Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Open the Season Against Illinois in Evanston
10/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
| Northwestern vs. Illinois |
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| Date | Friday, Oct. 17 | 5 p.m. CT |
| Location | Norris Aquatics Center | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Results | Hy-Tek (Also available on Meet Mobile app) |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern opens the 2014-15 season at 5 p.m. CT Friday, Oct. 17, against Big Ten rival Illinois at the Norris Aquatics Center inside the new Henry Crown Sports Pavilion.
Live results are available at both this link and via the Meet Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. As always, admission is FREE for swimming and diving at the Norris Aquatics Center!
A full season squad preview is below courtesy of Eric Clark:
Despite having only two seniors on its 2014-15 squad, the Northwestern women's swimming team doesn't lack leadership. And according to head coach Jimmy Tierney, that lack of experience will be more than made up for by the team's work ethic.
Seniors Valerie Nubbe and Madeleine Klichowski are the most experienced swimmers on the squad and look to lead the young Wildcat squad to a successful campaign.
Tierney said Nubbe and Klichowski have already set the tone for the season.
"The biggest thing they've emphasized is doing things at a high intensity," Tierney said. "How we prepare the days before meets, in the pool and outside the pool.
"They've both got a lot of passion for Northwestern. I want to see them go out with a successful senior year. We want to honor them."
In order to honor those seniors, numerous talented youngsters will have to improve even further upon their stellar 2013-14 seasons.
Sophomore Lauren Abruzzo returns to the pool after qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a freshman, breaking school records in the 1,650 free (16:10.40) and 1,000 free (9:48.17). Tierney expects Abruzzo to be even better this year.
"She's got a year under her belt, she's a little more confident and a little more comfortable in the system here," Tierney said. "Lauren is one of the hardest workers on the team, and she's a terrific racer. She's always ready to perform."
Fellow sophomore Lacey Locke is expected to have a solid 2014-15 campaign, leading the Wildcats as one of their most prolific backstrokers. Locke also swam in the individual medley event as a freshman.
"She's one of our leaders in terms of performing all around," Tierney said. "One of her great attributes is that it doesn't matter what meet, what event it is. She's here and ready to get after it.
"She won a lot of events for us last year, and I think this year is going to be even better."
Tierney said Locke has the first leg (backstroke) of the medley relay locked up. Junior Julianne Kurke has a firm grasp on the second leg (breaststroke).
"Julianne's made tremendous progress since she's been here," he said. "She's an incredibly hard worker, and she's worked for everything she's gotten.
"Our first two legs of the medley are pretty solid and we feel very confident about that."
According to Tierney, the final two legs, butterfly and freestyle, are up for grabs. Tierney said freshman Aja Malone currently has the fastest times in the butterfly and will start in that position in Friday's meet versus Illinois.
"The freestyle is up for grabs because we have a lot of wealth and depth in sprinters right now," he said.
Tierney mentioned that freshmen Mary Warren and Anna Keane, sophomore Annika Winsnes, junior Julia Pratt and senior Nubbe are all in the running for the final spot.
"It may change some during the year," he said. "Maybe, depending on who is hot at the time, that is who we'll throw in there. We're really excited because that's hopefully going to turn what was a little bit of a weakness in the past into a strength."
In addition to Warren and Keane, there are numerous other freshmen that Tierney plans to put in positions to succeed early on in their careers.
Maddy Sims, a native of Downers Grove, Ill., was a six-time high school All-American prior to her arrival on campus this year.
"Maddy is going to be one of our best butterfliers in the coming years, and she's going to help us right away, too," Tierney said.
Katherine Senseman, a sprinter from Terre Haute, Ind., also received high praise from Tierney before she had even competed in a collegiate event.
"She works tremendously hard and she's in there battling with some of the more seasoned sprinters right now," he said. "I think she's going to develop into something really special."
The Wildcats will look to improve upon their 10th place finish from the 2014 Big Ten Championships -- but Tierney said their main focus lies on sending more swimmers to the NCAA championships.
"We're going to set some goals in terms of the number of finalists that we have," he said. "The standards are really, really steep.
"We've got the ability to get there over the next couple years. Maybe we could do it this year, too."
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