Six S&D Seniors to Be Recognized Saturday
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming & diving teams will honor six accomplished Hurricanes Saturday at Senior Day against FIU. Action is slated to begin at 12 p.m. from the Whitten University Center Pool.
Swimmers Heather Arseth, Meghan Murphy and Amy Wiley, alongside divers Cheyenne Cousineau, Sam Dorman and Thea Vock, will all be recognized in pre-meet festivities.
Head swimming coach Andy Kershaw, now in his second year at the helm, said the team’s three seniors have been crucial to Miami’s success despite challenging circumstances.
“It’s my second year here, and that means they had to go through some transition,” Kershaw said. “That’s not what you think about when you’re headed to college to be on a team, it’s not what you plan on. It’s a huge testament to them – what type of people they are, how strong they’ve been and how good they’ve been at communicating.”
Arseth, who competed for Mauritania at the 2012 Summer Olympics, has served as an anchor in Miami’s lineup in her two seasons with the Hurricanes. She transferred to Miami from Iowa prior to the 2013-14 season, and has been a primary point-getter in freestyle events and also serves as Miami’s school record-holder in the 100-yard backstroke.
“Heather’s a stereotypical sprinter, but she’s got so much talent that she’s super versatile,” Kershaw said. “We lovingly call her ‘the hamster,’ because that’s the typical sprinter – run and round, do this, do that. The most committed and focused she has been during all of her years here was this year, which as a senior, is what you want.”
Murphy, who didn’t swim at first after enrolling at Miami, joined the team during the spring of her freshman year and has been a regular contributor ever sense. A versatile competitor, Murphy has willingly participated in a number of non-specialty events and has served as a veteran leader for a young Hurricanes team.
“Meghan really had to earn a spot on the team (after freshman fall), and she continues to do that every day,” Kershaw said. “I know for us, she’s been a very reliable swimmer, and she’s always strong in her events and willing to do other. She does them with a smile, with a great attitude and great effort. She’s someone who the team relies on as far as advice goes and someone that they can go to and talk to.”
Wiley has been a catalyst for the Hurricanes in every breaststroke event, and her competitive spirit has helped energize Miami during her time in Coral Gables. Wiley has also spent a great deal of time working on her sprint freestyles and relays, and has been able to earn Miami points in both.
“One of the words that come to mind is ‘feisty.’ I mean that in the most positive way,” Kershaw said. “It’s exactly what you want out of your competitors. She brings that element to the team. Any time a breaststroke event rolls around, you know she’ll be right in the fight and willing to give everything.”
A 2014 All-American in the 1-meter, Dorman has been one of Miami’s most impressive divers during his five years with the Hurricanes. Dorman became the first diver in program history to capture three gold medals at the AT&T National Diving Championships in 2013, earning the men’s high point award with top scores in 1-meter, 3-meter and 3-meter synchro.
“When I recruited Sam, I knew he was going to take some time to develop, which it did,” head diving coach Randy Ableman said. “I’m really happy with the progress that he has made and the position he has put himself in. Fortunately it’s not the end of the road, because he has a lot more diving in him. It’s his last college dual meet, and we have bigger goals ahead. We have the NCAA’s coming up, as well as some other major meets.”
Cousineau, who transferred to Miami from Ohio State prior to the 2013-14 season, was recognized with the 2013 USA Diving Wendy Wyland Award – honoring a diver who “who represents a love for the sport, is an extremely hard worker, an exceptional competitor and has courage in dealing with adversity.” Cousineau suffered a stroke during the summer before her freshman year at Ohio State, but recovered and rebounded to deliver a sparkling collegiate diving career, including All-America honors in 2013.
“This is her second year here, but she’s the hardest worker you can imagine. She’s such a great role model for the rest of our divers,” Ableman said. “She really deserves to go out in style, and have a great senior year. a great last dual meet, and a great run at NCAA’s. I’m sure she will.”
Vock, who redshirted the 2012-13 season while recovering from labrum surgery, delivered an All-American season as a junior in the 1-meter event. An Honorable Mention All-America in 2012, Vock has also captured a silver medal (2014 1-meter) and bronze medal (2012 1-meter) at ACC’s during her career.
“She’s a Hurricane to the bone,” Ableman said of Vock. “She’s actually been pretty emotional about this whole meet and her last couple of months in the sport. I really want to see her go out on a great note. She’s had an awesome career, and she really wants to put an exclamation mark on the end of it.”
Admission to Saturday’s meet against FIU is free.
