The Seattle University women’s swim team had a splash of success in their meet against University of Idaho. The Redhawks powered through the meet on Nov. 9, earning new best times and supporting each other in the process.

The team swam strong, with notable performances from Blaise Wittenauer-Lee, Jane Liggett, and Carlee Bock.

Jane Liggett swims the 200-yard butterfly against Idaho on Saturday, Nov. 9 2013. Liggett finished second less than two and a half seconds behind the first place finisher.

Freshman Blaise Wittenauer-Lee broke the Connolly Center Pool record in the 400-yard individual medley with a 4.26.79.
Her time is 2.6 seconds faster than the previous pool record.

“During my race I was just thinking about making the team proud and swimming for them, because they’re always there supporting me,” Wittenauer-Lee saidafter her race. “I could feel the energy while I was swimming. When you have your team supporting you and behind the blocks cheering for you, it means the world.”

With the pool record under her belt, next on Wittenauer-Lee’s list is the team record, which she narrowly missed by just 0.63 seconds in her 400 yard individual medley.

“I really want to get that record,” Wittenauer-Lee said. “I feel like it’s definitely in my grasp.” She also earned first place in the 100 yard breaststroke with a 1.05.31.

Another impressive swim was Jane Liggett’s 200 yard butterfly. She soared through the water, snatching second place with a 2.07.26.

“I knew that there were girls around me right at my level, so I was just trying to keep it long and powerful and pull out in front of them,” Liggett said.

The 200 butterfly is one of Liggett’s best events. “I can feel the rhythm and do it strategically, it’s becoming a race that I really enjoy swimming,” Ligget said.

Carlee Bock won the 200 yard backstroke with a 2.06.41. Bock also shined in the 400 yard freestyle relay with teammates Kristin Hoffman, Nicole Doi, and Melissa Randolf. They earned second place with a 3.36.37.

“I’m really proud of our relays,” Liggett said. “They were really fighting tooth and nail the whole time.”

Although the team lost the meet 85-177, Craig Nisgor, head coach of both men and women’s swim, was happy with the way Seattle U swam. “The final score is not very reflective of how we’re swimming. We have people putting up lifetime bests and in-season bests.”

Furthermore, the team is growing closer together in the process.

“We’re much more united as a team than we have been in the past,” Liggett said.

The men’s team came to the meet to practice racing and to cheer on the women’s team.

“The guys are always joking and having fun,” Wittenauer-Lee said. “It’s just nice to have such positive energy around.”

The team is now setting their sights on the Husky Invitational this December, plus more dual meets starting in January.

“The atmosphere, the attitude of this team is really inspiring,” Nisgor said. “They’re getting after it and they’re starting to understand where they need to be, what they need to do, and what our goals are. The job is getting done by this team, and it’s pretty exciting to see.”

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