Weeks of an intensified training regimen proved valuable over the long winter break for the women's swim team, which prevailed in back-to-back meets January 20 and 21.
Bowdoin first hosted Bates for a conference battle and hosted the D-I University of Maine-Orono in a non-scoring meet the following day. The Polar Bears surprised a talented Bobcat team with a 171.5-128.5 victory.
Coach Brad Burnham said that although "on paper the Bates women are better, we had a great meet." He also noted the focus the Polar Bears brought to the meet—not having classes to worry about was a key advantage.
Burnham notes that a breakout performance by Sydney Miller '12 made a big impact with points, as did captain Allen Garner '12, who "stepped up and won her events against their stronger swimmers."
Garner won the 200 (1:57.53), the 500 freestyle (5:18.58), and the 200 IM (2:14.17). Terri Faller '15 also won multiple events—the 100 (59.66) and the 200 backstroke (2:11.38).
Kelsey Goodwin '15 took two events as well, the 100 (1:01.86) and the 200 butterfly (2:13.12). Laurel Varnell '14 swam to a victory for the Polar Bears in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.95).
Despite all the individual victories, Garner said it was actually the 200-medley relay victory that spurred the overall success.
"It was a really close race that could have gone either way," she said. "After that, we were ready to race." The Polar Bears captured the 400 freestyle relay as well.
The swimmers practiced for two weeks in Maine and spent a week of their break in Florida, training and competing in a friendly meet against Wisconsin.
Despite three weeks of intense training, Burnham notes that upcoming meets will be tight. He said Colby, which the team faces this weekend, "is always a tough challenge," but noted that, "the conference meet is the big focus for the next two weeks of hard training."
-Compiled by Clare McLaughlin.