2007-08 Men's & Women's Swimming Preview
There
is strength in numbers, and Head Coach Alec Webster hopes that the numbers
out for the 2007-08 Pacific swimming teams will translate to success.
That's not to say that the 2006-07 Boxers were not successful. Pacific experienced a number of individual successes, specifically from the likes of Nathan Smith (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.), Alex Prigge (Jr., Ellensburg, Wash.) and recent graduate Allison Curtis.
But there's nothing like numbers to be able to score team points and, more importantly, build some team continuity. The Boxers' rosters feature eight men and nine women, well ahead of the two men and six women who comprised last year's squad.
"It's nice to have a pool that is filled during practice," said Webster, now in his second year leading the Pacific swim programs. "I think other teams won't be able to say that they're swimming Pacific and can swim whatever they want. They will have to come up with a good lineup to go up against us."
The Boxers certainly made strides in their first year under Webster. The Pacific women beat Mills in a dual competition, their first dual meet victory since 2004. In addition, the Boxers placed sixth at the Northwest Conference Championships in the women's 400-yard medley relay and seventh in the 800-yard freestyle relay, marking the first time in the history of the resurrected program that Pacific did not finish last in relays at the conference meet.
The men's team of Smith and Kai Seixas (So., San Pedro, Calif.), meanwhile, proved to be a small but mighty force. Smith lost just one individual event in dual meets and the pair scored as much as 52 dual meet points on their own and nearly did enough to beat Lewis & Clark one-on-one.
Webster is excited to see what both teams can do with stronger numbers, particularly after their performances last year. "We have eight guys and they are all strong. It's a good cohesive group and they are all talented," Webster said. "On the women's side, we definitely have more numbers. We will be able to fill out meets better and hopefully we will be able to knock off a team or two."
WOMEN
While the increased numbers are helpful, there's
nothing that can beat experience. Webster will rely on the experience and
leadership of Prigge, Kristen Mathis (Jr., Northport, Ala.) and Megan Beattie
(Jr., Ketchikan, Alaska).
Prigge has been the Boxers' performance leader in the pool for the last two years. She set personal bests in four events, particularly in the freestyle disciplines, and helped set a school record in the 200-yard medley relay. The season ended in a bit of disappointment, failing to qualify for the "A" final at the NWC Championships after finishing sixth in the 200-yard breaststroke the year before.
"Alex is looking really good," Webster said. "She loves the breaststroke, but we have other breaststrokers and she has a great backstroke. She could make some great breakthroughs this year if she lets herself race."
Mathis also continued to make strides in the short freestyle and backstroke disciplines. She swam the team's best time in the 50-yard freestyle and backstroke and set season bests in the majority of her events. "Kristen is months ahead of where she was last year," said Webster. "Her free and backstroke should really do some good stuff."
Beattie has come into preseason practices in the best shape of her college career. She was most effective for the Boxers last year in the distance freestyle events and Webster expects to see some of the best times of her Pacific career emerge early in the season.
Rowena Manabat (So., Ketchikan, Alaska) emerged as a key player in the Boxers' successes in the sprint freestyle events. She led the Boxers in the 100-yard freestyle and played a key role in all of the team's relays. "Rowena probably has the best feel for the water of anybody on the women's team." Webster said.
Nicole Miyahira (Fr., Kihei, Hawaii) leads a talented group of newcomers that will bolster the team's chances for success. Miyahira comes to Pacific from a powerful Hawaii high school program that won three conference titles in her four years. Miyahira will concentrate in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events. "She comes in with the most experience," Webster said. "She needs to get out and race to see what she can really do."
Julie Garner (Fr., Burns, Ore.) comes to Pacific will little more than club experience, but brings a high level of athletic ability that Webster will believe will surprise people. Garner will specialize in her strengths in freestyle and backstroke. Courtney Cobb (Fr., Kennewick, Wash.) and Kristina Hankins (Fr., Vancouver, Wash.) round out the roster and are expected to contribute in a number of disciplines.
MEN
Smith will once again be the cornerstone to a Pacific men's program that
stands to make some impressive strides. Smith returned after a year away
from the program and performed well. He won all but one individual race
he competed in during the dual meet season and finished fifth in the 100-yard
freestyle event at the conference championships. As a freshman in 2005,
Smith finished second in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle, just missing
conference titles in both races.
While adding to the team's potential, Smith will be focusing on seeing his personal potential blossom fully and realizing a trip to the NCAA national meet. "He is gung-ho about getting in shape and doing well this season," Webster said. "In my opinion, he is the most talented swimmer in the conference. It's just a matter of getting him into the water and having him do what he needs to do."
Seixas entered last season as un unknown commodity, but quickly showed the potential to be a factor in a number of events, particularly the relays and breaststroke. Seixas had the team's best time in the 100-yard breaststroke and was the team's most consistent performer in the 200-yard individual medley.
"What Kai was most surprised with was that his medley and freestyle times came down a lot," Webster said. "He's excited about the fact that he has some teammates now and that we can get better with them."
Brandan Mantei (Fr., Canby, Ore.) leads a group of six talented newcomers to the Boxer program. A freestyle and medley specialist, Mantei qualified for the Oregon state championships three years and played a key role in Canby High School's relay teams.
"All of the reports I had on Brandan said that he was a tough worker and would do anything you ask of him and it's true, he has," Webster said. "He could pretty much anything. He's excited to be here and he wants to make nationals sometime in his career. He has the talent level. He just needs more time and work."
Scott Kimura (Fr., McMinnville, Ore.) and Luke Fuller (Fr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) are both expected to add depth in the freestyle events. Kimura posted a best of 23 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle, while Fuller has swam 1:01 in the 100-yard breaststroke and a 2:05 in the 200-yard medley. Ben Griffin (Fr., Tacoma, Wash.), another freestyle specialist, rounds out the roster.
Webster also welcomes back a pair of swimmers who spent time away from the program. Sam Watanuki (So., Denver, Colo.) was the Boxers' top backstroke swimmer in 2004 and holds the school's second fastest times in both the 100-yard and 200-yard events. Wyeth Yogi (So., Honolulu, Hawaii) swam last for the Boxers in 2005-06 and will add some depth in the freestyle and breaststroke events.