Large Freshman Class Has Women’s Swimming Thinking Big Things in 2007-08

HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 10, 2007) – After registering three dual meet wins in 2006-07, the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s swimming team will look to build up its record from last season in 2007-08. With a large and talented incoming freshman class, Head Coach Trevor Miele (New York, N.Y.) and his staff will try to guide the Ducks to a top finish at their first-ever Empire 8 Championships.

“We have a large and talented incoming freshman class that will layout the foundation of the program,” Miele said. “It should be a big year for us and we certainly expect great things such as a vastly improved dual meet record this season.”

Junior captain Emily Woo (Lodi, Calif.) will be looked upon as the team’s top returnee in the individual medley and butterfly events on the women’s side. In 2006-07, Woo set a new school mark in the 200-yard individual medley after clocking in with a time of 2:13.17. Sophomore Stephanie Miller (Bellbrook, Ohio) remains the Ducks’ go-to swimmer in the breaststroke races for the second consecutive year and junior Nicole Ogrosso (Staten Island, N.Y.) comes back to be the top returning distance swimmer. Last year, Miller was tabbed as a Co-Swimmer of the Year by the Skyline Conference while Ogrosso became a member of four record-setting relay teams at Stevens.

As for the rookie class, Miele brings in a plethora of girls to replace Ayse Figanmese (Northampton, Pa.) and 2007 All-America Honorable Mention selection Lorrie Brabender (Newark, Del.). Freshman Laura Barito (Arkadelphia, Ark.) enters as a sprinter and butterfly specialist while Nicole Ferlo (Wantage, N.J.) will swim in the backstroke relays. Additionally, freshman Amanda Nauman (Mission Viejo, Calif.) comes in to assist Ogrosso in the distance events and Sarah Parker (Stafford, Va.) will team up with Woo in the individual medley races. Last of all, Danielle Sack (Simi Valley, Calif.) is expected to make a big splash this year in the breaststroke events.

This season, Miele has laid out a competitive dual meet schedule for his women. The Ducks will open up the season on Saturday, October 13 as they host Fairleigh Dickinson University at the De Baun Aquatic Center. They will also host Misericordia University (Nov. 3), Montclair State University (Jan. 12), William Paterson University (Jan. 26) and Adelphi University (Feb. 2). Their only road contest will be at SUNY New Paltz on January 16.

Stevens will also compete in a couple of invitational tournaments as it participates in the New York University Fall Invitational (Nov. 19-20) in New York, N.Y. and the Golden Bear Invitational (Nov. 16-17) at Kutztown University in Kutztown, Pa. Moreover, the Ducks will try to qualify for NCAA’s at the ECAC Championships (Nov. 30 – Dec. 2) in East Meadow, N.Y. and the Empire 8 Championships (Feb. 21 – Feb. 23), which will be held in Syracuse, N.Y.