Swimcloud

Big 12 Women's Preview

By Bart Kramer

Big 12 swimming & diving fans will gather this week in Columbia, Mo., as the current incarnation of the conference comes together for the final time at the 2012 championship meet. There is plenty of intrigue as Texas A&M and Missouri look to make a statement before taking their teams and their great facilities to the SEC, while perennial conference power Texas tries to maintain its grip on the men’s and women’s titles won in 2011.

Defending champion and fourth-ranked Texas is led by a talented senior class spearheaded by multi-faceted All-American and returning Swimmer of the Meet Karlee Bispo. A national threat across all the sprint to mid freestyle distances, Bispo is also the top conference seed in the 200IM and is a relay stalwart for the Longhorns. Fellow seniors Katie Riefenstahl and Leah Gingrich pack a powerful punch in the 200 free/backstroke and butterfly/IM/distance free respectively. The Longhorns also display great depth at the sprint distances with juniors Kelsey Amundsen (2011 100 Fly & 50 Free Champ) and Bethany Adams and sophomores Lily Moldenhauer, and Ellen Lobb. The addition of freshmen Kaitlin Pawlowicz and Kelsey LeNeave has bolstered the Texas distance attack, making them formidable across all disciplines.

Winners of three of the last five conference titles, sixth-ranked Texas A&M enters the 2012 meet intent on bringing a final Big 12 trophy back to College Station. Sophomore sensations Cammile Adams and Breeja Larson lead a young and hungry Aggie squad. Adams, the 2011 Newcomer of the Meet, defends her 500 free and 200 fly titles and is coming off blistering performances in her signature event and the 400 IM on month ago at the Austin Grand Prix. Larson has been at or just off the top time nationally in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes all season. Junior distance specialist Maureen McLaine is one of only a handful of swimmers to break 16 minutes in the mile this year, while fellow junior Tess Simpson and the sophomore trio of Paige Miller (2011 100 back champ), Erica Dittmer and Kim Pavlin provide depth and speed across a multitude of event areas.

The 18th-ranked Missouri Tigers are looking for a breakout week at home. Florida transfer Shara Stafford is fully capable of leading a Tiger charge to the podium in multipl events. Her strength in the free and fly events coupled with her relay prowess will be the key to Tiger success. Defending 200 back champion Dominique Bouchard and Cassie Cunningham are a powerful junior backstroke tandem who also provide much needed relay depth, while the breaststroke crew of senior Emy Dibenigno and juniors Rachel Ripley and Amanda Masters will look to challenge at both the 100 and 200 distances. Senior Lisa Nathanson, a freestyle specialist, has a chance to close out a decorated conference career in style at her home pool.

Kansas senior Stephanie Payne has the ability and the versatility to make podium appearances in multiple events. Payne has the IM credentials from previous meets to suggest that more big swims should be in store for her last Big 12 go round. Brooke Brull gives the Jayhawks multiple options in terms of both individual events (having scored in two events in 2011) and relays. Junior Sveta Golovchun has posted solid sprint freestyle times, while sophomores Morgan Sharp and Alison Lusk also have the game to make some waves in the 500 free and 200 breaststroke.

Coming off a dual meet win against Kansas in their final contest before Big 12’s, Iowa State has some breaststroke power of its own, with sophomore Emily Wiltsie leading the way. Freshman Amanda Paulson could harness some Cyclone power in both the 50 and 100 freestyles, with junior Dani Harris looming as ISU’s top competitor in both backstroke events.

The diving well will boast a number of big names with Big 12 Championship pedigrees. Texas A&M’s senior NCAA finalist duo of Jaele Patrick and Janie Potvin look to return to the 2010 form which saw them sweep all three boards in route to an Aggie team title. Shelby Cullinan, Diana Wilcox, and Samantha Holland bring a wealth of experience and top notch diving success with them from Austin. Missouri counters with home board knowledge and the talented trio of Jordan Morcom, Sharon Finn, and Christina Gailey.

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