HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 24, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's swimming program will kick off its 2014-15 season Saturday in Hoboken when it hosts Division I and in-state foe Saint Peter's University at the DeBaun Aquatic Center.
 
Click here for the 2014-15 Schedule Preview with Head Swimming Coach Brad Thornton (New York, N.Y.).
 
Leading the Ducks this year will be a deep group of veterans in seniors Tiffany Chow (Wellesley, Mass.), Brittany Geyer (Brunswick, Ohio), April Lawson (Corona, Calif.), Maria McClure (Pequannock, N.J.), Nicole Miller (Peoria, Ill.) and Sharon Rooker (Forest Grove, Ore.).
 
Chow is a backstroker that has consistently improved throughout her career and will be looking to score for the Ducks in all invitational events and the Empire 8 Championship. The Massachusetts native will also be working towards earning a spot on medley relays.
 
Geyer is one of the most decorated swimmers in the history of the program. An NCAA National Champion in the 200-yard breaststroke and a multiple-time All-American in each of her first three seasons in Hoboken, Geyer is a three-time Empire 8 Swimmer of the Year. She has been working tirelessly on her craft and hopes to be back at the top of podium for the Ducks in March and will lead the Ducks in relays, breaststroke events and the 200- and 400-yard individual medley. Geyer holds school-records in the 100- and 200-breaststroke, 200- and 400-IM and is a part of two record-holding relay squads.
 
Lawson will compete in sprints and breaststroke for the Ducks and hopes to win another Empire 8 title in addition to earning a trip to the 2015 NCAA Championships. A hard worker, Lawson won the 100-free at the E8 Championships last March and was all-conference in three relays as well.
 
McClure had a remarkable 2013-14 season, improving her times and pocketing a trip to the NCAA's via a marvelous performance at the '14 conference meet in the 200-fly. A four-time All-Empire 8 honoree, the Pequannock, N.J. native is hoping to get back to the NCAA's and become an All-American as an individual this time around.
 
Miller came into the preseason healthy and should be a major part of the Ducks' 'A' relay groups throughout the year and into the postseason. An expert in freestyle and butterfly events, Miller earned All-Empire 8 honors in the 200-, 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays in 2014.
 
Rooker will be a major contributor across the board for Stevens. She is hoping to reach and score at NCAA's as an individual and has looked very strong in the early parts of the 2014-15 season. An all-conference performer in each of her first three seasons, Rooker will be a key kicking off medley relays in addition to leading the Duck backstroke and butterfly swimmers.
 
"This year's senior class is perhaps the best class in program history," said Thornton. "The amount of big-meet experience is incredible between these six swimmers. I know they are motivated to make their senior year a memorable one, and we're looking for them to show the underclassmen what it takes to be successful."
 
Junior Alexandra Borrelli (Little Falls, N.J.) will be a returner in the breaststroke for Stevens and is hoping to continue improvement. The third-year Duck will be eyeing scoring swims across the board this season, especially at the conference meet in late-February.
 
Junior Katlyn Christenson (Snohomish, Wash.) is one of the most versatile swimmers on the team and will be in the hunt for spots on the Ducks' 'A' relay teams. Christenson is someone that should be a key at the Empire 8 meet, looking to score in multiple events.
 
Junior Elizabeth Heinbach (Cincinnati, Ohio) is one of the top distance swimmers in the Empire 8 and hopes to be one of the top distance swimmers in the nation this year. The veteran is eyeing a return trip to the NCAA Championships and is looking to score in multiple events as she did her freshman year.  Heinbach was the 2013 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and was a two-time all-conference performer in 2014.
 
Junior Elena Piper (Chesapeake, Va.) is coming off an injury after a very strong sophomore season. Piper has been working hard in her rehab and Thornton is sure the breaststroke and butterfly swimmer can return in top form for the postseason.
 
Rounding out the junior class is Jennifer Rutledge (Suwanee, Ga.). Rutledge is one of the most talented swimmers in the conference when it comes to the sprint freestyle. She keyed the Ducks to Empire 8 titles in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and is looking to take the next step and earn a berth in the NCAA Championships as an individual and member of several relays.
 
Sophomore Danielle Caruso (Chesterfield, N.J.) had a spectacular season as a freshman and has looked very motivated this preseason. Caruso won the Empire 8 title in the 500-yard freestyle as an individual and was a part of three all-conference relay teams. After just missing the national meet as a rookie, Caruso is hoping to qualify for the NCAA's individually and as a member of multiple freestyle relay groups.
 
Sophomore Claire Hendershot (LaPlata, Md.) has shown improvement in her events – the backstroke and middle-distance freestyle – and will compete for spots on several 'A relay teams. Sophomore Nicole Regenauer (Washingtonville, N.Y.) should score in multiple events at the conference meet, displaying quality times in sprint freestyle and fly events throughout the preseason. Sophomore Miranda Rohn (Lawrence, Kan.) came into the preseason in excellent condition and will also look to tally points for the Ducks at the conference level. Rohn will swim in butterfly and backstroke events this season.
 
Thornton and his coaching staff brought in a talented group of freshmen from six different states – California, Florida, Virginia, Minnesota, New York and New Jersey. Tori Glasscock (East Brunswick, N.J.) has the potential for NCAA B-cuts in the butterfly and IM, while Sarah Hoogenboom (Plymouth, Minn.) has displayed great work ethic and ability in backstroke and middle-distance events. Sarah Jurczyk (Williamsburg, Va.) has the potential for B-cuts in the butterfly, while Abigail Kuhn (Briarcliff, N.Y.) is competing for a spot on the conference roster in backstroke and breaststroke. Stephanie Noga (Oriskany, N.Y.) will provide depth for the Ducks in freestyle races, while Kaitlyn Prescott (Escondido, Calif.) has shown nice ability in the breaststroke and IM. Meghan Randle (Tampa, Fla.) has demonstrated a lot of promise in the freestyle and backstroke, while Gabriella Romano (Livingston, N.J.) will contribute in the backstroke and butterfly.
 
"This is one of our largest freshmen classes in the past few years," added Thornton. "There is a lot of talent in this group, and they have made a great impression thus far with their work ethic. We'll be looking for this class to gain valuable experience this season, and hopefully translate that experience into NCAA level performances."
 
Click here for the 2014-15 Schedule Preview!
 
After placing second in the Empire 8 in 2014, the Ducks will be working towards a conference title in 2015. Thornton and his staff will look to get as many Ducks as possible qualified for the national meet early in the season at the Franklin & Marshall Invitational and again at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships in December.
 
Following key dual-meets with The College of New Jersey and Johns Hopkins University among others, the Ducks will compete for the conference title and then hope to send many individuals and several relays to the NCAA Championships as they look to get back into the top-10.
 
Live results and video will be available for fans unable to make it to Hoboken for the season-opener with Saint Peter's.
 
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