Swimmers excel in season

The 2000-2001 season was one of high expectations for the women's swimming and diving team. And those expectations were met and exceeded, said team members.\nThe Hoosiers' tough regular season schedule had a lot of competition, with the Big Ten Conference boasting six nationally ranked teams, including IU. The Hoosiers matched up well with their opponents, going 7-1, 4-1 in the Big Ten. \nOne aspect of the successful season coach Dorsey Tierney said was the unity of the team. She said swimming is a sport where much of the emphasis falls upon personal accomplishments and to have a team without egos was something that gave her swimmers an edge. \n"Our entire team places a tremendous amount of emphasis on the relay events," Tierney said. "We are fortunate to have a group of individuals who are focused on the same goal, winning as a team."\nTierney's efforts to instill this mentality into the team during the season did not go unheralded. At the Big Ten Championships, which were held at IU's Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in February, Tierney was honored as the Big Ten coach of the year. \nShe said she was happy to have received the award in such a highly competitive conference.\n"It's always a great honor," Tierney said. "We have such a good conference all around. It's hard to single out one person, but I'm very honored to be that person."\nThe award capped off a successful championship meet for the Hoosiers. The team broke 36 personal records and 16 school records en route to a third-place finish. The meet was highlighted by senior Jenn Cristy's consistent performances in the sprint events. \nDuring the second day of competition, she broke her own 50-yard freestyle school record three times and won the event. She also claimed the championship in the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle relay.\nSophomore sprinter Anne Williams, a member of the Big Ten Champion 200-yard freestyle relay, had nothing but praise for her teammate.\n"Jenn is like no competitor I've ever met," Williams said. "When she get the fire inside of her, there is absolutely no stopping her." \nThe Hoosiers continued their momentum as they traveled to Long Island, N.Y., for the NCAA championships. They were ranked 16th in the country going into the meet. Another slew of impressive performances by the Hoosiers earned them 13th place at the meet, their best finish since placing 12th in 1981. \nTierney said she sensed something special about the team from the beginning.\n"This year we had a group of leaders," Tierney said. "From the first day of practice, I knew we had a highly motivated group. They're all on the same page. If one is down, they will go and pick them up. Our captains did a great job of motivating the team."\nCristy credits Tierney to much of her success in and out of the pool.\n"She has never given up on me and always has done everything she could to take me to the top," Cristy said. \nAlthough the season is over, the swimmers who will be returning next year are still practicing hard. Backstroker Susan Woessner, who holds the record for the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes, will be swimming the 100-meter backstroke at the World University Games in Beijing. \nBut Cristy, who will be graduating this summer, is headed down a new path. \nWhile performing the National Anthem at an IU basketball game, she caught the eye of a spectator. That spectator was singer John Mellencamp. He was impressed with her voice and immediately added her to his group. \nCristy is working with him on his upcoming album and has a solo on the first single from the album. She will showcase her musical talents by playing the conga and bongo drums, piano, keyboards, organ and will sing back-up vocals during his upcoming tour.