Outstanding Winter Athletes

Men's Swimming-

The men's swim team achieved a winning season this year due to the fact that every member of the team contributed. One let down by one person and this would not have been achieved. To pick out one member of the team as the most important cannot be done. Since I have been asked to highlight one member of this team I will take Ryan Drasher '04 based upon the following facts. Rank in the NEWMAC at the end of the duel meet season: 33rd in 50 freestyle, 26th in 100 freestyle, 23rd in 200 freestyle, 37th in 500 freestyle, 8th in 1000 freestyle, 16th in 100 butterfly, 9th in 200 butterfly, 8th in 100 backstroke, 5th in 200 backstroke, 11th in 200 IM and 8th in the 400IM.

At the NEWMAC Championships Ryan was a member of the 200 freestyle relay team that finished 5th, a member of the 400 medley relay team that finished 7th, took 5th in the 400 IM, took 6th in the 100 backstroke, a member of the 800 freestyle relay team that finished 6th, took 3rd in the 200 backstroke and was also a member of the 400 freestyle relay team that finished 6th.

Ryan led the men's varsity swim team in scoring this season with 257 points.

Women's Swimming-

Being asked to highlight one individual from the Women's Swim Team is not an easy task. Every member of this year's team was and is a very important building block for the future of women's swimming. Because of each and every one of them the future looks very bright. So we will highlight Captain

Kate Johnson '02 who lead the team in scoring with 169 points and the only women swimmer to finish in the top sixteen at the NEWMAC Championships when she placed 15th in the 200 backstroke. She was also a member of the 400 medley relay team that finished 9th.

Wrestling-

NECCWA tournament 2001:

Willie Welsh -2001- 3rd place HWT

Dave Capone-2004- 3rd place 174lbs

Women's Track and Field-

Valerie Ambroise-2004- Bridgeport, CT Valerie burst onto the WPI indoor track scene with the subtlety of a hurricane. At the very first meet in early December, and with only two weeks of practice under her belt, she won the 55m dash, came in 4th in the 200m, and anchored the 4 x 200 team to a second place finish against some formidable competition. Never satisfied with her performance, Valerie continued to make subtle improvements in mechanics, fitness, and overall race preparation over the course of the season. The hard work paid off as she recorded her best times of the season for both the 55m and the 200m at the ECAC Division III Championships on March 3rd in Boston, MA. Both times are WPI school records. Not only did Valerie contribute to the program her excellent attitude and hard work ethic but she also lead the team in scoring for the indoor season as a freshman. Expectations will be high for this talented athlete as we head into the 2001 outdoor season and the years to come.

Kerri Coleman-2003- Rehoboth, MA Kerri entered her sophomore indoor track season with lofty goals and the strength to back them up. Determined to top a very successful freshman season, she started training early in the weight room. While everyone else was inside working on drills and praying for warmer weather, Kerri was outside in the cold and snow throwing the shot put day in and day out. In a meet at Brandeis in late January, Coleman tossed the shot an event-winning throw of nearly forty-two feet also another new school record. This distance was just shy of the provisional qualifying mark to compete at the National Championships. Unfortunately, the trip to the NCAA meet would have to wait as a bad spin in the thrower's circle left Kerri hobbling for the rest of the season. Healing quickly and more determined than ever, Coleman will look to blow away the competition in the upcoming outdoor season.

Harmonie Hawley-2001- Pine Beach, NJ Harmonie is the seasoned veteran of the indoor track squad and a complete professional both on and off the track. A standout in both cross-country and track, she has a well-deserved reputation among distance runners in New England. A true team player in a sport that is known for its individuality, Hawley works hard to help her teammates excel and as the team captain stops short of nothing to assure the best for her team. Her 2000-2001 indoor season was plagued by setbacks but Harmonie still managed to put up impressive marks in both the 3000m and 5000m to qualify to compete at the New England and ECAC Championships. Watch for her on the roads of Worcester putting in her mileage for the outdoor season and for that determination and hard work to pay off once competition resumes.

Men's Track and Field-

John Gleeson-2001- Hyde Park, NY John contributed 33 points to the 2000-2001 Indoor track and field season. His times for the 800 and 1500 were consistently improving and qualified him for the Division 3 Championships and ECAC Championship. John success in his indoor season was due to his hard work and training in the cross- country season. John was our top 800 runner and work hard to be able to break the 2 minute barrier. He was a very versitil runner. He also earned All New England status, for his performance on the distance medley relay. We are looking forward to seeing his performances in the 800 and 1500for the Outdoor Track and field season.

James Hammond-2001-Durham, Ct James, one of the co-captains and All American in the hammer, had an outstanding season this winter with the 35-pound weight throw. He started off by placing 2nd at the New England Championship meet earning his All New England status then he went on to take 2nd place at the ECAC Championship. He qualified for Division 3 Nationals and took 10th place out in the meet at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh March 9-10, 2001. James is ready to compete this spring track and field season with his favorite event the hammer. We will see another All American title for him this spring.

Justin Lutz-2002-Walpole, MA Justin, the other co-captain, also scored 33 points this Indoor track and field season. Our star 3000 and 5000 meter runner and part of our distance medley team qualified for the ECAC Championship meet. His season fell short due to sickness though.