A top 15 finish, seven school records and 6 NCAA All-Americans gave the Mizzou Women’s Swimming and Diving team plenty of reasons to celebrate this month. Moving up from last year’s 23rd place finish was an exciting improvement.
The swimmers had successful finishes in relays and individual races March 17. Senior Shara Stafford and junior Dominique Bouchard led the way. They excelled in their individual performances and contributed to strong relay finishes. Both women, along with Lisa Nathanson, Cassie Cunningham and Emily Doucette, finished as First Team All-Americans. Amanda Masters earned Second Team All-American. Bouchard’s third place in the 200-yard backstroke was the team’s best finish of the meet.
California came away with the championship, but placing fourteenth was quite an accomplishment for the Tigers. After only his second year as head coach, Greg Rhodenbaugh seems to have easily adjusted. With only a handful of the 29 swimmers and divers graduating, the young team hopes to keep the momentum for the 2012-2013 season. Make sure to support these talented women and check out the team online. Go Tigers!
Sources:
MU Swim and Dive