I feel like a part of this class. Entering my third year as Assistant Coach, it is only natural that the junior class and I have shared some of the same experiences. Missing practice cause an alarm did not go off, getting lost on campus and of course who could forget rooming with Andy at my first away trip and not setting the alarm so we BOTH get up late. Not the best first impression I’d say.
We have come a long way since those days, and now without further ado here are your 2009-2010 NAU Swimming and Diving juniors.
Lana Christensen aka Analytical – This girl come from a sleepy cow town known as Casper, Wyoming. A place where her mom made (and still does make) her swim suits. A place where being cool means you own a horse. Lana came in literally fresh off the farm. With the growth she has experienced over the past two years from non-scorer to an All-WAC finisher. This year poses to be the best yet for Lana on all three boards.
Megan Collier aka Little Mc – Another one of our far travelers from down in the valley, Megan came to NAU with one thing on her mind…no not boys, ok well maybe two things on her mind then, the other being winning. With the height that would scare the most elite divers (a massive 5’1”) she can tuck into such a small ball that when she spins you can barely see her. Add to that her ability to jump through the roof; this girl is going to dominate the boards this year.
Meredith Egloria aka Aloha – Mer is one half of our Jun-more class. She is more then a junior but not quite a senior. Coming to the mountains from the island of Hawaii, Mer is a backstroke and sprint free specialist. Her kick and underwater work can challenge the best in the country and her ability to come back from asthma attack after asthma attack only proves her willingness to improve. A school record holder in the 200 Free Relay and a top 8 finisher at the WAC Championships, Mer is looking to make her mark individually as well as help the relays.
Claire Ferro aka Claire Ferro – The other half of our Jun-more class, Claire came to NAU from Goodyear, Ariz. If you do not know where Goodyear is, it is a fancy term for west Phoenix. Claire is one of the most versatile freestyle swimmers on the team. Placing 9th in both the 50 free as well as the 500 free last year. Claire was also a member of our school record setting 400 Free Relay and 800 Free Relay. Not to be outdone with her ability to succeed on her stomach, she can turn it over and swim a stellar 200 backstroke when called upon as well, placing in the top 8 at the 2008 WAC Championships in the 200 back. Claire comes into this third year with a passion to beat anyone who stands up next to her, do not let her bubbly attitude and smile fool you. This is a cold hearted racer that refuses to lose.
Taryn Harris aka Bubble Wrap – A special nickname for a special girl. Taryn sometimes gets hurt. Ok, sometimes is a nice way of saying it. If we could get her to live in a bubble and only come out to dive we could. However, her ability to compete when not at 100% and her results only show that when she is healthy this girl is going to rip. Taryn almost qualified for the NCAA Championships last year with 1 foot. That’s right, her other foot required surgery, but Taryn put it off until after the Zone meet. She was jumping as high as anyone else with half the tools. This year promises to be a great year for her as she is getting back into the water at full strength. Also, I am building that bubble.
Ashley Kurtz aka Kurtz – Ashley is a sprint free and backstroke specialist out of Phoenix, Ariz. Kurtz can usually be found talking during sets and before as well as after practice. To put it simply, she likes to talk. However, even though she is a talker, this girl’s work ethic is not equaled by many. She keeps a positive attitude while working hard and improving every year. That is the kind of person that makes others around them better. This year she is on the same path. I would only expect best times for Kurtz at the end of the season.
Vivian Landeck aka Lil’ Viv – The soft-spoken debutant from Sugarland, Texas. Vivian is a distance machine. Even though coming into her freshman year I do not think she ever swam a mile in her life, she embraced it and not only dramatically improved, but it helped her 200 free come within a few hundredths of a second of a school record. Not too shabby if you ask me. A member of the schools 800 Free Relay school record team she had the teams fastest split at a 1:49.8. This year she is looking to translate that relay swim into an individual school record and maybe even a WAC Championship.
Kate Schafer aka Kate – Not knowing a nickname is not the end of the world. This girl came into her second year with a chip on her shoulder. Having been a non-scorer her freshman year, she was on a mission from day one. And that mission paid off and then some. Swimming as a member of the school record 800 Free Relay, then placing in the top 8 of the 500 Free it was only a matter of time before she had that massive break through swim. On the last night of finals, she did. In the mile Kate took it out fast and refused to back down. Finishing with a 3rd place and one of the top times in NAU School history, Kate had had her breakthrough. This year will be no different. In fact, it will be better.
Monica Veit aka Veet – Monica and I got off to a rough start. She hated swimming 200 breaststrokes in practice (in fact she had never swam one in her life!) and I made her do them anyway. Needless to say, she kind of hated me. At the end of her freshman year it paid off with massive time drops in her 100 and 200 breaststrokes. Last year was a little easier for her. She knew what was coming and knew that it worked. Along came the same result; more fast swims. It is a system that works. Once again this season she will be more accepting of her inevitable fate, and once again we will see some great swims from this lady.
Dave Rollins, Assistant Swimming Coach Northern Arizona University
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