Miami Set for Senior Day Meet

Jan. 6, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes’ swimming and diving team will honor its six seniors on Jan. 7 as they compete in the final home event of their careers at the A. Whitten University Center Pool on the University of Miami campus. Their dual meet with Clemson University will begin at 9 a.m on Saturday.

“They have grown so much, and we’ve really become a family,” Head Coach Christie Shefchunas said about her seniors. “It’s bittersweet. They’re such awesome girls, I know they’re going to have bright futures in whatever they do next.”

Shefchunas, now in her sixth year as head coach in Coral Gables, is sending off her second-ever graduating group. The six-member senior class, comprised of Carrie Dragland, Kelsi Hall, Dana Hatic, Roxanne Meyer, Erin Simpson and Whitney Stephenson, has their biggest fan coaching them on the sidelines.

“If I could describe this experience in one word, it would be growth. That goes for all of us,” Coach Shefchunas said. “I’m such a different coach than I was when they came in four years ago. They went from 18-year old girls to women, and to see what they’ve become is pretty exciting.”

Both Miami and Clemson recently competed at the Georgia Tech Invitational in November, where the Canes finished in fifth place and the Tigers finished seventh. Coach Shefchunas is expecting strong competition in the pool on Saturday.

“This has been a year where we’ve been thrown a lot of punches. We keep fighting, and we keep surviving, and it’s because of the leadership of those senior girls,” Coach Shefchunas said. “I think it’s going to be a fun meet against an ACC foe.”

Admission to all home swim meets is absolutely free, and fans are encouraged to attend.

Complete results and a recap of Saturday’s meet will be posted to HurricaneSports.com. After their showdown with Clemson, the Hurricanes will get back to the water on Jan. 21 when they travel to Blacksburg, Va. for a tri-meet with host Virginia Tech and the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech.