SEATTLE – (Oct. 10) After a record-breaking season last year, Seattle University women’s swimming will look to continue its ascent in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2017-18.
“We want to keep building,” said Nisgor. “It’s going to be hard to repeat the success we had last year and replace the seniors we had. It’s a new group and we know they can have success.”
In the 2016-17 campaign, Coach Craig Nisgor helped the Redhawks set 18 school records, post 34 all-time top-10 performances, and log 50 personal-best efforts. Blaise Wittenauer-Lee led the way, winning WAC Female Swimmer of the Year on her way to qualifying for the NCAA Championships. SU also went 7-1 in home dual competition.
However, Nisgor will have to replace Wittenauer-Lee and seven other seniors who have graduated. Current seniors Maddie Dickman, Madi Lydig, and Paige Treff lead a much younger roster this season. Lydig was terrific at the 2017 WAC Championships, setting three program records and collecting a silver medal in the 200 backstroke. She swam a 1:58.82 in the event, recording an NCAA ‘B’ cut and breaking her own school record. The native of Spokane, Washington, also put up program marks in the 100 backstroke and the 500 freestyle at the conference meet. Lydig was also a CSCAA Honorable Mention Academic All-American.
Treff’s 50 freestyle time of 23.58 set a school record at the WAC Championships. She also tallied a 55.91 in the 100 butterfly, good for another SU record showing.
Dickman has all-time top-10 swims in both the 100 and 200 backstroke and was a member of the 200 freestyle relay team that set a Redhawk record of 1:34.76 at the WAC Championships. Along with Lydig, Dickman will serve as a captain on this year’s team.
“The seniors want more,” said Nisgor. “That’s great to hear from them. They’ve been successful, but they want more and to have that leadership is an exciting thing to have.”
Nisgor, in his seventh season at SU, has put together a challenging schedule. The Redhawks will host four home meets at the Connolly Complex, including the season opener against Idaho on Oct. 14. After a trip to Los Angeles to face Loyola Marymount and Grand Canyon, Seattle U returns home to face Simon Fraser (Nov. 4) and Oregon State (Nov. 11). From Dec. 1-3, SU will compete at the Husky Invite to close out the 2017 portion of the slate.
In the new year, the Redhawks will make the short trip to Pacific Lutheran on Jan. 5. They will recognize their senior class on Jan. 6, as Whitworth visits the Connolly Complex. Seattle U wraps up the regular season with a trip to Colorado to compete against Air Force, Incarnate Word, and Northern Colorado (Jan. 12-13) and then a meet at Simon Fraser (Jan. 25).
The 2018 WAC Championships will be held in Houston, Texas, from Feb. 21-24.
“We have a tough schedule,” said Nisgor. “As we’re getting better, better teams are wanting to compete against us, which is a great thing.”