Women's Swimming and Diving Senior Reflections
1/29/2015 3:10:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh swimming and diving team will host its final home meet of the season Saturday when the Mountain Hawks welcome the Drexel Dragons to Jacobs Pool. Diving events will begin at 10 a.m. with swimming to follow at 1 p.m. Saturday's meet will be Lehigh's final tune-up before next month's Patriot League Championships, and the final home meet for Lehigh's 13 member senior class.
Lehighsports.com caught up with the four women's swimming and diving seniors prior to their final home meet.
Alissa Leung – Back – Garden City, N.Y. – Mathematics
Career highlights: school record holder in the 100 back and 200 back… member of school, and Jacobs Pool record-holding 400 medley relay team… first team All-Patriot League in 2012… Lehigh women's swimming and diving Outstanding Athlete and Freshman of the Year in 2012… member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
AL: My favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory is last year's Patriot League Championships when we had Courtney Patterson win the 400 IM and Kaitlyn Ruffing win the 100 free. Our team hasn't had a female win an individual Patriot League title in over ten years, so having two teammates win Patriot League titles last year was such an exciting experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
AL: I'd like to be remembered as someone who will always be there for my teammates and would do anything for the team. I hope to leave a legacy of dedication, hard work, and commitment to the team and teammates.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
AL: I have developed such a close relationship with the other senior girls. They are my teammates, roommates, and closest friends. We've been through so much together and being on the team wouldn't have been the same without them.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
AL: I'm going to miss my teammates the most and being able to compete with such a great group of people.
What are your postgraduate plans?
AL: I will be working for Aon Hewitt in Bridgewater, N.J. starting in June
Mary Caitlin Samuels – Butterfly – Avondale, Pa. – Biology
Career highlights: school record holder in the 100 fly… member of school, and Jacobs Pool record-holding 400 medley relay team… member of Jacobs Pool record holding 200 free relay team… 2014 Lehigh women's swimming and diving Scholar-Athlete award… three-time member of Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
MCS: My favorite memories are the Lehigh/Laf meets. Having the meet this year in NYC was a really unique experience, especially since we have so many alumni in NYC who were able to come out to cheer us on. We had so much support to make that special event happen. But, my favorite Lehigh/Laf meets were the home meets in our own Jacobs pool. It may be a small space, but our family, friends, and alumni filled up the stands and gave us so much energy that helped everyone on the team swim fast. We beat Lafayette all of my four years on the team and that is amazing!
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
MCS: I would like to be remembered as a hard-working teammate who encouraged my teammates to reach their full potential. I want my teammates to remember that I was always trying to help our team improve and be the best student-athletes we could be.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
MCS: We've grown so close over the years. We are teammates, roommates, and we are always there to support and cheer for each other. It's been great to have a close group to go through the process of growing up, becoming team leaders, and figuring out our life plans together! I am so proud of all of my fellow seniors for everything we've accomplished together, and for all the great things everyone will do once we graduate.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
MCS: I will miss my teammates and the experience of being on such a close team. Having a built-in support system like our team has is not something that can be easily found outside of Lehigh swimming and diving. I will also miss swimming at Patriots and getting to represent Lehigh in such a competitive league. I will miss the feeling of swimming a fastest time in the event I trained for all season. I can't wait to watch the team swim even faster next year, but it won't be the same not being right there on deck with all of my teammates.
What are your postgraduate plans?
MCS: Next year I am moving to Madison, WI to work as a Project Manager for Epic Systems.
Madeleine Smith – Free – Littleton, Colo. – Cognitive Science
Career highlights: competed in distance freestyle and relays at three Patriot League Championships… three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll… active in Lehigh's Student-Athlete Mentors (SAM) program and Leadership Legacies… recipient of University's Class of 1904 Award and Contribution to Student Life Award.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
MS: My favorite Lehigh swimming memory is sitting in the hall of fame before the start of our Lehigh-Lafayette meet each year and listening to our Coaches and the seniors talk about what the rivalry means to them. The energy is inexplicable and unparalleled on any other day even during our championship meet. I specifically remember my junior year I felt terrible in the pool during warm-up and was getting very nervous for the meet but then we gathered for that annual meeting in the Hall of Fame and I suddenly felt alive and recharged. I and the rest of the team ended up swimming way faster than we predicted and it was great to share that bond and then feel the success with my teammates.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
MS: I would like to be remembered on my team for my passion and my drive. While I have not broken any records while at Lehigh, this team is the biggest part of my world right now and I really do love what I do and the people I do it with. Although my body is telling me that my time has come to retire, my heart will always remain with this team.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
MS: Our class is unique because we started out so big and during a very difficult time for the team. No matter how good or bad it got thought we always had each other and we have continued to stand by and support each other despite losing some members. The four senior girls all live together in the same house, a unique situation for any team, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Just like we all swim different strokes we all have different strengths outside the pool and somehow compliment and balance each other perfectly.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
MS: I will miss the camaraderie and the feeling of shared accomplishment that comes with being a part of a team. When Courtney Patterson won her 400 IM last year at the Patriot League Championships and became the first Lehigh swimmer to win an event in almost 10 years, I felt as excited as if I had won it myself and in a way I had. We all work so hard together all the time and the feeling of success through not only your own accomplishments but those of others is the best feeling I have ever felt.
