Centre women's swimming team ranked in top 20

RELEASED: Jan. 11, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—In the latest CollegeSwimming.com Division III poll, the Centre College women's swimming team has been ranked 19th, marking the first time in school history that the Colonels' women have been ranked in the top 20.

The Centre women's swim team is off to one its best starts in school history. The Colonels currently own a 4-2 dual meet record, but finished first out of 10 schools at the Sewanee Invitational and have finished ahead of both Rowan University (12th) and Washington and Jefferson College (17) in other meets this year.

What makes the team's ranking even more impressive is the fact that the Colonels have not been at full strength at any of their meets this year due to team members studying abroad during the fall term. The returning swimmers have stepped up their intensity and responsibility levels and have filled the void left by those studying abroad as well as by last year's graduating seniors.

In addition, this year's freshman class has made major contributions. Head Coach Dean Brownley says the freshman class is one of the deepest and strongest Centre has ever had.

With the addition of the freshmen along with the continued improvement from the students who returned, the Colonels have already broken five school records this year in only eight meets.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to be nationally recognized," Brownley says of the top 25 ranking. "This can only help us in motivating our team as well as also helping in recruiting for the future."

Although Brownley is proud of what Centre has accomplished so far, he knows there are still plenty of meets left in the season, and that the team cannot afford to get complacent if it wants to achieve its goals.

"We need to be careful not to think we're better than we are. We still have a lot of hard work to put in to attain the goals we have set for ourselves," Brownley says.

Centre Men and Women Swim Teams.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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