March 24, 2008
Contact:
Steve Marovich, Sports Information Director (262) 551-5740
E-Mail: stevich@concentric.net or carthagesid@carthage.edu
Carthage Web Page: www.carthagesports.com
Carthage 24-Hour Sports Hotline (262) 551-5388
Women’s Swimming Finishes 27th at NCAA Championship;
Amanda Croix Seventh in NCAA 50 Freestyle and Ninth in 100 Freestyle
Carthage 27th at 2008 NCAA Championship: The Carthage College women’s swimming team (5-3 dual-meet record) finished 27th at the 2008 NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming Championship. The College of Wooster was the host school for this year’s championship, which was conducted at Miami University’s Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center in Oxford, Ohio. Kenyon College won the championship with 566.50 points, followed by Amherst College second at 341, Denison University third at 328, Emory University fourth with 288 and Williams College fifth with 269.50 points.
Lady Reds’ Amanda Croix Seventh at NCAA 50 Freestyle: Five Lady Reds swimmers represented Carthage at the 2008 NCAA Division III Women’s Swimming Championship . Amanda Croix (Fr., Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) finished seventh in the 50 freestyle (23.79), ninth in the 100 freestyle (51.63) and 12th in the 200 freestyle (1:54.10). Croix earned College Swimming Coaches Association of America All-America honors in all three events, first team in the 50 freestyle and honorable mention in both the 100 and 200 freestyles. She is Carthage’s first-ever CSCAA women’s All-American. Michelle Pelka (Fr., Elgin, Ill./Elgin Academy) finished 17th in the 200 butterfly and 18th in the 400 individual medley (4:37.12). Pelka also qualified in the 200 individual medley but did not reach the finals. The Lady Reds’ 200 freestyle relay team of Sarah Reynertson (Jr., Itasca, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park), Alyssa Messina (So., Medinah, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park), Carolyn Kelly (Sr., Naperville, Ill./Central) and Croix finished 13th (1:38.36) and earned CSCAA honorable mention All-America honors. The 800 freestyle relay team of Reynertson, Kelly, Pelka and Croix finished 16th (3:39.07); the 200 medley team of Reynertson, Kelly, Pelka and Croix finished 19th (1:53.80); while the 400 medley relay squad of Reynertson, Pelka, Kelly and Messina did not reach the finals.
2008 CCIW Championship: Carthage finished second at the 2008 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Swimming Championship at the Koenitzer Aquatic Center in Kenosha, Wis. Wheaton College (Ill.) won its 16th league championship and 11th in a row with 976.50 points, followed by Carthage second at 798.50, Illinois Wesleyan University third at 348.50, Augustana College (Ill.) fourth at 299, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology fifth at 280, Millikin University sixth at 263 and North Central College seventh with 152.50 points.
2008 Wisconsin Private College Championship: Carthage won the 2008 Wisconsin Private College Championship at the Koenitzer Aquatic Center in Kenosha, Wis. The Lady Reds won the seven-team event with 331 points, followed by Lawrence University second at 133, Ripon College third at 69, St. Norbert College fourth at 55, Carroll College (Wis.) fifth at 48, Beloit College sixth at 43 and the Marquette University club team seventh with six points. The state title was the ninth overall for the Lady Reds and their sixth in a row.
The Coach: Sue Nutty completed her 17th year as head coach in 2007-08 (116-59-1 dual-meet record, 17 years). She coached the Carthage men's team for 10 years, from 1992-2001. Nutty was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin's "Women's Swimming Coach of the Year" in 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. Dani Korman serves is the graduate assistant coach, with both Lauren Croix and Luke Schumm serving as a part-time assistant coaches.
The Conference: The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, in its 62nd year in 2007-08, has sponsored women’s swimming as a championship sport since 1987. Wheaton College (Ill.) has won 16 championships, including the last 11 in a row, and Augustana College (Ill.) has won six times. The CCIW has added the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, located in Terre Haute, Ind., as an associate conference member for men’s and women’s swimming, beginning with the 2007-08 academic year. Rose-Hulman, a member of the Heartland Conference in all other sports, is the CCIW’s first associate member.
2008 Wisconsin Private College Championship Notes: Carthage’s Amanda Croix (Fr., Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) and Michelle Pelka (Fr., Elgin, Ill./Elgin Academy) each won three events at the 2008 Wisconsin Private College Swimming Championship. Croix took first place in the 50 freestyle (meet-record 24.78), the 100 freestyle (meet-record 54.25) and the 200 freestyle (meet-record 1:59.02), while Pelka won the 200 butterfly (2:10.45), the 200 individual medley (meet-record 2:14.50) and the 400 individual medley (meet-record 4:41.13). Sarah Reynertson (Jr., Itasca, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park) won both the 100 backstroke (1:02.43) and the 200 backstroke (2:17.52). Amy Mueller (Fr., Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) won both the 100 breaststroke (1:11.76) and the 200 breaststroke (2:36.08), and Carolyn Kelly (Sr., Naperville, Ill./Central) won the 100 butterfly (1:02.72).
2008 CCIW Championship Notes: Carthage’s Michelle Pelka (Fr., Elgin, Ill./Elgin Academy) was named the CCIW “Most Valuable Swimmer” for winning three events at the 2008 CCIW Women’s Swimming Championship. Pelka took first place in the 200 butterfly (2:08.48), the 200 individual medley (2:10.24) and the 400 individual medley (4:30.94). Amanda Croix (Fr., Bradley, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) won both the 50 freestyle (23.77) and the 200 freestyle (1:54.48), while taking second place in the 100 freestyle (52.29). Carolyn Kelly (Sr., Naperville, Ill./Central) won the 100 butterfly (1:01.34). Sarah Reynertson (Jr., Itasca, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park) finished third in both the 50 freestyle (24.64) and the 100 backstroke (1:01.01). The Lady Reds also picked up a win from their 200 medley relay team of Reynertson, Amy Mueller (Fr., Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead), Pelka and Croix
Quoting Coach Sue Nutty on the CCIW Championship: “We had a lot of great performances at the CCIW Swimming Championship, and I was very pleased. We did well across the board, not only in the championship finals, but in the consolations, as well. Michelle Pelka, the championship MVP, and Amanda Croix did very well. They’re both freshmen, so that was exciting to see them do so well their first year. Nicole Cleveland had a great meet and great times, as did Courtney Boothe.”