University of Minnesota Athletics
Splashing from One Class to Another
4/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Story by Owen Mageau, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
The University of Minnesota women's swimming and diving team recently wrapped up a successful 2016-17 season. As is the case with the conclusion of any season, the Gophers must say goodbye to a graduating class. This year's senior class was a strong one and was led by 2016 Olympic swimmer Kierra Smith, as well as All-American divers Yu "Shelly" Zhou and Lexi Tenenbaum.
However, Gopher fans don't need to worry because this year also saw the emergence of many talented freshmen, including swimmer Lindsey Horejsi and diver Sarah Bacon in the same specialties as those departing All-Americans.
Smith leaves the Gophers with the school record and second-best NCAA time ever in the 200-yard breaststroke. She won a national title in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2015 and placed second this year in the same event.
"(My college career) was way more than I expected it to be," Smith said. "I'm so grateful that I got the opportunity to be a Minnesota Golden Gopher. It's always been a dream to train with a coach like Kelly Kremer and be in that environment. I was really lucky that everything came true."
Smith will continue training for the next Olympics. But it will be a different swimming environment without her team.
"I'm going to miss the feeling of having a second family for sure," Smith said. "Thank you, fans, for all the continued support. We wouldn't be able to do it without you."
Zhou leaves the Gophers as one of the most decorated athletes in program history. Throughout her career as a Gopher, she won seven All-America awards, seven Big Ten titles and three straight Big Ten Diver of the Year Awards. Zhou also became the second Gopher to win multiple national titles by winning her second NCAA 3-meter title this year.
"An important thing was Wenbo (Chen)," Zhou said. "He's a really good coach and also just being focused on what I needed to do helped."
Zhou said she will miss competing with her teammates, including fellow graduating senior Tenenbaum. Tenenbaum won three All-America awards this year on her way to earning CSCAA Diver of the Year honors.
"She's a very good diver and very competitive in meets," Zhou said. "Lexi is very funny, a very fun person to be around, and very easy to get along with. When I first got here, she helped me a lot. She's always there for me and cheering for me. I love her."
The 2017 senior class will be missed, but it is far from the end of the world for the Gopher women's swim and dive team. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Tevyn Waddell, sophomores Chantal Nack and Zoe Avestruz and junior Danielle Nack all earned relay All-America honors and competed in individual NCAA events. 2020 Olympic hopefuls Horejsi and Bacon stood out among the team's six All-Americans returning for next year.
Horejsi finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke at both NCAAs and Big Tens this year. She was also an All-American in the 200-yard breaststroke.
"I feel like (my freshman year) went really well," Horejsi said. "I didn't really know what to expect with handling swimming, school, family life and being away from home. I loved the team, the atmosphere and coming to practice. I've never been so excited to get a good practice in every day. The coaching staff was awesome."
Horejsi's time of 58.03 in the 100 at NCAAs broke a six-year-old program record.
"At first it was almost kind of sad because I had always looked up to Jillian Tyler, so taking her name down was sad," Horejsi said. "It was obviously rewarding too because it reaffirmed that my hard work had paid off."
Horejsi's goals for the future include helping the Gophers' relays make the top eight and eventually top three at NCAAs, winning NCAA breaststroke titles and swimming in the Tokyo Olympics. Horejsi showed her potential for greatness as a freshman while learning lessons she can apply as her career progresses.
"One thing I learned is to never think you're good enough. Never settle, you can always get faster and better yourself," she said.
On the diving boards, Bacon accomplished her freshman year goals of making Big Ten and NCAA finals in both her events. She was the NCAA runner-up in the 1-meter and an All-American in the 3-meter while learning from the seniors.
"Honestly I would say diving alongside Shelly and Lexi was the best part (of this year)," Bacon said. "They're both very good seniors and having them push me every day at practice to become a better diver was really cool."
Next year, Bacon will be one of the veterans on the team following in their footsteps. Like fellow freshman Horejsi, she has set some high goals for herself in the next few years.
"I want to be an All-American on both boards," Bacon said. "Next year I'm hoping to win both boards at Big Tens and I'm hoping to win some NCAA titles along the way. My main goal is the Tokyo 2020 Olympics."
It is no secret the Gophers are losing some extremely talented seniors this year. However, there is no need for Gopher fans to be concerned because this program continues to produce excellent talent. If the young stars come anywhere close to reaching their goals, it will mean many good years ahead for the Gopher women's swimming and diving team. There may even be a few more Gophers in the Olympics in 2020.
Players Mentioned
