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2008-09 Season Preview

Under the leadership of second-year Head Coach Jake Taber, the Olivet College women’s swimming and diving team continues to improve each and every day.

Furthermore, seven swimmers, which make up one third of this year’s roster, have been a part of the program for the last three years and will finish their collegiate careers as four-year letterwinners.

Amy Johnson (Gaylord) is one of the best sprint freestyle swimmers in Olivet history, as she is the school record-holder in the 50 and 100 at :24.32 and :53.28, respectively. Kalee Redder (Grandville/Jenison) is also exceptional in the short freestyle events, as she holds the third-best time in the 50 (:24.90) and second-best time in the 100 (:54.15) and 200 (1:59.01), in school history.

Lisa Egelkraut (Battle Creek/Central) has turned in some of the best performances in school history in the distance freestyle events. Her time of 18:47.24 in the mile at the 2008 MIAA Championships is the third-best in school history.

Kelly Schulze (Kalamazoo/Central) has swum all of the freestyle events during her career, whether it has been a sprint or distance event.

Heather Michalsen (Plymouth/Salem) has shown the ability to do any of the swimming strokes, but has excelled most in the butterfly events. Her times of 1:02.44 in the 100 and 2:18.82 in the 200 rank among the top five all-time in school history. In addition, Michalsen’s time of 4:53.60 in the 400 individual medley is .14 seconds off the pace of the school record.

Lauren Siedlik (Livonia/Churchill) and Erin Tramper (Jenison) are expected to compete primarily in the breaststroke events. Tramper is the school record-holder in the 100 (1:09.15) and her best time in 200 (2:28.59) is just .04 seconds off the school record. Siedlik’s personal best times are 1:12.61 and 2:35.80 in the 100 and 200, respectively.

The only junior on the roster is Jackie Taylor (Plainwell) and her specialty is the backstroke. Taylor’s times in the 100 (1:00.83) and 200 (2:12.35) rank third all-time in school history.

Sophomore Jami Lingbeek (Plainwell) excels in the backstroke and butterfly events. Her season-best times in the 100 and 200 back and 100 and 200 fly last year rank her among the top five all-time at Olivet.

Sophomores April Cupps (Garden City) and Olivia LaFortune (Westland/Wayne Memorial) are expected to swim in the freestyle events. LaFortune may also compete in the backstroke.

Sophomore Sara Griffith (Brighton) is the only returning diver on the women’s roster. Three newcomers bolster the Comets’ lineup in diving events.

Six additional swimming recruits add depth to Olivet’s roster. All six can swim the freestyle events, with four having the ability to swim another stroke.