Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2009-10 Season Preview

[ Kendra Klossner ] The Ohio Wesleyan University women's swimming team finished in seventh place in the rugged North Coast Athletic Conference — perhaps the toughest conference in Division III — championship meet last February, and with 14 returning letterwomen and a talented group of newcomers, Battling Bishop swimming coach Dick Hawes looks for his squad to hold that position, if not improve upon it.

"We have some good returning scorers, and we expect to see some of the sophomores contribute," Hawes said. "We don't have any real standout-type swimmers, but we have individuals who can contribute at any time in any meet."

Senior Kendra Klossner (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) was the Bishops' best swimmer at last year's conference championship, twice setting school records on the way to a 10th-place finish in the 50 freestyle and adding a ninth-place finish in the 200 backstroke and a 12th-place finish in the 100 backstroke.

[ Erin Hanahan ] Senior Erin Hanahan (Madison/Perry) is the Bishops' top returning diver, winning all-conference honors in the 1-meter event at the 2009 NCAC championship meet and finishing fifth in the 3-meter competition.

Senior Ashley Rosenquist (Willits, Calif.), who finished 22nd in the 1650 freestyle at the 2008 NCAC meet, will lead the Bishop distance corps.

Junior Marisa Obuchowski (Baltimore, Md./Pikesville) placed 16th in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes and 20th in the 200 IM at last year's conference meet.

Sophomore Morgan Canup (Milford, Mich.) placed 11th in the 1-meter diving last year; sophomore Marina Metzler (Columbia, Md./Hammond) had a pair of top-25 finishes, placing 14th in the 200 butterfly and 24th in the 50 freestyle; sophomore Ali Russ (Shaker Heights), also had a pair of top-25 finishes, placing 22nd in the 100 freestyle and 24th in the 200 freestyle; and sophomore Michelle Strong (Londonderry, N.H.) finished 24th in the 1650 freestyle.

[ Randi Savage ] Hawes looks to sophomore Randi Savage (Delaware/Hayes) to contribute in the butterfly events, sophomore Holly Gilbert (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Kennedy) to emerge in the distance freestyle events, sophomore Rachel Schlosser (Euclid) to score in the freestyle sprints and the butterfly; and sophomore Jill Simpson (Westerville/North) to contribute in the individual medley as well as the backstroke this season.

Sophomore Leah Puening (Independence) also returns, and junior Caroline Miller (Woodmere, N.Y./Hewlett) is another returning letterwinner who will rejoin the team after studying off-campus during the fall semester.

Sophomore Anne McComas (Beverly Hills, Mich./Groves), a transfer from Miami University, should make an immediate impact in the backstroke and freestyle sprints.

Hawes also looks for contributions from freshman Christin Butler (Bryan) in the breaststroke events, freshman Emilie Schachtner (Williamsville, N.Y./East) in the butterfly and middle distance freestyle events, and freshman Erin Vassar (Tiffin/Columbian) in the butterfly.

Sophomore Chelsea Nicholas (Berkeley, Calif.) and freshman Elyse Ward (McDonald, Pa./Canon-McMillan) give the Bishop diving corps excellent depth.

Ohio Wesleyan opens its season on Oct. 24 at the NCAC Relays meet. The Bishops kick off the dual meet season on Oct. 30 by hosting NCAC rival Wittenberg, and the NCAC championship meet is scheduled for Feb. 11-13 in Canton.

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