OTTUMWA —
Enough preparation, the Ottumwa swim team is ready to get its season started.
“We’re really excited to compete and see where we’re at,” coach Stephanie Mishler said. “This is what it’s all about; it doesn’t matter what sport it is.”
The Bulldog swim program has been on the upswing since as of late. Last season the team expanded in two important areas: depth and number of victories.
Mishler only managed to field a team of 13 swimmers when the program was reinstated in 2010, but that program saw a six-person increase in 2011. The trend continued with 22 swimmers out for the team this season.
“As our program continues to build and we continue to increase our depth; that’s going to be to our advantage,” Mishler said.
After failing to win a meet in 2010, the girls managed to pick up three victories in 2011. Ironically, Ottumwa’s first win in six years — the program was mothballed from 2007 to 2009 — came in its season opener at Fairfield. The teams will square off in the Bulldogs’ home opener today at The Beach Ottumwa. Ottumwa defeated the Trojans 89-79 last season.
Mishler said it’s the girls’ goal to start the season on the same positive note as last year.
“We’re looking to build on experiences we gained last year,” Mishler said.
She said the Bulldogs will have to scrap to get every point they can this season.
“We will really count on people to fight for a third-place finish instead of a fourth-place finish,” Mishler said.
Both senior Danielle Noe, who attends Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School but swims for Ottumwa, and sophomore Caroline Carlson are key returners. Other swimmers returning this season include sophomore Claire Carlson, senior Megan Black, who also is a prominent member of the EBF wrestling team, sophomore Marissa Rupalo and junior Jill Ardueser.
“We’ve made it a goal to make little improvements and get better each day and hopefully that will lead to low times and fast swims,” Mishler said.
The coach previously said her swimmers will use their starts and turns to be successful.
Sports
August 29, 2012
Bulldog swimmers dive into season
- Sports
-
- Ottumwa soccer players named to all-league teams The Ottumwa boys soccer team had two players named to the CIML Metro Conference all-league teams this year. Thien Dinh was selected first team all-league and Charlie Altfillisch made second team. In addition, several Bulldogs received honorable menti
- Bulldog boys soccer season ends at No. 3 I.C. High
- Elder stays in park for second slam in Comets win
- Cardinal softball downs Danville; bounced twice at Burlington
- Moravia, McDanel shuts down Seymour
- Ottumwa falls to defending state champs
- Savages hold on to down HLV
-
Lady Dees edge Knoxville in thrilling softball season opener
ALBIA – It doesn't take much to get Mitch Chance fired up. If there's an ounce of energy to be found on the softball diamond, the exuberant young Albia softball coach is going to try and get his team squeeze every drop out of it no matter what the sc
-
McCaffery, Brands to highlight SE I-Club Tailgate May 24
OTTUMWA – Fresh off leading the program to the second-most wins in a single season, there's an exciting future in store for Fran McCaffery as head coach of the Iowa men's basketball team. Part of that future will include stopping to visit with local
-
Cardinal grad Greiner helps lead Central to NCAA tourney finals
There's almost 400 miles in between Agency, Iowa and Eau Claire, Wis. Don't think for one minute Chelsea Greiner's family wouldn't gladly make the trip again next year to see their daughter play one more time for a national softball championship. The
- More Sports Headlines
