Lady Vols look to make most out of swimming journey

The 13th-ranked University of Tennessee women's swimming and diving team has had quite a journey in distance and in obstacles to overcome to reach the NCAA championships that begin today in West Lafayette, Ind.

But for Michele King, her season will be measured primarily by the 50 yards still to come.

The senior All-American from York, Pa., is seeded second in the 50-yard freestyle race and will be trying to be the fifth Lady Vols swimmer or diver and the first since Olympic silver medalist Christine Magnuson in 2008 to win an individual NCAA title.

She admitted this week that she is comfortable with the challenge.

"It's an excitement," she said. "I'm not really nervous."

Joining King at the championships, which run through Saturday at Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Center, are fellow seniors Alex Barsanti and Jamie Saffer, juniors Aleksa Akerfelds, Morgan Farrell, Martina Moravcikova and Tricia Weaner, sophomores Jenny Connolly and Samara Gelb, and freshmen Kelsey Floyd and Breanna Folk.

Tennessee coach Matt Kredich believes the team can close out the season on a very positive note. In fact, because the top 16 places score and the Lady Vols have competitors entered in every individual event and in three relays, the possibility for high scoring exists.

"Our goal from the beginning of the season was to come to the meet and have our best performance," Kredich said. "I think we have a pretty ambitious goal of scoring over 200 points. If that happens, we can break into the top 10."

If Tennessee, which finished fourth in the SEC meet, can at least score in the top 15, it will set a school record for doing so for the fifth consecutive year.

The season has not always been as ideal for the Lady Vols as it could possibly end, however. Some team members were not completely healthy in the fall, Kredich said, and some teams that the Lady Vols thought they could beat ended up having great meets against Tennessee.

But the attitude has remained positive throughout the year.

"This team has been incredibly resilient," Kredich said. "We got back up stronger every time. And having a great (NCAA) meet would put a good ending to it."

For Connolly, the meet will have a good beginning, because she is from West Lafayette and will have family and friends cheering for her in the pool where she formerly trained.

Entered in six events, including the second-seeded 200-yard medley relay team, Connolly is optimistic for her and the Lady Vols.

"I know a lot of us will perform better than we ever have," she said.

John Shearer is a freelance contributor.