The Denison women's swimming and diving team will return to Canton, Ohio on Thursday (Feb. 12) to make another run at a North Coast Athletic Conference Championship.  After finishing an eye lash behind Kenyon College in 2008 (1,630-1,615), in what was the closest conference championship in history, the Big Red return with seven individuals who have tasted conference gold.

Senior Kristen Hohl (Winfield, Ill./Wheaton North) and junior Olivia Zaleski (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) lead Denison into the championship season.  Hohl captured three NCAC titles last year and is the defending champ in both sprint freestyle events.  Zaleski earned NCAC Swimmer of the Year in 2008 after posting victories in the 800 free relay, 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay.

Last year Hohl and Zaleski placed 1-2, respectively in the 50 and 100 free's and both are back to go toe-to-toe again in 2009.  The daily competition between the two in practice has trickled down through the rest of the Big Red team according to head coach Gregg Parini.

"The two (Zaleski and Hohl) compliment each other so well," explained Parini. "They train together and both swim with such heart and passion."

Another key for Denison will be the added versatility of Zaleski in 2009.  Over the course of the year she has grown into one of the nation's top backstroke swimmers and currently boasts the nation's top time in the 100 back.  She set a school record of 55.71 at the Miami Invitational in December.

Senior Annamarie Novinger (Longmont, Colo./Niwot) is another senior with four NCAC championships under her belt.  She is the two-time defending champ in the 200 freestyle.  Sophomore Ksenia Golovkina (Newton, Mass./Newton South) made the biggest rookie splash in 2008 thanks to victories in the 100 breaststroke, the 200 breaststroke and both medley relays.  She will compete in the sprint freestyle's and both breaststroke events as well as the medley relays.  Golovkina currently has the nation's fourth best time in the 100 breaststroke at 1:06.04.  Joining her in the breaststroke is junior Rochelle Akradi (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) who is looking to improve on her provisional qualifying times in both events.

Junior Kate Rich (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) is also looking forward to following up on a successful 2008 championship.  She took second in the 200 individual medley, third in the 100 fly, and was a part of Denison's 200 free relay and 400 medley relay championships.

While Zaleski took home the hardware as last year's Swimmer of the Year, then first-year Sammie Salas (Fairfax, Va./Robinson Secondary) was named the 2008 Diver of the Year after placing first in the one and three meter competitions.  Salas returns along with first-year's Brett Balling (Troy, Mich./Troy), Lizzie Litwak (Loudonville, N.Y./Albany Academy for Girls) and Sarah Masters (Buffalo, N.Y./Amhest Central) to form a very strong corps of DU divers.  Denison's depth in the diving department could pay huge dividends when the final standings are posted Saturday night.

Another returning champion is sophomore Bethany Saborurin (Troy, Troy Athens) who led off last year's winning 200 medley relay team with Golovkina, Zaleski and Hohl.  She also boasts the team's top time in 2009 in the 400 IM.  In the distance swims first-year Hillary Callen (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) holds the team's top-time in the 500 free and in the mile. Jenny Cunningham (Gainsville, Fla./Gainesville), who placed third in the mile as a freshman in 2007, is also back.  Emily Schroeder (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) could be a factor in the 200 backstroke and freshman Laurel Brabson (Boonsboro, Md./Boonsboro) will carry the torch for DU in the butterfly events.

Denison will kick off competition at the three-day championship meet on Thursday (Feb. 12) with preliminaries beginning at 10 a.m.  The finals will begin each night at 6:30 p.m.  In addition, for the first time in meet history the championship will be available over a live video webcast provided by Teamline.  Fans unable to make the trip to Canton can purchase a one-day pass for $15 or a three-day pass for $45.  More information can be found here.