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The Rice Thresher
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by John C. Chao thresher staff It's been on their minds a long time, and last week it finally happened. The swim team cracked the national rankings for the first time in school history March 5, grabbing the No. 25 spot in the College Swim Coaches Association poll with 14 points. "We're all so excited," sophomore Mandy Mularz said. "We didn't expect it because we are such a small team. But we know what we are capable of, and we went out there and did it." From the beginning of the season, head coach Doug Boyd stressed to his team that it had the talent and the capability to be a top-25 team. When the Owls defeated two top-25 teams in the fall, the team began to believe him. "He's known all along that we're that good," Mularz said. "The poll is more of a confirmation of what he knew. Now, we know what we are capable of and just have to maintain it." "We were so excited to hear about being in the top 25," senior Kim Maher said. "That was Doug's goal and he was so excited because his goal for the year had been accomplished." In order to maintain their hard-earned ranking, the Owls must turn in a strong performance at the NCAA Championships. This is the final meet of the season, including only the elite swimmers from around the country, and the polls will be taken one more time to reflect the performances of the swimmers at this event. Mularz qualified individually in the 50-meter freestyle with the nation's 21st-fastest time, and Rice's 200-meter freestyle relay, which ranks 12th nationally, also received an invitation. Since the relay was invited, other relay members will be allowed to swim in individual events. Junior Rachel Armstrong will swim in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events, and junior Katie Hermann will swim the 50 freestyle. "Obviously, we want to do well [at NCAAs] so the team will keep improving," Mularz said. "In order to stay top-25, we're going to need a complete team effort." The Owls' goal for the relay is to make the finals of the event, which is composed of the top eight teams in the country. For Maher, who will anchor the relay, the competition marks the final chapter of her swimming career at Rice. "I'm excited about it," she said. "This is biggest meet of my career, and I'm glad I can end on a note like this." Although all of the swimmers will be nervous at the NCAA meet, Maher knows that the pressure they feel will be a good one. "This is a win-win situation for us," she said. "I feel pressure, but nobody ever expected us to be here so we're going to enjoy ourselves." The meet represents a world of opportunity for the Owls. Four swimmers are the most Rice has ever sent to the NCAA meet. In 1995, the Owls sent three swimmers and finished 31st. Only 21 schools, all of which are ranked, are sending more than four swimmers. The meet is not only important for the swimmers, but it also has implications for the team's future. Because they've worked so hard to finally break into the rankings, the Owls want to make sure they stay focused so their stay among the nation's best is a long one. "National exposure is really big for recruits," Maher said. "Being ranked in the top 25, a lot of recruits see the polls. If we can stay in the top 25, it'll be big for us."
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