Though it’s coming off a winning performance in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Boston University women’s swim team will be making some adjustments heading into its next meet.
“With five women out, you bet your life,” coach Reagh Wetmore said, “it’s a serious situation.”
Both BU swim teams will be competing at the University of Vermont this Sunday with the men’s squad in a much more stable situation than a women’s squad that will be starting three freshman to fill the holes created by injuries and departures from school.
Lauren Foster, who swims both the 200-meter individual medley and freestyle, will be one of the new starters. Courtlandt McKinlay, who finished third in the backstroke at the Forum Classic, will once again swim that event. Emily Moreno will be given long-distance duty in the 1,000-meter freestyle even though “she’s more of a mid-distance swimmer,” according to Wetmore.
Though they’re inexperienced, Wetmore has seen positive signs from the trio of freshmen.
“We have three very good freshmen,” Wetmore said. “They’ve been swimming well all year.”
Meanwhile, the men’s squad is healthy and winning and Wetmore expects that trend to continue this weekend.
“The men are at full strength, no problems there,” he said. “We’ll probably pick up most of the first places. Our best swimmers are better than their best swimmers.”
The team being healthy also allows Wetmore to mix up his lineup. By having each swimmer compete in two or three different events over the course of the season, the swimmers will be eligible to compete in those events in the America East Championships if they meet the minimum time requirements.
Wetmore is also confident about his diving squads going into this Sunday’s meet. Sophomore Stacey Gallacher and Freshman Victor Paquia have churned out a steady stream of first and second place finishes throughout the season. Paquia has gone undefeated thus far.
“Our diving is vastly superior to their diving,” Wetmore said. “I expect a clean sweep.”
The one concern Wetmore does have about the Catamounts is their large roster.
“They’re not a powerful team, but they have numbers,” he said.
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