WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING

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The Bulls are eager to begin their second season in the Mid-American Conference. Coach Dorsi Raynolds is confident that the Bulls are more prepared to compete in the MAC with last year's experience under their belt and with the help of valuable new talent on the team.

Raynolds states that this year's team is much stronger overall given added quality and depth to the roster. The addition of 12 impressive new recruits will complement the solid core of returners and will result in much stronger performances in the distance and sprint freestyle, and the stroke events. Raynolds specifically points to Dawn Hickey (Brockport, NY/Brockport) (freestyle), a sophomore transfer from MAC opponent Toledo who broke the Rockets pool record in the 500 freestyle last season, and freshman recruit Katrina Sinclair (Lakeport, CA/Ukiah) along with veteran Jennifer Broderick (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore East) to strenghten the Bulls performance in the distance freesetyles.

In addition to talented new recruits, Raynolds will also rely on a strong core of veterans who have already tested the waters of MAC competion to lead this year's charge.

"Our student-athletes from last year now know what they are up against in the MAC. We had a lot of swimmers finish in non-scoring places at the MAC Championships last year. Those swimmers are now focused and know what it takes to be a scorer at the championship."

Raynolds knows that the actual experience in the MAC championships last season can carry over this year and result in a higher finish in the conference overall.

"We're preparing to improve from our eighth place finish last year to one of the middle three spots of the nine MAC schools."

Coach Raynolds also states she is very optimistic given the strong pre-season showing of senior captains Kim Theetge (Elmira, NY/Elmira Free Academy) (breastroke) and Inger Rooneem (Hinton, Alberta/New Westminster Secondary) (free/IM).

"Kim and Inger are in the best condition of their careers. They are training harder than ever and are stronger than ever mentally." On Rooneem, a 1998-99 First Team All-MAC selection, specifically, Coach Raynolds states, "Inger leads by example. She has high goals and standards for herself and this team. Her teammates know that and see her hard work and dedication which in turn makes everyone work harder." In addition to her leadership qualities, Rooneem will be expected to have an outstanding year of competition given her impressive pre-season workouts.

Raynolds also looks forward to the added contributions of this year's returning juniors who include Carrie Armstrong (Spencerport, NY/ Spencerport), Jennifer Broderick, Suzanne Garasic (Pittsburgh, PA/Hampton), and Kristen Zimmerman (Penfield, NY/Webster), and sophomores who include, Michelle Bricknell (Ajax, Ontario/Dunbarten) (fly/IM), Katie English (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) (breast/fly), Kristin Karl (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) (fly/IM), Carrie Quinlan (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) (fly/back), Julie Sapienza (Rush, NY/Avon Central) (free/back), and Gigi Tapia (East Amhert,NY/ Williamsville North) (breast/fly).

"They are all very talented and the collegiate experience they gained last year will help them to contribute to our success even more this year, " says Coach Raynolds.