Senior Kaitlyn Ruffing practices her sprints during practice on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. After returning from the Rio Olympic Trials this summer, Ruffing hopes to make this season the best one yet. She is one of four seniors on the women’s team this year. (Annie Henry/B&W Staff)
After winning its last three consecutive meets, the Lehigh women’s swim team looks to continue its momentum throughout the season.
The Mountain Hawks (3-1, 1-1 Patriot) began their season losing their first meet against fellow Patriot League school, Boston University, but quickly bounced back with a 102-point win against West Chester University (200.5-98.5). This win was followed by a significant win against Rider University (221-75) and also a third straight victory against Loyola (169-125).
Junior Sydney Bornstein, who swims the 100-meter and 200-meter butterfly, said the team has been working hard and it’s going to make for an exciting season.
“Everyone is swimming really fast and doing really well,” Bornstein said. “I think we have a great freshman class and I think that everyone is going to have a great season.”
Coach Rob Herb said that there are no specific swimmers to look at, but rather the entire team as a whole. He said that everyone will be contributing to the points and efforts including the new freshman class that is showing promise. He attributed the team’s success to the leadership and example of the upperclassmen.
“I think that we took a lot of time on the front end to really work on our seniors and juniors since they were freshmen, and the payback has just been really great,” Herb said. “The leadership is good, everybody sees that and everyone is following that. The equity that this team, and the seniors specifically, have given the future of this team is amazing. I do believe we are an up-and-coming team, and we will be in the top of the Patriot League very soon and everyone is going to be proud of that.”
The senior class is highlighted by Kaitlyn Ruffing, who attended the United States 2016 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, this past summer. She said she believes the new freshman class and revamped higher intensity workouts will help lead to a successful season.
Ruffing said the team has doubled the yardage it trains each day and continue to increase the intensity of each practice since her freshman year. She said this will pay off in bigger meets.
Since it will be her final year as a Mountain Hawk, she is trying to make the most of each practice.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to really hone in and do everything I can to reclaim a title, maybe break some school records and just have the best season I can,” Ruffing said.
Coming up, the team looks to take on rival Lafayette College in Easton on Nov. 18. Ruffing said this meet is often used to determine seeds and lanes for Patriot League Championships, which will be held in February.
“It’s a meet we always go into expecting a lot, because we work hard and we know where we are,” Herb said. “But it’s a meet, just like a football game, that could go any way at any moment, so you have to be prepared.”
Herb said he believes this friendly competition between the two schools is critical to the morale of the team for the season.
“The rivalry is the most important part,” Herb said. “We are competitors in the pool and then friends outside of the pool with the team. That rivalry is very important to the Lehigh experience and to the confidence we build throughout our entire year.”
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