Dec. 22, 2010
Check Out Northwestern's Puerto Rico Video Blog
SAN JUAN, P.R. -- Northwestern participated in the lone meet of its 2010 winter training trip to Puerto Rico Monday, defeating the University of Puerto Rico in every event during a relaxed competition that still featured good swimming.
The Wildcats have held multiple two-a-day practices during their 11-day training trip, working hard as they set their collective focus on the Big Ten Championships in February. Despite the exhaustion stemming from that hard work, NU still swam very well according to the NU coaching staff.
Winners in the events were: Jackie Powell (100 free, 200 free), Liza Engstrom (100 back), Emily Russart and Jenny Wilson (tie in the 100 breast), Taylor Reynolds (50 free), Erin Sosdian (800 free), Meghan Cavanaugh (100 fly) and Jacquie Godbe (200 IM). Wildcat relay teams consisting of Powell, Alex Kraus, Katie McCullough and Sheila O'Neill (free relay) and Engstrom, Wilson, Kraus and Marybeth Hall (medley relay) also earned victories.
"Overall we swam very well," head coach Jimmy Tierney said. "Taylor Reynolds had a great 50 free and our freshman distance duo of Megan Goss and Erin Sosdian placed 1-2 in the 800 free with a strong finish, which was great to see given how hard we have been training."
Northwestern's opponents were coached by Gretchen Gotay Cordero, a former University of Georgia swimmer and 2004 Puerto Rico Olympian. The Wildcats enjoyed connecting with their foes on a beautiful, sunny day for competition.
NU will head back to Chicago in time for the Wildcats to return to their homes for the Christmas holiday. Northwestern opens its winter quarter schedule at 1 p.m. on Jan. 15 against Michigan and Notre Dame at the Norris Aquatics Center.
Northwestern Sends Troops Some Holiday LoveIn the midst of its 11-day winter training trip to San Juan, P.R., Northwestern's women's swimming team took timeout from its two-a-day workout schedule to prepare holiday care packages for five members of the United State Air Force currently stationed in Afghanistan.
Senior Kate Stephensen spearheaded the project, organizing her teammates into five groups. The Wildcats collected candy, popcorn, holiday cookies, other snack items, playing cards, magazines, books, personal care items and footballs for the troops. NU also included stuffed animals for the troops to give to children in Afghan villages.
"We wanted to put together some packages to hopefully make the holidays a little more festive and fun for our soldiers overseas," Stephensen said. "We asked for and received five different soldiers, so we divided ourselves into five teams in the hopes of making their Christmases a little bit better."
Northwestern swimming takes a holiday training trip every year after fall quarter final exams, this year hitting the pool in Puerto Rico while also exploring local rain forests, snorkeling and touring historic Old San Juan. The Wildcats competed Monday against the University of Puerto Rico in their only competition of the trip. Northwestern's men's team traveled to Hawaii for its training trip this season.
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