M. Swimming Wins Sixth EISL Title, while Women Take Fourth at Ivies

Although the men's and women's swimming and diving teams will suffer from the loss of graduating seniors, both teams will seek next year to build on the great potential displayed by talented underclassmen this season. Bolstered by the strong performances of sophomore Dan Shevchik and freshman John Cole, the Harvard men's swimming and diving team captured its sixth Eastern Intercollegiate Swim League (EISL) title this season.

The women's swimming and diving team turned in a respectable fourth-place showing at Ivies, and several seniors ended their careers with a bang by posting the best marks of their collegiate careers.

Men

In the process of winning their sixth EISL title, the men (8-1, 6-1 Ivy) set five school records, 10 pool records and six meet records. They automatically qualified three swimmers and one relay for NCAAs and also qualified 13 other swims for NCAA consideration and won 13 out of 21 events, including four out of five relays

"From day one, the team had a number of goals which included winning another league title," said Cole. "With consistent hard work and dedication, plus continued support from the coaches and teammates, we came out on top for another consecutive year. Each class stepped up big so that we would come home with another victory."

Shevchik and Cole won three gold medals each. Shevchik easily finished first in the 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley and 200 backstroke, while Cole captured the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles.

"It was hard not to feed off from the energy coming from the team on the side of the pool each and every time I stepped up on the blocks," Cole said. "No matter how far ahead or behind I was in each race, I'd just want to swim faster for my teammates."

The Crimson sent six of its 30 members to NCAAs-Shevchik, Cole, senior Michael Im, junior Kyle Egan and freshmen Rassan Grant and Brad Burns. Ranked 19th going into NCAAs, the team placed 22nd, with the University of Texas winning its second straight NCAA title.

Cole turned in the most impressive performance of the six Harvard swimmers, winning fifth place in the 1650 freestyle and 12th place in the 500 free.

Im placed 14th in the 200 backstroke, and Shevchik finished 19th.

In earlier competitions this year, Im had made a nationwide name for himself, finishing first in the 200 backstroke and fourth in the 100 backstroke at the University of Texas Invitational, which was held in December. In the process, Im defeated several of the nation's top swimmers handily and gave the younger swimmers on the team, such as Cole and Shevchik, the inspiration to follow in his footsteps.

"The senior class will be greatly missed next year," Cole said. "The class of '01 was full of leaders and dedicated athletes. Their presence could be felt by the team both in and out of the pool. Next year, we will look up to the seniors and captains John Persinger and Cory Walker for continuing the ever important role of leading [the Crimson] to yet another successful season."

Women

At the Ivy Championships in late February, the women's swimming and diving team (3-4, 3-4 Ivy) finished fourth.

Several Harvard seniors, led by tri-captains Pia Chock and Angie Peluse, turned in the most impressive performances of their careers. Chock finished sixth in the 100-yard butterfly, seventh in the 200-yard freestyle and 3rd in the 200-yard fly. Her mark of 2:01.98 set a new team record, which had been previously held by sophomore Lovisa Gustafsson.

Peluse recorded five personal best times at Ivies, and senior Lillian Brown was a consolation finalist in three events, recording personal best times in every event that she entered.

Senior diver Camilla McLean finished fourth on the three-meter board, and captain Ali Shipley, who had been out all season with an ankle injury, returned to place eighth on the one-meter board.

Even with the loss of a talented senior class, the Crimson will attempt to improve on this season's performance with a new crop of talented recruits who will help Harvard keep up with the rest of the Ivy League, which has become much faster in recent years. This season Gustafsson, sophomore Jane Humphries and junior Janna McDougall have proven themselves capable of continuing in their predecessors' footsteps.