1996-97 Season Outlook

The tradition of the Stanford women's swimming and diving team speaks for itself: five straight national titles, 10 straight Pac-10 titles and just one dual meet loss since 1989. And, believe it or not, the Cardinal is expected to be even better in 1996-97.

Richard Quick's squad returns 10 All-Americans and five NCAA champions, which coupled with a talented recruiting class, make the Cardinal a favorite to win a sixth-straight NCAA title.

The recruiting class includes three Olympians, led by two-time Olympic gold medalist Catherine Fox. She is joined by Jessica Amey (Canada) and Gabrielle Rose (Brazil). In all, Stanford has five swimmers who competed in the 1996 Olympics, including senior Claudia Franco (Spain) and junior Elin Austevoll (Norway).

But the road to the top won't be easy with Michigan, SMU, Texas and Georgia all expected to contend.

Here's a stroke-by-stroke breakdown of the 1996-97 Cardinal:

Sprint Freestyle

Nineteen-time All-American Claudia Franco won three titles at the 1995-96 NCAA Championships, and has now won five in her illustrious career. Franco, who finished 11th in the 50 meter free at the Summer Olympics, ranks third in school history in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 free.

While Franco ranks first on the team in the 50 free and 200 free, freshman Catherine Fox already is tops on the squad in the 100 free. The Shawnee Mission, Kansas native won two relay gold medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Joining this pair is a host of talented returners mixed in with a few newcomers. Nine-time All-American senior Michelle Jesperson, junior All-Americans Becky Bicknell, Lindsay Gassner and Michelle Collins and sophomore Emily Smith will all make an impact. Joining them are freshmen Jessica Amey, who represented Canada in the Summer Olympics, Gabrielle Rose, who swam for Brazil at the Olympics and Jessica Powell.

Distance Freestyle

The Cardinal boasts two of the top distance free swimmers in the country in senior Sarah Anderson and junior Amy Oberhelman.

Anderson is a nine-time All-American, and has recorded six individual top 10 finishes at NCAAs. Oberhelman, who is a seven-time All-American, placed third in the 1650 free at last year's NCAAs. Both swimmers have also earned All-American accolades in the 200 free. Joining Oberhelman and Anderson in this group are freshman Courtney Lischke and Jennifer Tucker-Mohl.

Backstroke

Richard Quick's squad is young and deep in the backstroke behind senior Kerry O'Hanlon, junior Evi-Lynn Byer, sophomores Kari Edwards, Chantal Rawn and Suzanne Toledo and Fox.

O'Hanlon is a seven-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion, while Fox finished fourth in the 100 meter back at the 1996 Olympic Trials, and owns the best short course time on the squad in both events. Joining Fox are the three sophomores - Edwards, Rawn and Toledo - who also qualified for NCAAs as freshmen. Byer, who finished 14th at the Olympic Trials in the 200 back, and freshman Maren Ewers are also expected to contribute.

Breaststroke

Junior Elin Austevoll, the Norwegian national record holder in the 100 and 200 breast, is back after earning six All-American honors as a freshman. Austevoll also won Pac-10 titles in both the 100 and 200 breast.

Joining Austevoll are sophomore Alison Fealey, a transfer from USC who qualified for the NCAAs as a freshman, sophomore Tara Hopwood and freshman Gabrielle Rose.

Butterfly

Stanford returns four NCAA qualifiers, led by All-Americans Franco and Anderson. Franco finished 11th in the 100 fly at last year's NCAAs, while Anderson was 16th in the 200 fly.

Sophomores Jodi Jackson, who finished 17th in the 100 fly at NCAAs, Caroline Palmer, an NCAA qualifier in both fly events, Amey, Collins, Rose and Toledo are all expected to contribute. Both Amey and Rose competed in the 100 fly in Atlanta.

Individual Medley

The Cardinal returns three sophomores - Austevoll, Edwards and Rawn - who recorded top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championships as freshmen. Austevoll finished fourth in the 200 IM, while Edwards was seventh in the 400 IM and Rawn 10th in the 200 IM.

Anderson, Hopwood and Jackson along with newcomers Fealey, Rose, who was an Olympian in the 200 IM, and Tucker-Mohl provide added depth.

Relays

Stanford has dominated relays at the NCAA Championships, including three first-place finishes in 1995-96, and this year could be no exception. The Cardinal loses just two swimmers - Lisa Jacob and Jessica Tong - from last season's NCAA relay teams.

Franco anchored three relay squads - 400 free, 200 medley and 400 medley - and also swam a leg in the 200 free. Austevoll, a member of the 400 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relay teams, will also be a key contributor. Big things are expected from Amey, Rose, and Fox in the relay events.

Diving

Rick Schavone's squad is led by 1995-96 Pac-10 Diver of the Year Megan Gardner. She finished a close second in the platform at NCAAs in helping boost the Cardinal to its fifth straight title. Gardner is a three-time All-American, and Pac-10 platform champion last season.

Senior Stefanie Forrest, who finished fourth in the platform at Pac-10s last season is also back, as are sophomores Gaelyn Felix, Kari Kokka, Tricia Tempio and Carissa Zenorini, who finished second at Pac-10s in the one-meter.

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