What are your postgraduate plans?
MS: I was just accepted into the Health Care Systems Engineering Master's Program here at Lehigh so I plan to take a 5th year and complete that degree while working part time at St. Luke's University Health Network.
Kimberly Weyand – Breaststroke/IM – Millersville, Md. – Accounting
Career highlights: competed in breaststroke and IM in three Patriot League Championships… finished ninth (won B final) in 100 breast as a freshman… three-time member of Patriot League Academic Honor Roll… Lehigh women's swimming Scholar-Athlete Award in 2013… member of Lehigh's Leadership Legacies program.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
KW: My favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory is the Lehigh-Lafayette swim meet this year. The meet was held in New York City the night before the football game, so there was a ton of energy in the stands. Our women's team really came together and swept every single event.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
KW: I would like to be remembered as a leader who puts the team first. I hope that I have contributed to the betterment of the team through my hard work and focus, while also being a valuable resource to any teammate that needs help.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KW: I have developed a very close relationship with my fellow seniors. The past four years have been quite challenging, but we've supported each other through everything. They've become my best friends and I know that I can always count on them.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
KW: I will certainly miss being able to eat whatever I want all the time! But more importantly, I'll miss my teammates. Even though swimming is thought of as an individual sport, it never feels that way. We are always able to have fun and joke around like a true family but we also know how to turn it on when it matters the most.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KW: I am staying at Lehigh next year and using the Presidential Scholarship to pursue a Masters in Accounting & Information Analysis. The following summer I will begin working at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Philadelphia.
Lehighsports.com caught up with the four women's swimming and diving seniors prior to their final home meet.
Alissa Leung – Back – Garden City, N.Y. – Mathematics
Career highlights: school record holder in the 100 back and 200 back… member of school, and Jacobs Pool record-holding 400 medley relay team… first team All-Patriot League in 2012… Lehigh women's swimming and diving Outstanding Athlete and Freshman of the Year in 2012… member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
AL: My favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory is last year's Patriot League Championships when we had Courtney Patterson win the 400 IM and Kaitlyn Ruffing win the 100 free. Our team hasn't had a female win an individual Patriot League title in over ten years, so having two teammates win Patriot League titles last year was such an exciting experience.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
AL: I'd like to be remembered as someone who will always be there for my teammates and would do anything for the team. I hope to leave a legacy of dedication, hard work, and commitment to the team and teammates.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
AL: I have developed such a close relationship with the other senior girls. They are my teammates, roommates, and closest friends. We've been through so much together and being on the team wouldn't have been the same without them.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
AL: I'm going to miss my teammates the most and being able to compete with such a great group of people.
What are your postgraduate plans?
AL: I will be working for Aon Hewitt in Bridgewater, N.J. starting in June
Mary Caitlin Samuels – Butterfly – Avondale, Pa. – Biology
Career highlights: school record holder in the 100 fly… member of school, and Jacobs Pool record-holding 400 medley relay team… member of Jacobs Pool record holding 200 free relay team… 2014 Lehigh women's swimming and diving Scholar-Athlete award… three-time member of Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
MCS: My favorite memories are the Lehigh/Laf meets. Having the meet this year in NYC was a really unique experience, especially since we have so many alumni in NYC who were able to come out to cheer us on. We had so much support to make that special event happen. But, my favorite Lehigh/Laf meets were the home meets in our own Jacobs pool. It may be a small space, but our family, friends, and alumni filled up the stands and gave us so much energy that helped everyone on the team swim fast. We beat Lafayette all of my four years on the team and that is amazing!
