The Colby Echo

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ben Herbst

The Colby women's swimming and diving team tied their 2006 performance at the New England Small College Athletic Conference championship meet this season with a sixth place finish. A number of Mules came away with some of the fastest times in the league. Having at least matched last season's performance in the conference championship, Colby is now looking to have a stronger than before finish at the NCAA championships on Mar. 8, 9 and 10.

The three-day long NESCAC championship was filled with a number of outstanding races from the Mules. Senior Captain Weather Potdevin said, "There was some great competition, and we swam to the best of our abilities. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed being on the pool deck together cheering and racing."

Kelly Norsworthy '08 started off the weekend by not only defending her title in the 50-yard breaststroke, but by setting a new pool record in that event with a time of 29.55. Kelsey Potdevin '09, last year's title holder in the 50 backstroke, fell short this year with a second place finish and a time of 27.98. Colby's 400 medley relay team of Kelsey Potdevin, Norsworthy, Captain Mary Warlaumont '07 and Danielle Carlson '10 took fourth place and qualified for the NCAA championship. Maddie Given '08 placed ninth in the 50 butterfly, an event in which former Colby swimmer Laura Miller '06 has held the NESCAC record since 2004.

In the second day of competition, Norsworthy snagged her second NESCAC title in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.21, which automatically qualifies her to compete at the NCAA championship. The women's 200 medley relay of Kelsey Potdevin, Norsworthy, Given and Courtney Chilcote '09 finished in fourth place with an NCAA qualifying time as well. The same team traveled to NCAAs last year where they finished in ninth place. Kelsey Potdevin also took a sixth place finish in the 100 backstroke, an event in which she has previously had an NCAA qualifying time, while Colby's 800 freestyle relay of Carlson, Franny Izzo '10, Sam Rose '08 and Captain Kristi Boman '08 finished in eighth place.

Norsworthy made taking NESCAC titles a bona fide habit in the last day of competition after taking the 200 breaststroke and qualifying for the NCAA championship in that event with a time of 2:22.40. Chilcote, Kelsey Potdevin, Carlson and Norsworthy also took seventh place in the 400 freestyle relay.

With 739.5 points, the women finished in sixth place for the weekend. Championship host Williams College won the event.

The Mules will send Norsworthy, Kelsey Potdevin, Warlaumont, Carlson, Given and Chilcote to the NCAA championship to compete in individual events and relays. Last season the women finished 15th at Nationals. Weather Potdevin commented, "Our goal at the beginning of this year was for Colby to finish in the top 20 at Nationals, so we are well on our way for this to happen."

Weather Potdevin concluded, "Overall, this season was amazing, and we are so glad to have finished it on a strong note. We are ready to support our men's team this weekend at Bowdoin for their NESCACs and the women going to Nationals." The men placed fifth last year at NESCACs, a finish which they hope to match this season.

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