The Big 12 swimming and diving Championships drew to a close over the weekend, and many Missouri swimmers left the pool smiling.
In its second season under coach Greg Rhodenbaugh, the team finished with a total of three individual swimming titles, a relay title and a diving title. During the past 14 seasons combined, the Tigers have only mustered three swimming titles and one diving title.
Senior swimmer Shara Stafford is a major influence behind the team’s recent success.
A transfer from Florida, Stafford took home two titles this weekend as well as the honor of Newcomer of the Meet for her all-around performance. Stafford also contributed to the relay teams and was the lead swimmer on a title-winning 200-yard freestyle relay team (along with senior Lisa Nathanson, junior Cassie Cunningham and freshman Emily Doucette) that now owns the school-record time of 1:28.43.
“In the free relay, it always helps to have one really fast horse to ride, and Shara is certainly that,” Rhodenbaugh said. “She’s one of the fastest 50 freestylers in the nation.”
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Stafford’s performance lies in the fact that, unlike many other swimmers, she was not rested for the meet.
“Shara’s one of our girls who had already made NCAAs, so we didn’t rest her all the way for this,” Rhodenbaugh said. “Maybe 95 percent of the people in this meet are shaved and rested all the way. Shara is not.”
Many other Tigers had impressive performances during the course of the meet. Sophomore David Bonuchi made school diving history, placing first in the 3m competition and bringing MU its first Big 12 men’s diving title.
A team filled with fresh faces, the Tiger freshman class also had a strong showing.
Freshman Ramom Melo finished third in the 50-yard freestyle. Melo broke through the ever-elusive 20-second barrier in the event, reaching the wall in 19.96 seconds.
Freshman Eegan Groome placed fourth in the 500-yard freestyle, an event he has dominated for much of the season. Although the podium remained barely out of his reach, Groome was humbled by the opportunity of making it to the finals at such an early point in his career.
“It’s an experience that you can’t put into words,” Groome said. “It’s disappointing to get fourth on the podium, missing top three. But, it’s my first (Big 12 Championships final), and I’m just grateful to be here. This morning I was seeded top two, and whenever I got here for finals, I was like, It’s really happening.”
The success of Missouri’s freshman class certainly bodes well for the future, Nathanson said.
“I’m really proud of the fact that throughout my four years we’ve always been on the upswing, and I think that in the future we are going to continue getting better as a team,” Nathanson said. “I’m excited to watch that.”
The team will next compete in the NCAA Championships, which will be held March 15 in Auburn, Ala., for those who made the qualifying times. NCAA Diving Zones will be held March 8 at the University of Iowa for qualifying divers.
