth at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational, a meet featuring 11 teams including an NCAA Division I school and last year's Division III national champion.

Miami finished in the top spot followed by Kenyon (Ohio) and Indiana. The Eagles finished fourth followed by Marshall (WV) and Johns Hopkins (MD).

Emory achieved 69 qualification times for the NCAA national championships, 19 of which were automatic 'A cut' times.

Senior Tracy Shessler swam seven NCAA qualifying races. Junior Hillary Lane, sophomore Karyn Henderson and freshman Jamie Lawler turned in six qualifying times each. Seven Emory athletes achieved four NCAA cuts.

Lane broke the school record in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.07 seconds. She finished third in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.79 seconds, the second-fastest time in school history. Lawler and freshman Miriam Brown both broke the school record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.69 seconds.

Emory's 200-yard freestyle relay placed second. The 400-yard freestyle and 200- and 400-yard medley relays finished third.


(Nov. 14) Emory University lost a dual meet to the University of Georgia, ranked No. 3 in the nation in NCAA Division I. The final score was 143-90.

Erin Graves was the only Emory competitor to win an event. She was first on the three-meter diving platform, ahead of two Georgia divers.

Hillary Lane finished second in the 50-yard freestyle, ahead of three Georgia swimmers.

This is Emory's first loss to Division I competition this season. The Eagles beat Davidson and N.C.-Wilmington earlier this season.

Emory is off until the Miami (Ohio) Invitational Dec. 5-7 where a number of swimmers will shave and taper to attain NCAA qualifying times. 


(Nov. 9) Emory University won the Carnegie Mellon Invitational in a meet featuring three national top-20 teams.

The Eagles were first out of four teams with a score of 1,119 points, ahead of Johns Hopkins (Md.) at 835 points, Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) with 561 and Case Western Reserve (Ohio) at 539.

Last season, Emory was third at the NCAA Division III national championships while Johns Hopkins was ninth and Case Reserve was 12th.

The Eagles won 12 of 19 events, including all four relay events. Emory swimmers accounted for 18 provisional qualifying times for the NCAA national meet.

Emory had five of the six fastest times in the 200-yard butterfly and all five were NCAA qualifying times. Emory finished 1-2-3-4 in the 400 individual medley with the top three times surpassing the NCAA qualifying standard.

Leigh Campbell, Sarah Gardiner and Samantha White each had two national provisional qualifying swims. Campbell did so in the 200 butterfly and 1650 freestyle, Gardiner did so in the 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke, and White did so in the 500 and 1650 freestyle events.


(Nov. 1) For the second consecutive meet, Emory University defeated an NCAA Division I school.

This time, the Eagles bettered North Carolina-Wilmington, 184-116. Emory won 11 of 14 individual events.

Holly Hinz and Sarah Gardiner each won two events and attained two national qualifying times.

Hinz was first in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:34.48, bettering the automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA national championships. She won the 200 freestyle at 1:56.08, an NCAA provisional qualifying performance.

Gardiner surpassed the provisional qualifying time while winning the 200 butterfly (2:10.45) and 200 backstroke (2:10.51).

Other double winners were Samantha White (500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle) and Tracy Shessler (100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke).


(Oct. 18) Emory University opened its season with a 144-96 win against Davidson College (N.C.), an NCAA Division I school.

The Eagles won both relay events and seven of 11 individual events.

Emory's Liz Shields and Lisa Parton were double winners. Shields was first in the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley events. Parton had the highest score in the one- and three-meter diving events.

Emory swimmers attained eight provisional qualifying times for the NCAA national championships. The Eagles had two qualifying performances each in the 200-yard backstroke and breaststroke events.