Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's swimming and diving team opens up its season and New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule this Saturday when they host Ramapo College in TCNJ's Aquatic Center at 2 p.m.
 
The Lions are coming off their best season in program history finishing 5^th overall at the 2011 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. They also won their fifth straight Metropolitan championship and claimed another NJAC title, and posted a perfect 9-0 record. The depth of talent and experience has head coach Jen Harnett '93 excited about the season that lies ahead.
 
“Overall we have great depth in a number of events,” said Harnett, who enters her 11^th season as head coach, following a Hall of Fame swimming career with the Lions. “We should have a solid team for dual meets, and an even stronger mix for championship style competition. As long as we stay healthy, we have a lot of swimmers who are capable of qualifying for the NCAA championships.
 
Leading the way will be senior tri-captain Laura Piece (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West). The 15-time All-American and reigning MET and NJAC Swimmer of the Year owns three TCNJ program records in individual events and is part of four program relay team records.
 
Senior tri-captains Courtney Fuhro (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Immaculate Heart Academy) and Kelsey Herchenrider (Cape May, NJ/Cape May Regional) will also be looked upon to provide leadership in and out of the water. Fuhro and Herchenrider specialize in the individual medley and breast stroke events.
 
Five more Lion swimmers return to the roster after earning All-American citations a year ago. Junior Kayleigh Shangle (Highland Park, NJ/Highland Park) hopes to continue building on a spectacular first half of her career and senior Melissa Hessler (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) looks very strong in preseason, according to coach Harnett. Juniors Jenny Zavoda (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick), Caroline Kelly (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence), and sophomore Ashley Conroy (Toms River, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) also return after claiming All-American status in Knoxville, TN last March.
 
Behind the starting blocks is a pair of divers that brought plenty of excitement last season. Junior Danica Roskos (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) is set for a fresh slate of competition after winning national championships in the 1- and 3-meter diving events. Roskos became the first athlete in school history to win multiple national titles. She will share the spotlight with sophomore Sabrina Lucchesi (Columbus, NJ/Notre Dame). Lucchesi placed ninth in the 1-meter and 14^th in the 3-meter at the 2011 championships. She also won NJAC Diver of the Week five times in 2010-11. Freshman Emily DeClement (Princeton, NJ/Princeton) will also join the tumble party.
 
After back-to-back NJAC dual meets with Ramapo and Montclair State University, the Lions will host Division II foe Southern Connecticut University. Other notable events are the Princeton University Invitational, TCNJ Invitational beginning December 2^nd, and a tri-meet with West Chester University and Johns Hopkins University. A dual meet at Stevens Institute of Technology will also be a difficult challenge on Saturday, January 29.
 
TCNJ will be very strong in the butterfly and back stroke as well as the individual medley and sprint events. An eager and talented freshmen class will undoubtedly contribute to regular and post-season competition.
 
“We'd like to remain unbeaten in the NJAC and repeat at the MET championships,” noted Harnett. “We have finished in the top 10 two years in a row, and if we work hard and stay the course, have the ability to make it three straight years in the top 10.”
 
 
The MET championships are set for February 17 - 19 at Rutgers University and the 2012 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships will be held in Indianapolis, IN from March 21 - March 24.