Consistent quality throughout The College of Wooster women's swimming and diving program has the Fighting Scots well positioned to succeed throughout the 2025-26 season. Veteran head coach Rob Harrington knows he has a very good team, and that he will need to rely on scoring contributions throughout to achieve success.

"We graduated some big-time standouts, led by All-American Ollie Bream," shared Harrington. "I do not really know what our lineup is going to look like with our graduations. I do have an idea. I am ready to start the season and see where we are at."

All-North Coast Athletic Conference relay members Charlotte Helm and Keara Wiley headline the returnees from an awards standpoint. Wiley provided a big boost to the sprint freestyle and individual medley upon rejoining the team as a junior, while Helm will look to do likewise upon returning from studying abroad at semester's end.

"Keara did a tremendous job," said Harrington. "Keara is someone who works hard, stays positive, and stays focused. That really paid off at our conference championships last year. Charlotte is one who really rises up for the conference championships, so we will look for that again, but it will be a short season for her."

Distance freestyle is Wooster's deepest area. From top to bottom, Harrington is very confident Wooster has a talented group. However, he is going to need the season to see how the lineup will play out for the NCAC Championships, widely regarded as Div. III's preeminent meet.

"Both Emma Humbert and Rachel Frank are looking very strong to start the season," said Harrington, when talking about his top returning distance freestyle swimmers. "They are looking just as good or better as previous years. Rachel is definitely going to be a contributor in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, and mile. Emma is looking to branch out. While she is still going to be a mainstay in the freestyle and backstroke events, we are going to see Emma more in the individual medley and potentially in the butterfly and breaststroke."

Seniors Bailey Nickols and Lacey Mindock, plus junior Anna Lundquist, project to play key roles in the distance freestyle events among the returnees.

Said Harrington, "We have a strong group and it has made for a fun training group. As long as we do what we are supposed to do in practice, we are going to see good things from all of these swimmers throughout the course of the season, and especially at the conference championships."

Junior Becca Murray and sophomore Elizabeth Theobald project to lead the butterfly events. While Murray and Theobald are super talented, Harrington will look to swimmers from other events to support them throughout the season.

"Becca and Elizabeth are both doing good things in practice, and I am looking forward to seeing them compete once the season starts," stated Harrington. "Becca might branch out to other events, like distance freestyle and some more individual medley events. If that happens, I think we are going to see Elizabeth take on the leadership role in both the 100 and 200 butterfly this year. I would not be surprised to see Emma come in and help out there too."

Sophomore Maggie Layne is Wooster's top returning breaststroker. Harrington projects to see her in more of a leadership role for both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, while also being a key in the 400 individual medley.

"We graduated quite a bit of talent in the breaststroke," shared Harrington. "We will be looking to returnees like Ainsley Rogers, Savannah Cox, Charlotte Kottenstette, and Ella Henderson to help fill in. All of them have not necessarily swam the breaststroke traditionally for us, but they will be key contributors for us. We will also have help in the breaststroke from our incoming class."

With Helm abroad, Harrington projects to get assistance from junior Sylvia Krieg and senior Hadley Reckard in the backstroke to complement Humbert. Harrington sees the backstroke seeing major contributions from new team members.

In the sprint freestyle, Harrington will lean on senior Patricia Chen and Krieg from the returnee standpoint. The Scots' coach sees them contributing greatly to relays as well. From the returnees, Harrington is looking to bring in people from other events to bolster the ranks. Frank could see more action in sprint and middle distance races, while Cox and Murray may swim more freestyle races for the team to aid the program from a collegiate meet experience standpoint. The Scots' coach also projects to cycle first-years through the freestyle events to give them valuable early-collegiate experience.

Humbert is the projected leader in the 400 individual medley entering the season, while Theobald is the fastest returnee among the 200 individual medley swimmers. Sprinters and distance swimmers alike found great success in the 100 individual medley last year at conference for Wooster, and something Harrington sees happening again this year.

First-years Jasmyn Coviello, Leah Dean, Aryanna Harton, Jess Kelly, Reese Lucas, Genevieve McCullar, Elena Sandifer, and Ella Watterson, plus sophomore newcomer Nicole Ortega Chirinos round out Wooster's roster.

"I am really excited about this class," shared Harrington. "They have great attitudes, work really hard, and have really bought in as an incoming class. Our newcomers have done a really good job making their own mark on our program."

Wooster opens the year with a home dual meet against Malone University on Saturday, Nov. 1. The program hosts its annual three-day midseason Wooster Invitational Dec. 4-6 at Chris Matthew Aquatics Center/Ellen Shapiro Natatorium.

"We have allowed for some good balance with our schedule," wrapped up Harrington. "This will give us the opportunity to find the strength in our lineup to put our best foot forward at Denison University during the NCAC Championships in February."