Sun Star | Story

	Women swimmers ready to dive in
	by Henry Cole For the Sun Star

	New for this winter in UAF athletics is the Women’s Swim Team. The new Nanook swimmers will begin their season on October 8, with the Blue and Gold scrimmage at the Patty Center. The first meet of the season will be October 21 to 22, against the Lions of Loyola College, at Hamme Pool on Airport Way. The team finishes out the fall semester with a pair of road meets, culminating in the Speedo Cup in Long Beach, California, November 17 to 19. The team has been under construction since Scott Lemley was named the coach in December 2004. Lemley, a UAF swimmer himself from 1970 to 1973, has coached swim teams at both Lathrop and West Valley High Schools, and the local Midnight Sun Swim Team. Lemley’s goal for the team is to become Alaska’s team. “As the only collegiate women’s swimming team in the state," Lemley said, "we should have the loyalty and interest from student-athletes in Alaska if they want to stay here and represent their state.” The team has been recruiting swimmers since early April, signing incoming freshmen Megan Humphrey of Fairbanks, Charlotte DeBruler of Cordova, Samantha Zinsli of Kennewick, Washington, and Joan Kump of Missoula, Montana. Other recruits include Miriah Phelps of Homer, a senior with two years of NCAA eligibility; Karin Wagner of North Pole, and Hilary Carlisle of Tigard, Oregon, both sophomores with three years of eligibility. Rebecca George is also onboard, as the only member of the team with experience as a collegiate swimmer. She transferred from Central Washington University, and she will be a junior, with two years of eligibility. “With Rebecca’s recent background as a college swimmer, she’s in a unique position to play the role of a leader for us,” Lemley said. The team is looking forward to the coming season. “I’m really glad that they got swimming going again,” said Phelps. “There were rumors about a swim team, but I didn’t really believe it at first,” said Carlisle, who turned down the opportunity to swim in college so she could study biology at UAF. “I’m definitely looking forward to swimming here, and it’s an honor to be part of a new team,” said Wagner. More information about the new UAF Women’s Swim Team can be found at www.gonanooks.com or by calling the Athletics Department at 474-7205.
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August 30, 2005