The Georgia Bulldogs have repeated as women’s Division I NCAA Champions, overcoming Stanford and Cal to win with 528 points. The repeat feat was made more impressive by the graduations Georgia weathered after last season, most notably freestylers Megan Romano and Allison Schmitt.
But Georgia reloaded in a big way, winning the title with outstanding depth and getting 5 individual NCAA titles. Two apiece came from freestyle sensation Brittany MacLean and diving stud Laura Ryan. MacLean, a sophomore, won an insane battle with Cal’s Missy Franklin in the 500 and also took the 1650, while Ryan, a native Minnesotan, won both 1-meter and 3-meter diving in front of her home-state crowd to close out her senior season. Freshman Olivia Smoliga added a 50 free national title for the Bulldogs.
Every championship is a team effort – even the swimmers who weren’t on the SEC or NCAA team had a hand in this title, and the entire squad will be getting their well-deserved championship rings for the 2014 season. Here is the full Bulldog roster as it appears on the Georgia athletic site:
| Class | |
| Ann-Perry Blank | SR |
| Olivia Boggs | JR |
| Emily Cameron | FR |
| Hali Flickinger | SO |
| Haley Goodman | SO |
| Jessica Graber | SR |
| Lauren Harrington | JR |
| Kimberlee John-Williams | FR |
| Elizabeth Ann Kirkland | FR |
| Anna Kolanowski | FR |
| Maddie Locus | JR |
| Ansley Long | SR |
| Brittany MacLean | SO |
| Melanie Margalis | SR |
| Jordan Mattern | JR |
| Amber McDermott | JR |
| Anna Neumeister | JR |
| Darcie O’Brien | JR |
| Shannon O’Malley | JR |
| Courtney Peters | JR |
| Laura Ryan | SR |
| Olivia Smoliga | FR |
| Kelly Thatcher | SO |
| Chantal Van Landeghem | SO |
| Nicole Vernon | JR |
| Shannon Vreeland | SR |
| Annie Zhu | SO |
| Rachel Zilinskas | FR |
SwimSwam would also like to congratulate the Georgia coaching staff: head coach Jack Bauerle, acting coach Harvey Humphries, diving coach Dan Laak, Associate head coach Jerry Champer and Brian Smith and assistant coach Stefanie Williams.
I think Olivia will do great for the rest of the season.
Next year again a Georgia/Stanford/Cal battle?
Without any doubt.
So let’s see the situation of each team.
GEORGIA
Biggest losses. Shannon Vreeland and Melanie Margalis in the pool. Laura Ryan in diving.
Biggest additions. Kylie Stewart, Meaghan Raab, Megan Kingsley, Stephanie Peters and Courtney Weaver in the pool.
STANFORD
Biggest losses. Maya DiRado, Felicia Lee in the pool.
Biggest additions. Simone Manuel, Janet Hu, Heidi Poppe, Alexandra Meyers, Lindsey Engel and Ally Howe in the pool. Gracia Leydon-Mahoney in diving.
CAL
Biggest losses. Stephanie Au and Cindy Tran in the pool. Kaley Rowell in diving.
Biggest additions. Cierra Runge, Jasmine Mau, Noemie Thomas and Maija Roses in the pool.
I think Stanford is going to pull it out next year
I agree.
Well done to Georgia! Shame we havent’t had any similar conclusive piece about the Div 3 champs…
Congrats to Georgia.
I’m still a rookie about college swimming so tell me if I’m wrong or not but is it most of the time the team with the biggest freestyle depth which wins at the end?
It looks so important with 5 freestyle races in individual and 3 freestyle relays.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be the most depth in freestyle, but it has to be the most depth in most events. Don’t forget that Georgia also placed swimmers in the finals in most events, not just free.
Also, having one or two divers who can score helps.
What hurt CAL:
1. Not having one single diver who can final
2. not having a breastroker who can score, not even in B final. Not having a single good breastroker also hurt CAL badly in two medley relays which give big score.
3. the failure of its top swimmers to perform, with the exception of Missy.
There you have it.
Three peat. Three peat. Go dawgs! sic’em woof woof
Congratulations Georgia Bulldogs! Back to back NCAA Champs! What a great group of women and coaches! Well deserved! And with a great group of recruits coming in next year, they’ll be loaded again!