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Date Posted: 12:34:43 03/20/02 Wed
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Tiger Swimmers

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Originally Published Wednesday, March 20, 2002
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Identity crisis? No way

Tigers enjoying the underdog role

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

The University of the Pacific women's swimming team is a virtual unknown, judging by the reception it received arriving Tuesday in Austin, Texas for the NCAA Championships.

Pacific's swimmers have been asked questions such as ''Where are you from?'' and ''Who are you guys?'' Some even have mistaken them as members of Pacific University, a Division III school in Forest Grove, Ore.

But these Tigers from Stockton: freshmen Heidi Schmidt and Lyndsay McNamee, sophomores Sarah Marshall, Shannon Catalano, Kris Willey and Robin Errecart, and junior Kristy Mathews, know who they are and where they're from.

''We have a chance to make a name for ourselves,'' said Mathews, who will participate in her first NCAA championship Thursday through Saturday. ''Personally, I kind of enjoy playing the underdog. We're all good at that.''

Mathews is part of the largest contingent from Pacific to qualify for the NCAAs. Tigers' fourth-year head coach Ray Looze has seven women competing in what generally is considered the fastest meet in the world.

Mathews, a charasmatic leader and team captain, will swim the 200-yard individual medley, the 400 IM, the 200 breaststroke and the 800 freestyle relay. Like her teammates, she's hard-working and versatile. She also relishes helping Pacific attain a higher level of success with its first Big West championship this season.

''We all came on this team as diamonds in the rough,'' Mathews said. ''Ray recruited us not as stars. We definitely do well as underdogs, and that's what we intend to do. There are no expectations on us, so the only place to go is up.''

Looze called Mathews his first big-time recruit.

''She was the first recruit with NCAA-caliber talent that I landed,'' said Looze, this season's Big West men's and women's coach of the year. ''She's finally made the NCAA meet, which is nice to see.''

Schmidt might be the most decorated recruit Looze has brought aboard to date. The Cupertino product will rely on her experiences at the U.S. Nationals the past four years and at the 2000 Summer Olympic trials to keep her calm during her first NCAA championship.

''Hopefully, I won't be as nervous and focus,'' said Schmidt, the Big West champ and record holder in the 100 breaststroke. ''This is bigger than the Olympic trials. This is the fastest meet. I'm trying to keep myself calm. I think if I'm too nervous, I'll lose my focus and get scared. I'm going to try to focus on my race plan.''

If she does, Schmidt could earn big points for the team, which hopes to finish in the top 20.

Schmidt swims on the Tigers' eighth-seeded 200 medley relay team, the

seventh-seeded 400 medley relay team and, perhaps, the 200 and 800 freestyle relay teams. Individually, she will swim the 100 breaststroke, as the ninth seed, and the 200 breaststroke.

''She's been everything she was billed as a freshman,'' Looze said.

Marshall was named the Big West swimmer of the year after her record-setting performances in the 100 and 200 backstroke at the Big West Championships in Feburary.

She will be busy the next three days. The pre-med major from Dixon will swim the 200 and 400 medley relays, the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. She is the fifth seed in the 100 backstroke, the 13th seed in the 100 butterfly and the 15th seed in the 200 backstroke.

''She has the potential to be our highest scorer in the meet,'' Looze said.

McNamee, who went to Lincoln High, might be the best all-around athlete on the team. Her talent and 6-foot-1 frame make her dangerous in the pool. She has burst on the scene with two years of competitive swimming experience. She will swim the 50 freestyle and the 200 medley relay. She also might swim a freestyle relay.

Catalano, the 2001 Big West swimmer of the year, started slowly in the fall but has come on of late. She will swim both medley and freestyle relays, as well as the 50 freestyle, the 100 and 200 butterfly. She's ranked 10th in the 100 butterfly and 13th in the 200 butterfly.

''She's pound-for-pound one of the strongest kids in the athletic department,'' Looze said. ''She's very powerfully built.''

Lodi graduate Kris Willey recovered from an illness last summer and is rounding into top form. She is among the team's most versatile talents and will swim four events: the 200 and 400 IM, the 200 backstroke and one of the freestyle relays. She swam her lifetime bests at the Big West championships in the 200 IM (2:01.91) and 400 IM (4:20.28).

Robin Errecart, a Lincoln product, specializes in the distances. She'll swim the 200 and 500 freestyles, the 200 butterfly and, probably, a leg in the 400 medley relay.

''The thing about Robin is the bigger the event, the faster she swims,'' Looze said. ''She's a darkhorse to make it in (the top 16 in her events).''

If the Tigers do well, questions about their name and origin should go away.

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfil@recordnet.com

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