POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 20, 2017) – For the last four seasons, the Vassar College women's swimming and diving team has had the services of one of its best swimmers in program history in Julia Cunningham. The two-time All-American in the 200 butterfly was a rock that the Brewers could count on, she was a leader the squad depended on during her four years at Vassar.
 
The time has come though, as it always does with any great performer, to move on and that's what the Brewer women will have to do this year without Cunningham after her graduation in the spring. Despite Cunningham's graduation, the coaching staff and team as a while are looking at this year's team with an excitement and also an expectation of continuing what the Cunningham-led squads had built.
 
"We miss her a lot of course, but this is a team sport and in the end and we have a lot of strong people coming through that we can make it up," said senior captain Madison Carroll. "It was nice to have her there, but we're going to have a lot of strong people there to step up and fill that role."
 
Outside of the pool, captains Madison Carroll and Emily McDaniels have been strong leaders thus far, helping organize a group that features six outstanding newcomers to the team. "Preseason has been going really well for us, and we've been doing a fantastic job of getting up in the test sets," said McDaniels. "Everyone's really excited and everyone's ready to go."
 
The excitement around the pool has been evident during practices, as the squad will be looking for contributions from all over the place this year in every event. That all-encompassing view of the season and the team in and out of meets is a goal.
 
"I think a focus this year and something we've seen is everyone seeing the big picture," said McDaniels. "I think if we can step up when we're needed, and hold the team first we're going to have a great year."
 
Vassar will get a chance as well this year to swim a lot in front of its home fans, starting with Saturday's opening-day meet against Brandeis University. VC will feature six home meets this year, and the Brewers are looking to use those towards the end goal of performing well at the Liberty League Championships in February.
 
"We have a lot of dual meets that I think will be exciting, including the first one against Brandeis," said Carroll. "It's exciting to have Liberty League's at the end of the year this year, and it'll be nice to be able to train and prepare for that and I think it'll go really well for us."
 
FREE
Vassar will have some strong depth in the freestyle this season, especially in the distance free once Sammy Stone returns from her semester abroad. Even without the strong junior in the pool, VC returns the services of both Kael Ragnini and Cali Corbett, but who have been very strong and confident distance swimmers for Vassar.
 
Stone has been a podium swimmer at the State meet and the Liberty League Championships, so her return will be welcomed as well. The depth doesn't stop there, as team captain Madison Carroll will compete in the middle distance free events, with junior Margaret Reisert also back for her third season with the Brewers.
 
Junior Meg Harrington is Vassar's top returning sprint free swimmer, while Sarah Boese will also swim some freestyle when not competing in the backstroke. Freshmen Angharad Healey, along with Ellie Kennedy-Wood and Stephanie Kaplan, have been strong in preseason and will contribute this season for VC.
 
BACK
The backstroke was one of the strokes that has been difficult to find swimmers for over the last few seasons, but Vassar has four swimmers that will compete in the event this year in what shapes up to be the Brewers deepest backstroke roster yet. Sarah Boese and McDaniels are back after seasons last year that saw them both improve steadily over the year. Look for those two to continue their upward trend in both the 100 and 200 backstroke events.
 
Along with McDaniels and Boese, Carroll will swim the 200 backstroke for the Brewers while the team is excited about freshman Rhea Randhawa as well. Randhawa was an All-County swimmer in Long Island in the backstroke and individual medley, so look for her to be a go-to option for head coach Lisl Prater-Lee. Sophomore Kael Ragnini has been a solid option as well in the past in the longer backstroke event.
 
BREAST
The Brewers will have four swimmers this year that will primarily swim the breaststroke, led by returner and junior Hayley Schultz. Schultz struggled with injuries last year as sophomore, but came on strong late in the year and returned to the form that saw her break the 100 breaststroke school record in 2015. If Schultz continues her ascent, she will lead a very effective and deep group.
 
Joining Schultz is returner and sophomore Abby Kirsch, who comes back after a solid end-of-year showing at the state meet. VC welcomes in freshmen Stephanie Kaplan and Shannon Schrope, both of whom had very strong prep careers.
 
BUTTERFLY
The toughest stroke to maintain this year from a strength standpoint may once again be a strength, despite the loss of Cunningham. Freshman Brynn Lautenbacher has been swimming very well in the preseason, and her personal best coming to Vassar is very strong. Lautenbacher is very strong in the 100 fly as well, and could be gunning for points early in her career for VC. Fellow freshman Ellie Kennedy-Wood will primarily swim butterfly as well for Vassar. Sophomore Laura Vidano is listed as well as a butterfly swimmer, and will look to continue her progress from her freshman season.
 
DIVING
The Brewers for the second straight season will enter it with just one diver, though senior Katie Nordstrom has a solid gymnastics and cheerleading background. Nordstrom has been working hard to get her 6-dive list in order in hopes of helping VC earn points in diving events this year.