University of Minnesota Athletics
Season Preview with Terry Nieszner
10/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 5, 2011
Gophersports.com caught up with Minnesota women's head swimming coach Terry Nieszner to preview the 2010-11 season. The Golden Gophers open the year vs. Michigan Friday and Saturday at the University Aquatic Center.
What are the team's strengths and weaknesses heading into the 2011-12 season?
Terry Nieszner: "Coming into this year we are very well balanced. We have an awesome group of seniors, veteran returners who have NCAA experience and a great freshmen class. We definitely have a lot of talent and a lot of energy in this new freshmen class. If you combine this with all of our sophomores, juniors and seniors it makes for a strong team. We are excited to get going and get racing. We have had a great preseason and can't wait get our year started."
Which upperclassmen do you see stepping up as leaders?
TN: "Our key returners with NCAA experience are Ashley Steenvoorden and Haley Spencer, who was a NCAA champion. Both of these ladies are captains along with Marissa Davies, who also has NCAA experience. With the three of them as tri-captains, you just cannot ask for better leadership. They do exactly what the coaches ask for in the pool as well as outside the pool. We can't be happier with the leadership we have returning, not to mention we also have underclassmen who are returning with NCAA experience."
Who are the newcomers we need to keep our eyes on?
TN: "From what we have seen this preseason, I would keep my eye on this entire class, but I guess coming up in the meet this weekend I would watch Jessica Plant. She is probably going to be one of our top performers. Rebecca Weiland is one to watch in the sprint butterfly, Katie Anton in backstroke and Devin Ste. Marie in the butterfly. We have just got a lot of talent in this freshmen class and I think they are going to surprise a lot of people."
Who do you see as your biggest competition in the Big Ten?
TN: "Indiana is definitely strong as ever and I think they will be the team to beat this year in the Big Ten. Ohio State is also getting stronger and stronger so they should also make for good competition."
What are your goals for the NCAA Championship?
TN: "Well NCAA'S is always tough. Last year we were 9th and this year our goal is to stay with in the top ten. Any schools from the south seem to always have somewhat of advantage, but we are going to give it a shot and hope to be in the top ten."
What additional goals do you have for the season?
TN: "Certainly going into an Olympic year we definitely have some goals. We have a lot of athletes on our team who are Olympic hopefuls, so that is something we are looking at. We also always want to come together as a team and compete for a Big Ten Championship and finish in the top ten at NCAAs."
Talk a little bit about the meets that you are hosting at the University Aquatic Center this season.
TN: "We are starting off the season with the big dual meet here against Michigan and anytime we compete against Michigan, it's a big meet. So, certainly this will start us off. Then we swim Iowa, Wisconsin and Purdue, which are Big Ten rivalries we have to face all throughout the season. In mid-November, we will be hosting a Grand Prix meet, which will attract some of the top athletes from all over the country. This meet will be a three-day meet in November, with many kids trying to make their Olympic Trial cuts at the meet. So, it will make out for a very exciting season."
Players Mentioned
