July 9, 2010

STANFORD, Calif.-- Lea Maurer needed to replace Olympians Julia Smit and Elaine Breeden  and according to Collegeswimming.com, she did, as the website ranked her class No. 1 in the nation, paced by three of the six best swimmers in the country.

The class is headlined by North Baltimore's Felicia Lee (Baltimore, MD/Towson HS), a top butterflyer, as well as multi-event swimmers Maya DiRado (Santa Rosa, CA/Maria Carrillo HS) and Andi Taylor (Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS). The class also includes: Kirstie Chen  (Cerriitos, CA/Cerritos HS) Allison Arnold (Dallas, TX/Highland Park HS) Sara Giberson  (Huguenot, NY/Tottenville HS) and second generation Stanford swimmer, Alexandra Whitford  (Fair Oaks, CA/Bella Visa HS).

As collegeswimming.com noted, "... it won't be long before Maurer and her squad bring home their first championship trophy (under Maurer)." Stanford finished second at this year's NCAA Championships.

Lee, a member of the U.S. National team, had the nation's fastest times amongst 17 year olds, according to USA Swimming, in shortcourse yards in the 100 backstroke (53.30),  and 100 (53.30) and 200 butterflys (1:56.18), ranking in top-10 in another four categories.

DiRado, a bit younger, turned 17 midway through the season, posting the fastest 400-yard IM time (4:06.48), second-best 200 back (1:55.11) and third fastest 500 free (4:43.87) and 200 IM (1:57.80). Once turning 17, she had the third fastest 200 IM time (1:56.17), at one point setting the state record in the event.

Taylor, the state record holder in the 200 free and 200 IM, won seven state titles, ranking second amongst 18 year olds in the 200 free (1:45.46) and 200 fly (1:55.43) and the top-five in the 500 free and 200 and 400 IM's.

Giberson, the junior national meet record holder in the 400 IM (4:45.18), with a top-20 time in the 200 free amongst 17 year olds, commuted from Staten Island to Manhattan twice a day for practice. She developed into one of the nation's  top swimmers, honoring the memory of her father, a firefighter, who was killed on 9/11 in Manhattan.

Her story is here: http://bronx.ny1.com/content/sports/scholarathlete/111054/sara-giberson--swimming-toward-her-olympic-dream/

Whitford, from the San Joaquin Valley, had the nation's 12th-fastest 50-free time amongst 17 year olds, and continues the tradition of her mother, Anne Tweedy, who was fourth at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 IM and is a former American record holder.

Arnold, a Dallas native, posted the 15th-fastest 1650 time amongst 17 year olds.

The freestyler's exploits, that earned her Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd, is available here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh-aDBpzRQ4

Chen, from Southern California, had top-10 times in both the 400 IM (7th) and 200 fly (10th) amongst 17 year olds.

The swimmers join accomplished swimmers, Andi Murez, Liz Smith, Kate Dwelley, Kelsey Ditto, Betsy Webb and Sam Woodward, who all return next season.