University of Minnesota Athletics
2005-06 Women's Swimming Season Review
6/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team finished 21st in the nation as it scored 48 points at the NCAA Championships, March 16-18, in Athens, Ga. The Golden Gophers had 10 qualifiers for the NCAA Championships, including six freshmen. Along with a top-25 national finish, the Gophers finished second in the Big Ten Conference, Feb. 15-18, in Columbus, Ohio.
ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Minnesota’s relays at the NCAA Championships proved to be one of the best in the nation, earning All-America honorable mentions in the 200 free, 400 free and 800 free relays. Minnesota started the three-day championship with a 12th-place finish in the 200 free relay. Stacy Busack, Sarah Perrott, Jennifer Hasling and Erin Holtmeyer earned the Gophers’ first honorable mention status when they clocked a time of 1:31.78. The Gophers’ best relay finish was ninth overall in the 800 free relay. Jenny Shaughnessy, Yuen Kobayashi, Kate Hardt and Christine Jennings had a time of 3:21.87. Minnesota rounded out its relay competition when Shaughnessy, Busack, Perrott and Meredith McCarthy combined for a 15th-place finish in the 400 free in a time of 3:21.87. Kobayashi also earned All-America status when she finished 10th in the 500 and 1650 free events and 15th in the 200 free.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Gophers had 10 swimmers qualify for the NCAA Championships. It was the most NCAA Gopher participants since the 1997-98 season. In the 1998 championship, the Gophers scored 65 points and placed 16th in the nation. The Gophers placed second in the Big Ten Championships that same year as they earned 644.5 points.
MINNESOTA RANKED NO. 23 IN CSCAA POLL
Prior to the NCAA Championships, Minnesota was ranked No. 23 in the final College Swimming Coaches Association of America. In the top 25, six ranked teams were from the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin held the highest ranking, set at 12th, while Penn State was 14th. Indiana and Purdue finished the season with a 16th and 17th ranking, while Michigan is ranked 22nd.
GOPHERS SCORE BIG AT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
After finishing sixth at the 2005 Big Ten Championships, Minnesota improved four spots in just one year to earn second place at the 2006 Big Ten Championships in Columbus, Ohio. The Gophers won the 800 free relay, the 500-yard freestyle (Yuen Kobayashi) and the 1650 free (Kobayashi) to earn 536.5 points. Co-head coaches Kelly Kremer and Terry Nieszner were named the Big Ten Coaches of the Year. Yuen Kobayashi was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Earning first-team All-Big Ten honors were Jenny Shaughnessy (800 free relay), Kobayashi (800 free relay, 500 free, 1,650 free), Kate Hardt (800 free relay) and Christine Jennings (800 free relay).Stacy Busack earned second-team All-Big Ten honors (50 free).
FIRST FOR EVERYTHING
Yuen Kobayashi became the first Golden Gopher in school history to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Established in 2001, Penn State and Wisconsin each garnered two rookie awards, while Michigan received the award in 2005. The 2006 Big Ten Championship also marked the first time that Terry Nieszner and Kelly Kremer were named Big Ten Co-Coaches of the Year. In just their second season as co-head coaches, the duo has recruited some of the nation’s best talent and went from finishing sixth at the 2005 league championships to a second-place finish in 2006. Minnesota, however, is not unfamiliar with garnering coach of the year honors. Nieszner and Kremer’s predecessor, Jean Freeman, was named coach of the year four times during her tenure in 1984, 1986, 1996 and 1999.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Minnesota will say goodbye to one of its largest senior classes in recent history. The Gophers had 10 seniors graduate following the 2005-06 season. Finishing their Gopher careers were Kate Hardt, Cecile Lamour, Katherine Marshall, co-captain Bridget McCoy, Mary Patrek, co-captain Sarah Perrott, Katie Proell, Abby Ruess, Jennifer Warmington and Katie Wind.
Players Mentioned
