GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah women's swimming team is set to begin its season this Saturday, Oct. 30th, when it hosts Hood College, King's College (Pa.), and Widener University in Fredericksen Natatorium at 1:00 p.m. for a triple-dual. The Falcons will compete in their first full season since the 2019-20 campaign after finishing an abbreviated 2021 schedule with a 2-0 record.
Read below for a quick preview of the upcoming 2021-22 women's swimming season:
A Look Back
As mentioned above, Messiah finished its 2021 season with a record of 2-0. The Falcons got off to a phenomenal start, placing first out of 11 total teams in a MAC Virtual event to begin the season. Following its first-place finish in the virtual conference event, Messiah topped both Stevenson University (152-48) and Albright College (154-73) in Fredericksen Natatorium to further build momentum for the MAC Championships.
The Falcons rose to the occasion in the championship event, finishing first out of 14 teams with a total team score of 1117 points. Messiah claimed its seventh MAC conference crown while
Sophie Schulze totaled 96 individual points to earn MAC Rookie of the Year.
Messiah's 2021 MAC Championship was its seventh in the past eight seasons as seven different swimmers earned All-MAC recognition.
In The Pool
The Falcons welcome eight newcomers to their roster ahead of the new campaign. First-year swimmers Ben Clarke,
Gracie Bartley,
Mattie Brummer,
Lauren Cotton,
Erin Goudie,
Lauren Mock,
Emma Pequignot,
Hannah Poff, and
Annie Russell will look to make immediate contributions. Messiah also welcomes back a total of 11 returners, 10 of the returners coming from the 2021 spring roster, while
Nancie Ziegler returns to the women's swimming team after competing as a first-year and sophomore during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns. During her first two seasons, Ziegler was a big contributor during the MAC Championship meets. In the 2018-19 MAC championship event, Zeigler placed first in the 500 free (5:06.27).
Messiah returns all seven swimmers who earned All-MAC recognition during last season's championship meet.
Katelyn Boyce, who won gold medals in the 200 (2:13.57) and 400 IM (4:44.17) as well the 400 medley relay (4:04.08), returns for her junior year. Schulze, who claimed gold medals in the 500 free (5:32.13), 100 back (59.82), and 1650 free (18:12.64), will return to the pool after earning the program's fourth-consecutive MAC Rookie of the Year honor.
Rachel Bruns,
Abigail Soerens, and
Lainey Flanagan are also returners who contributed in first-place relays during the 2021 MAC Championships. Other notable returners include
Evangeline Soerens,
Maelyn Elder,
Megan Duffey,
Libby Gorske,
Marie Hagemaster, and
Caitlin Ross.
The Falcons, mixing a strong core of success and experience with a strong group of newcomers, will look to claim their eighth MAC Championship during the 2021-22 campaign.
On The Deck
Head coach
Katie McComb returns to the helm of Messiah women's swimming for her fifth season, leading the Falcons to three MAC Championships during her time in Grantham, Pa. McComb claimed her second MAC Coach of the Year award last season.
Joining McComb on the coaching staff are assistant coaches
Katie Kurtz and
Joshua Clarke.
Be sure to follow the Falcons all season long right here at GoMessiah.com!
