Jumbos flex swimming muscle at Clark

The women's swimming team began its 2002-2003 season with a trouncing of non-conference opponent Clark College on Saturday. A Jumbo squad boasting over forty swimmers and divers overwhelmed the smaller Clark Penguins team in the170-119 win.

With a non-conference match-up against Wellesley after break, the meet against the Penguins provided an early opportunity to test the waters. Coach Nancy Bigelow held back many of her more experienced swimmers and mixed up events for the other competing athletes.

"Each class is an important part of the team," Bigelow said. "They each fill needs that the team has [in order] to be successful."

The Jumbos used the uneven match-up to rest their stronger swimmers. The event was a chance for Bigelow to rest her swimmers against a poor squad and also gave her the opportunity to veil the true skill of the Jumbo squad and leave Wellesley guessing as to what Tufts will throw at them when they meet after break.

Many freshmen were put into events purely to see how they would handle competition at the collegiate level. Not all of the participants were given the opportunity to compete in their strongest events.

Currently, there are 13 freshmen on the team's roster and, if the first match is any indication, this new Jumbo group is ready to make an immediate impact. Meghan Wallach led a trio of freshmen who came away with wins in their collegiate debuts, as she captured two first place finishes in the 100 meter breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke. Freshman Katie Minn also won in her first collegiate competition, placing first in the 100 butterfly and freshman Katherine Ferguson came away with the victory in the 50 meter freestyle.

"The older members of the team readily accepted us," Wallach said. "They immediately made me feel like a part of the team."

With so many experienced swimmers in the older classes, the freshmen have role models to look up to and learn from. Since swimming is much more individual in nature, there is less competition due to the fact that there are enough spots to keep everyone participating. There is still, however, that bit of competition that will allow the team to advance compete successfully against other teams, but it isn't divisive.

"It was a really great start to the season," sophomore swimmer Erica Weitz said. "It was our first opportunity to show our talent. The team really came together and gelled. It was an awesome start."

Weitz, one of three Tufts swimmers who qualified for the NCAA Championships last year, won two events for the Jumbos. She swam to victory in the 400 individual medley and the 200 butterfly. Fellow sophomore Kate Sweeney also had a good first meet, winning the 1000 meter freestyle.

The squad will get a break during the Thanksgiving holiday, with no meets scheduled during the break. However, the following week the Jumbos will compete against Wellesley and then against NESCAC rival Bowdoin.