COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M women's swimming & diving team's summer break was anything but a break. The Aggies were hard at work in and out of the pool, preparing for the upcoming season, claiming multiple Olympic Trial times. Expectations are high as they enter the season at No. 12 on the CSCAA Coaches' Preseason Poll, striving to climb. A&M is ready to defend its title after winning its fourth consecutive SEC Championship in 2019 but one thing is on its minds coming into this season, number five.
"They're hungry to get better and continue the streak," says 20-year veteran head coach Steve Bultman. "I've kind of seen that and I hope it continues as the hard work moves along and it increases a little bit more because that is the key. How much do they actually want it, because coaches and staff can only do so much. They are the ones putting in the work doing what is necessary."
The Aggies finished last season with eight wins, claiming all of their conference meets. Anna Belousova leads a strong group of returners for A&M, finished first in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the SEC Championships, setting a lifetime best of 2:04.80 in the 200. Haley Yelle, Jing Wen Quah and Taylor Pike earned All-America honors for their performance at NCAA Championships. Despite adding three swimmers and one diver for the upcoming season, the Maroon & White still have some big shoes to fill with the loss of Claire Rasmus and Olympian Sydney Pickrem, but coach Bultman has high hopes for this squad.
"Every year is exciting. We have graduated a couple good swimmers. So if we're going to win number five, we're going to have to have some people step up. We have got a couple freshman who can help us right away, which is good because we lost some good seniors that contributed, but we need some of the sophomores, juniors, and seniors now to set up and help replace those girls. It'll be exciting to see who's actually going to do that."
The women have stayed busy this off season with earning multiple Olympic Trial cuts. Emma Carlton qualified in the 100 back (1:01.94) and Raena Eldridge made a cut for the 50 free (25.77) at the Philips 66 Summer Nationals, while newcomer Grace Wey notched her first trial cut for the 100 back at Junior Nationals (1:02.45).
Starting his ninth season as head diving coach, Jay Lerew is enthusiastic about the season and his young squad. Sophomore Charlye Campbell helps lead the team this after qualifying for NCAAs last season, finishing top five in the 1-meter at SEC Championship. While Alaïs Kalonji will be hard for the diving squad to replace, Lerew has high hopes for his newcomers, especially freshman Alyssa Clairmont, calling her a "triple threat."
"She dives platform, 1-meter and 3-meter. You don't find that very often. That's a real plus. Her strength is on the platform. She's a little thing and she likes to dive off high things, so she's got all the skills to go all the way in all three events and I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do."
The Aggies open the season with a home meet against Ohio State on Friday, October 18th at 4 p.m. and continue competition Saturday starting at 10 a.m. Follow for updates on Twitter and Instagram @aggieswimdive.
"They're hungry to get better and continue the streak," says 20-year veteran head coach Steve Bultman. "I've kind of seen that and I hope it continues as the hard work moves along and it increases a little bit more because that is the key. How much do they actually want it, because coaches and staff can only do so much. They are the ones putting in the work doing what is necessary."
The Aggies finished last season with eight wins, claiming all of their conference meets. Anna Belousova leads a strong group of returners for A&M, finished first in the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the SEC Championships, setting a lifetime best of 2:04.80 in the 200. Haley Yelle, Jing Wen Quah and Taylor Pike earned All-America honors for their performance at NCAA Championships. Despite adding three swimmers and one diver for the upcoming season, the Maroon & White still have some big shoes to fill with the loss of Claire Rasmus and Olympian Sydney Pickrem, but coach Bultman has high hopes for this squad.
"Every year is exciting. We have graduated a couple good swimmers. So if we're going to win number five, we're going to have to have some people step up. We have got a couple freshman who can help us right away, which is good because we lost some good seniors that contributed, but we need some of the sophomores, juniors, and seniors now to set up and help replace those girls. It'll be exciting to see who's actually going to do that."
The women have stayed busy this off season with earning multiple Olympic Trial cuts. Emma Carlton qualified in the 100 back (1:01.94) and Raena Eldridge made a cut for the 50 free (25.77) at the Philips 66 Summer Nationals, while newcomer Grace Wey notched her first trial cut for the 100 back at Junior Nationals (1:02.45).
Starting his ninth season as head diving coach, Jay Lerew is enthusiastic about the season and his young squad. Sophomore Charlye Campbell helps lead the team this after qualifying for NCAAs last season, finishing top five in the 1-meter at SEC Championship. While Alaïs Kalonji will be hard for the diving squad to replace, Lerew has high hopes for his newcomers, especially freshman Alyssa Clairmont, calling her a "triple threat."
"She dives platform, 1-meter and 3-meter. You don't find that very often. That's a real plus. Her strength is on the platform. She's a little thing and she likes to dive off high things, so she's got all the skills to go all the way in all three events and I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do."
The Aggies open the season with a home meet against Ohio State on Friday, October 18th at 4 p.m. and continue competition Saturday starting at 10 a.m. Follow for updates on Twitter and Instagram @aggieswimdive.