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
MCS: I would like to be remembered as a hard-working teammate who encouraged my teammates to reach their full potential. I want my teammates to remember that I was always trying to help our team improve and be the best student-athletes we could be.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
MCS: We've grown so close over the years. We are teammates, roommates, and we are always there to support and cheer for each other. It's been great to have a close group to go through the process of growing up, becoming team leaders, and figuring out our life plans together! I am so proud of all of my fellow seniors for everything we've accomplished together, and for all the great things everyone will do once we graduate.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
MCS: I will miss my teammates and the experience of being on such a close team. Having a built-in support system like our team has is not something that can be easily found outside of Lehigh swimming and diving. I will also miss swimming at Patriots and getting to represent Lehigh in such a competitive league. I will miss the feeling of swimming a fastest time in the event I trained for all season. I can't wait to watch the team swim even faster next year, but it won't be the same not being right there on deck with all of my teammates.
What are your postgraduate plans?
MCS: Next year I am moving to Madison, WI to work as a Project Manager for Epic Systems.
Madeleine Smith – Free – Littleton, Colo. – Cognitive ScienceCareer highlights: competed in distance freestyle and relays at three Patriot League Championships… three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll… active in Lehigh's Student-Athlete Mentors (SAM) program and Leadership Legacies… recipient of University's Class of 1904 Award and Contribution to Student Life Award.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
MS: My favorite Lehigh swimming memory is sitting in the hall of fame before the start of our Lehigh-Lafayette meet each year and listening to our Coaches and the seniors talk about what the rivalry means to them. The energy is inexplicable and unparalleled on any other day even during our championship meet. I specifically remember my junior year I felt terrible in the pool during warm-up and was getting very nervous for the meet but then we gathered for that annual meeting in the Hall of Fame and I suddenly felt alive and recharged. I and the rest of the team ended up swimming way faster than we predicted and it was great to share that bond and then feel the success with my teammates.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
MS: I would like to be remembered on my team for my passion and my drive. While I have not broken any records while at Lehigh, this team is the biggest part of my world right now and I really do love what I do and the people I do it with. Although my body is telling me that my time has come to retire, my heart will always remain with this team.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
MS: Our class is unique because we started out so big and during a very difficult time for the team. No matter how good or bad it got thought we always had each other and we have continued to stand by and support each other despite losing some members. The four senior girls all live together in the same house, a unique situation for any team, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Just like we all swim different strokes we all have different strengths outside the pool and somehow compliment and balance each other perfectly.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
MS: I will miss the camaraderie and the feeling of shared accomplishment that comes with being a part of a team. When Courtney Patterson won her 400 IM last year at the Patriot League Championships and became the first Lehigh swimmer to win an event in almost 10 years, I felt as excited as if I had won it myself and in a way I had. We all work so hard together all the time and the feeling of success through not only your own accomplishments but those of others is the best feeling I have ever felt.
What are your postgraduate plans?
MS: I was just accepted into the Health Care Systems Engineering Master's Program here at Lehigh so I plan to take a 5th year and complete that degree while working part time at St. Luke's University Health Network.
Kimberly Weyand – Breaststroke/IM – Millersville, Md. – Accounting
Career highlights: competed in breaststroke and IM in three Patriot League Championships… finished ninth (won B final) in 100 breast as a freshman… three-time member of Patriot League Academic Honor Roll… Lehigh women's swimming Scholar-Athlete Award in 2013… member of Lehigh's Leadership Legacies program.
What's your favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory up until this point? Why?
KW: My favorite Lehigh Swimming and Diving memory is the Lehigh-Lafayette swim meet this year. The meet was held in New York City the night before the football game, so there was a ton of energy in the stands. Our women's team really came together and swept every single event.
What legacy would you like to leave at Lehigh?
KW: I would like to be remembered as a leader who puts the team first. I hope that I have contributed to the betterment of the team through my hard work and focus, while also being a valuable resource to any teammate that needs help.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
KW: I have developed a very close relationship with my fellow seniors. The past four years have been quite challenging, but we've supported each other through everything. They've become my best friends and I know that I can always count on them.
What will you miss most about Lehigh swimming and diving?
KW: I will certainly miss being able to eat whatever I want all the time! But more importantly, I'll miss my teammates. Even though swimming is thought of as an individual sport, it never feels that way. We are always able to have fun and joke around like a true family but we also know how to turn it on when it matters the most.
What are your postgraduate plans?
KW: I am staying at Lehigh next year and using the Presidential Scholarship to pursue a Masters in Accounting & Information Analysis. The following summer I will begin working at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Philadelphia.
Players Mentioned
Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast/IM
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