Severson to compete at nationals
Senior heads to meet after her record-breaking time, Heatwole season a success, coach says
Jacob McCormick
Issue date: 3/9/06 Section: Sports
When UW-Eau Claire senior swimmer Cori Severson pulled her head out of the water at the WIAC Conference meet, she couldn't believe her final time for the 100-yard freestyle listed on the scoreboard.
"I was honestly shocked with disbelief," Severson said. "It was faster than I'd ever swam before."
Severson shattered the old WIAC Conference record time of 52.43 seconds by swimming a 51.74 race. It was the time that sent her to the Div. III Nationals meet hosted in Minneapolis from March 9 to 11.
"(Severson's) time was a surprise for everyone, including her," said men's and women's swimming coach Rob Welcher. "I knew she could go faster, but her time took a huge drop. She smashed the record by almost a second."
As a second-year captain, Severson has had a positive influence on the team throughout the season, Welcher said.
She worked really hard and next season will see a huge change without her, he said.
To get ready for nationals, Severson said she will go through her normal routines.
"I'm preparing the same way I did for conference," she said.
Along with a third seed in the 100-yard freestyle, Severson also will compete as a 16th seed in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.31 seconds. Severson experienced the 50-yard freestyle at nationals last year, where she swam to a 10th place finish with a time of 24.17.
Senior men's diver Scott Heatwole was poised to make his third appearance at nationals after earning his second Diver of the Meet at the WIAC Conference meet. However, he unfortunately was not selected to dive at the national competition in Minneapolis from March 16 to 18.
"Scott dove better this year than he ever has," Welcher said. "Just qualifying for nationals is quite an accomplishment, but not everyone that qualifies actually gets into the meet."
Welcher said that unlike the selection committee for swimmers, which is based off of race times, divers go another tough route to get to nationals.
"I was honestly shocked with disbelief," Severson said. "It was faster than I'd ever swam before."
Severson shattered the old WIAC Conference record time of 52.43 seconds by swimming a 51.74 race. It was the time that sent her to the Div. III Nationals meet hosted in Minneapolis from March 9 to 11.
"(Severson's) time was a surprise for everyone, including her," said men's and women's swimming coach Rob Welcher. "I knew she could go faster, but her time took a huge drop. She smashed the record by almost a second."
As a second-year captain, Severson has had a positive influence on the team throughout the season, Welcher said.
She worked really hard and next season will see a huge change without her, he said.
To get ready for nationals, Severson said she will go through her normal routines.
"I'm preparing the same way I did for conference," she said.
Along with a third seed in the 100-yard freestyle, Severson also will compete as a 16th seed in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.31 seconds. Severson experienced the 50-yard freestyle at nationals last year, where she swam to a 10th place finish with a time of 24.17.
Senior men's diver Scott Heatwole was poised to make his third appearance at nationals after earning his second Diver of the Meet at the WIAC Conference meet. However, he unfortunately was not selected to dive at the national competition in Minneapolis from March 16 to 18.
"Scott dove better this year than he ever has," Welcher said. "Just qualifying for nationals is quite an accomplishment, but not everyone that qualifies actually gets into the meet."
Welcher said that unlike the selection committee for swimmers, which is based off of race times, divers go another tough route to get to nationals.
