1996

Sports Statistics

Record: 7-4, 4-3 Ivy

Easterns Finish: Fourth

Coach: Maura Costin Scalise

Key Players: Senior Kara Miller; Juniors Jennifer Steffen and Stephanie Lawrence; Freshman Alexis Todor

1997

Hampered by both a small roster and a difficult schedule, the Harvard women's swimming and diving team needed to dig deep this year in order to keep its head above water.

After losing last season's co-captains--Sarah Durkin and Laura Koerkel--to graduation, the Crimson's ranks were left depleted. With a small recruiting class, the team was left at its smallest level in recent years.

Many times throughout the season, Harvard was forced to compete against much larger teams. Yet these seemingly insurmountable circumstances did not phase the team's determination.

"The fact that we could come so close to teams that were twice our size shows our individual might," said junior Jennifer Steffen, one of next year's co-captains.

One of the many things this team does have going for it is youth, as it touts nine freshman on a roster of 21. Though this lessens the overall experience of the team it raises expectations for a strong team in the future.

This year was seen by many as a rebuilding year. Harvard hoped to solidify a core group of dedicated and well-conditioned swimmers, then wait for next year's large recruiting class to fill out the team.

Although the Crimson did not send any members to the NCAA Championships, it remained in the top half of the Ivy League and the Eastern Women's Swimming League. Finishing the season in fourth place at Easterns, the Crimson earned the respect of many bigger and more dominating teams.

The Crimson started the season out strong with a scrimmage win over Northeastern and a regular-season win over Columbia. Harvard followed the two wins with a heart-breaking 153-146 loss to Brown, the eventual winner of both the Ivy League and Eastern Women's Swimming Championships.