Posted by Gene Renfro - Fri, Oct 19, 2007 - [ Women's Swimming ] - Viewed 229 times

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – An 18th-place finish at last year’s NAIA National Championship Meet set the bar high for the Union College women’s swim program, but head coach Rafael Forti expects more this year.

Part of the reason for the high expectations is returning sophomore Mollie Messmer (Scott City, Mo.), who competed in five events at nationals – three individual and two relays. Her best finish was a 10th-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 18 minutes and 51.91 seconds.

Messmer also set 12 individual school records and she was a part of four Union relay records last year. Of her 12 individual records, nine were in sprint events while the other three were in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle events.

Four other Lady Bulldogs joined Messmer at last year’s national championship. Dena Gonzalez (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Eden Ellison (Tamms, Ill.) and Kelli Rogers (Elizabethtown, Ky.) were a part of the 200 medley relay team that finished 17th at 2:10.72. Madalyn Kamkar (Barbourville, Ky.) joined Messmer, Ellison and Rogers for the 200 freestyle relay squad that turned in a time of 1:52.12 good for another 17th place finish.

Junior Jessica Kirschner (Barbourville, Ky.) also owns the Union 200 breaststroke record at 3:11.38 and was a part of three school record relay teams.

Forti has two newcomers on this season’s roster, Kibbie Vickers (Barbourville, Ky.) and Kristina Kirk (Versailles, Ky.) Both will compete in freestyle events.

The team may be young, but Forti commented on how mature and consistent the team has performed in preseason training. He looks for a larger team this season at nationals and believes everyone has a chance to qualify. Forti wants everyone to have one individual A-cut and to take five relay teams this season.

“Everyone has a chance to qualify for nationals,” Forti said. “Everyone on the team is in great shape and the preseason training has gone well.”

The season begins October 20 at the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) and Eastern Kentucky University will also compete in the meet. The Lady Bulldogs will swim in four home meets, with the first on November 10 against Milligan (Tenn.) College and Eastern Kentucky. Union will compete in seven meets and two invitationals before the NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championship set for February 27 to March 1 in San Antonio, Texas.