Dec. 1, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -
Complete Psych Sheets 
The LMU swimming team will make program history when it hits the water on Thursday to partake in the 2009 AT&T Short Course National Championships, which run from December 3-5. This weekend marks the first time in LMU history that the Lions have sent a team to the prestigious event, held at the Weyerhaueser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash. Prior to the National Championships, LMU will compete in its first dual meet of the season, visiting Seattle University at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Among the swimmers expected to compete at the Championships are U.S. Olympians Rebecca Soni (Plainsboro, N.J.), Margaret Hoelzer (Huntsville, Ala.), Eric Shanteau (Lilburn, Ga ), Dana Vollmer (Granbury, Texas), and Katie Hoff (Towson, Md.). The meet will follow the traditional schedule of morning prelims and evening finals with the morning sessions starting each day at 9 a.m. Evening finals begin at 5 p.m. Five to seven events will be contested daily. Footage from the meet will air nationally on NBC on Saturday, December 12 from 2-3 p.m. ET. All three days of prelims and finals will also be available for viewing on-demand at The Swim Network.
11 LMU swimmers are entered in the meet, six meeting the difficult qualifying standards in individual events, and the remaining five swimming on relays as LMU relay teams met the time standard in all five relays offered. Senior Anne Scott leads the way in the individual events, qualifying in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle races. Alicia Witter (100 and 200 freestyle), Isabella Zhang (50 and 100 freestyle) and freshman Kia Dobie (200 individual medley and 100 butterfly) each qualified in two events. Trinity O'Neill will make her individual appearance in the 100 butterfly, while sophomore Tammy Choy qualified for the 400 individual medley. Senior Mallorie Lim, junior Carolyn Pasque, sophomores Yvonne Le and Jill Dahle, and freshman Camille Hopp will each appear as part of relay teams for the Lions.
The LMU relay events are highlighted by the Lions' 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams, which are both seeded 17th. Entries and qualification times for the National Championships were due before the Lions participated at the Toshiba Classic from November 19-21. Had LMU's times at that event been counted toward the seeding, the Lions would hold the 10th spot overall.
"As is evidenced by our progressively better times nearly every time we hit the water, our relay squads continue to improve and push themselves to higher levels of competition," Head Coach Bonnie Adair said. "Our goal at the National Championships is to be among the top-eight teams in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays."
Before the Lions ever step foot on the deck at the Weyerhaueser King County Aquatic Center, they will compete in their first dual meet of the season against PCSC-rival Seattle University at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Lions defeated Seattle University in a dual meet last year by a count of 125-78.
