2009-10 FIU Swimming & Diving Season Outlook

Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Noemi Lung-Zaharia, the 2009-10 FIU Swimming & Diving team returns 13 letter winners from the 2008-09 season and welcomes 12 newcomers to the pool. FIU looks to combine experience with enthusiastic youth for a successful campaign, in the water and also in the classroom.

Senior Nicola MacKenzie and junior Erin Pavlick will serve as captains of the 2009-10 FIU Swimming & Diving squad. The pair has demonstrated strong leadership skills and their enthusiasm will undoubtedly rub off on all of the Panther swimmers and divers, especially the newcomers.

"We have two strong captains, who do an amazing job," said Lung-Zaharia. "They’re leading the team in a positive manner and are both very energetic. They really take their roles seriously as captains, guiding the team in and out of the pool. They show the way to the freshman and sophomore classes."

The Panther swimming & diving team excelled in the classroom a year ago, notching an average team GPA of over 3.0. As a result, the squad was tabbed an Academic All-American Team. This academic season is expected to be no different, as MacKenzie and Pavlick are both Student-Athlete Academic Center (SAAC) representatives, providing a prime example of the ideal student-athlete to their teammates.

Not only will FIU be looking to score in the pool, the Panthers will be on the prowl for another prestigious academic award, as FIU prides itself on well-rounded student-athletes.

Lung-Zaharia’s squad for 2009-10 features an almost equal number of veterans and new faces. This year’s incoming class runs 12 deep, as 10 swimmers will bring depth and enthusiasm to the lanes and two divers will provide healthy competition and passion to the springboards. Twelve swimmers and one diver return from a season ago, making for the unique opportunity to accomplish a near-perfect balance of experience and new dedication.

"We have a class that is goal-oriented and brings a lot of positive energy to the team," said Lung-Zaharia of the newcomers. "They can handle the highest level of academics and athletics. The freshmen really look up to our upperclassmen. They came in with enthusiasm and the returnees have the experience so they’re helping each other out that way."

Also new to the program is diving coach Chris Mantilla, a highly-decorated 10-year member of the United States Diving National Team.

"Chris came in with a lot of energy and he wants to be successful," said Lung-Zaharia. "He has really stepped it up to the next level. He’s demanding and he expects a lot from the divers. He pushes them."

Providing coaching experience to the deck will be second-year assistant coach Jeni Ritter, as she has enjoyed one full year working alongside Lung-Zaharia.

"Jeni, in her second year at FIU, brings her enthusiasm, hard work and dedication to excellence in assisting me in continuing to build the team," said Lung-Zaharia. "She is a great asset to our program."

While FIU returns great talent in the likes of school record-holder junior Danielle Sneir and a number of student-athletes who had season-best-setting times at the Sun Belt Championship meet a year ago, the Panthers also lost school record-holder Sara Giovannoni to graduation.

The Panthers will look to improve in each event this season, as a large number of newcomers gives Lung-Zaharia a vast number of options for her line-up.

"I think the biggest improvement that we’ll see will be our relays," said Lung-Zaharia. "We have more people; for the first time we can have three relays. At conference we’re only really allowed one relay team per team, so all the girls will be competing for four spots. It’s very exciting to have so much talent to work with."