The Belles host their only home swim meet of the season today as they take on conference opponent Kalamazoo College at the Rolfs Aquatic Center on the Notre Dame campus. The all-women's event marks the first of a pair of conference meets for Saint Mary's that will help to determine the team's standings before the MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships in mid-February.
The current MIAA standings put Kalamazoo College in third place, behind Calvin and Hope, who rank first and second, respectively. Saint Mary's currently stands in sixth place. A victory over Kalamazoo College would give the Belles as many conference wins as Albion, who now holds the fifth-place spot.
The Belles will be faced with a difficult challenge competing against a strong Kalamazoo team. In their last conference meet, the Hornets defeated Alma College by a score of 148-90. However, the Belles have a more recent victory, albeit not as large, over Alma defeating them last week. Saint Mary's has yet to compete against the Hornets this season.
Sophomore Nicole Korte as well as juniors Kelly Nelis and Sarah Nowak, all of whom have been consistent finishers for Saint Mary's in the freestyle events, will be essential to compete with a strong Hornet freestyle swimmer. Sophomore Elizabeth Garlow of Kalamazoo College holds top spots in three of the MIAA's rankings of the best swimming and diving performances of the 2004-05 season, all of which are in freestyle events.
Tonight will also mark an especially significant night for the only two fourth-year swimmers on the team. Senior night will honor seniors and co-captains Michelle Stanforth and Ashley Dyer. Dyer will graduate in the spring with a degree in Women's Studies and Biology. Hailing from Clive, Iowa, she has earned three varsity letters during her career with the team. Dyer was named the 2004-05 SAAC president, and has been honored on the All-MIAA honor roll. Stanforth, from Kokomo, Indiana has also achieved three varsity letters with the team. A mathematics major, Stanforth has been named a Notre Dame/Saint mary's Navy ROTC Battalion Commanding Officer.
The Belles will take to the water at 6:00 p.m.
