University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women's Swimming & Diving 2016-17 Season Preview
9/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS - Coming off of a successful season in 2015-16, the Gophers hope to continue their success in the upcoming campaign. The Maroon and Gold finished in third place at the Big Ten Championships, 16th place in the NCAA Championships, and were 8-1-1 in dual meets.
"All in all, I felt great about last year," head coach Kelly Kremer said. "It was a step forward, and I look at the rosters and just can't wait."
The Gophers earned many honors throughout the squad. Yu Zhou earned a spot on the 2016 All Big Ten Team, five student-athletes were named to the 2016 All Big Ten Second Team, two student-athletes were named All Americans and four student-athletes earned 2016 All-America Honorable Mention.
Although the Gophers graduated three student-athletes last season, a lot of talent remains on the roster, including six seniors. Minnesota will return athletes who scored 61 of its 70 points at the NCAA championships to the roster for the 2016-17 season.
Kremer said fans can expect Kierra Smith, Katelyn Holmquist, Rae Bullinger, Rachel Munson, Tevyn Waddell, Lindsey Horejsi, Erin Emery, Breanne Siwicki, Danielle Nack and Zhou to make a significant impact on the squad.
"You could give me the roster and I could go on about all of them. I'm excited about the year," Kremer said.
The Gophers will be led by senior diver Zhou, who earned Big Ten titles in 1-meter (352.45), 3-meter (407.05) and platform (363.20).
With her excellent performance during the season, Zhou earned the 2016 Big Ten Diver of the Year and of the Championships, All-Big Ten honors and was an NCAA All-American.
Also returning to the roster is senior Smith, who took last season off in order to train for the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the Olympics, Smith advanced to the finals in the 200-meter breaststroke while swimming for her native Canada, finishing in seventh place.
Prior to the Olympics, Smith was named the 2015 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year. That season, she was a two-time All American, and took home the national title in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:04.56. The performance was the third fastest all-time in the NCAA, and became the new school record.
"It's huge," Kremer said. "You're talking about one of the best, if not the best breaststroke in the country. Coming off an NCAA title in 2015, and this is her last go around with college swimming, so she's geared up."
Other than Smith, fellow Canadian swimmers sophomore Lauren Lalumiere and senior Siwicki competed at the Olympic trials, and will return to the pool for the Gophers this season.
Fans should also watch junior Brooke Zeiger, who earned a spot on the Gophers' NCAA national team and the All-Big Ten Second Team. She was also named an All-American in the 400 IM and 1,650 free, while earning All-America Honorable Mention in the 500 free.
The Gopher women's swimming and diving team has consistently been among the best in the country in the past decade-plus. Minnesota won the Big Ten title four years in a row, between 2011 and 2015. The team has not finished below third place in the Big Ten since 2007. The Gophers finished 13th or better at the NCAA Championships from 2016 to 2015, and were again in the top
20 with a 16th-place finish in 2016.
Kremer said that freshmen Sarah Bacon, Horejsi, and Waddell will be looked to right away, as they have found plenty of success prior to their college careers.
"It's their first year here, but they're elite student-athletes, and they are going to lead us," Kremer said.
"We will be up and battling for a conference title," Kremer said. "We have potential to do these types of things, it's just a matter of coming together as a group."
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Players Mentioned
