Women’s Swim wins first NJAC Championship in Program History

By Dorian Alerte | Published February 13, 2023

It was a sight to see as Women’s Swimming Head Coach Chris Swenson jumped into the pool in The College of New Jersey Aquatics Center following his team. His team cheered as they witnessed their coach follow in the tradition of coaches jumping into the pool following this big victory.

On Jan. 14, for the first time in its program history, the women’s swimming team (8-0) won the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship over TCNJ 150-112.

“As a college coach, that was the greatest professional day of my life,” Swenson said.

It is also the first time since the NJAC adopted women’s swimming and diving that a team other than TCNJ or Rowan University has won the championship.

“That’s never been done here,” Swenson said. “This team will always be the first that’s not TCNJ or Rowan that’s done that.”

This season has been one to remember for the Cougars. They have dominated their competition, both in and out of the NJAC conference. At no point during this season have they trailed any opponent.

“This is a dominant team,” Swenson said. “Up to this point, they have just absolutely taken care of everybody in their path and have left no doubt that they are the best team in this conference. That to me is the most impressive thing. They’re not just winning, they’re winning big, with class and grace, on top of having the highest GPA in the conference.”

The Cougars began the championship meet claiming first and third place in the 200-yard medley relay. That first event earned the Cougars an opening 13 points. The team comprised Ashley Konz, Teagan Powell, Abby Burns, and Emma Bellars. From that point on, the Cougars never looked back.

Burns, a freshman, placed first in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. Burns has been integral to the Cougars’ success this season as she has claimed NJAC Rookie of the week twice this season, including this championship weekend.

“It was definitely relieving,” Burns said. “We knew what we were capable of, it was just a matter of performing well at that point. It was just really exciting and a really good team win to start off the new semester.

Mid-year transfer Naomee Miller proved to be a fierce competitor. The Sophomore transfer from Marshall University picked up her first collegiate victories, placing first in the 200-yard backstroke and the 200-yard individual medley.

“The girls made it easy coming in from a D-1 school,” Miller said. “I had an expectation of what was going to happen, but I’ve really enjoyed the process so far. It was my first collegiate win ever… It feels pretty good, I was pretty excited.”

Kean women’s swimming program began in 1977, before taking a 14-year hiatus, beginning following the 2002-2003 campaign. The program was revamped in 2017 and Swenson became the head coach in the 2018 season. Under Swenson, the program has grown and improved every season. 

In her second season with this team, sophomore Powell has seen the immediate progression of this team under Swenson.

“I think it definitely happened a little sooner than we thought,” Powell said. “It was definitely awesome. Seeing the girls train all year, I just knew that this is what was going to happen this year. This is what was expected.”

Although the Cougars are NJAC Champions, their season is not over yet. With three meets left in the season before Metropolitan Conference Championships, Swenson and his team have big expectations for this program for this season and the future.

“There is going to be National Champions coming out of this program very soon,” Swenson said. “We’re just getting started. I definitely think in the next two years, we are going to be a nationally ranked program, and well-known.”

The sky is the limit for this team as they will look to continue their undefeated regular season.

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