CINCINNATI, Ohio, October 16. The University of Cincinnati swimming and diving team kicks off its first season under head coach Mandy Commons-DiSalle on Friday, Oct. 17, when crosstown rival Xavier visits the Keating Aquatics Center. The diving competition is slated to begin at 3 p.m., with the swimming portion of the meet at 5 p.m. The swimming action can be seen live on BearcatsTV.
Head Coach’s Debut
Commons-DiSalle, previously a four-year assistant coach with the Bearcats, takes over as head coach for her first season in 2014-15. The Cincinnati native and Sycamore High School product was a three-time Ohio state champion as a swimmer for the Aves before competing collegiately at Clemson. With the Tigers, Commons-DiSalle qualified for the NCAA Championships all four seasons, earning honorable mention All-America honors in 2001 and ’02. She was also named a National Strength & Conditioning All-American in 2000.
Her inaugural staff at Cincinnati includes assistant coaches Matt Ense, Josh Schneider, Jaclyn Rosen and Tory McKenna. Ense, the 2012 Rising Assistant Coach of the year, is in his second season at UC. Schneider won a national title in the 50 freestyle as a swimmer for the Bearcats in 2010 and is in his first season on the staff. Rosen is also a newcomer to Clifton, following a swimming career at Hawaii and coaching stop at San Jose State. McKenna enters her fourth season as the squad’s diving coach.
Keire Returns
The Bearcats sent a swimmer to the NCAA Championships for the first time in three years as Jackie Keire (Burlington, Ontario/Nelson) qualified in three events in 2014. The now-sophomore also won a pair of individual titles at the American Athletic Conference Championships and earned Scholar All-America honors from the College Swimming Coaches Association. She enters her sophomore campaign as the school’s record holder in the 50 freestyle (22.85), 100 freestyle (48.52), 200 freestyle (1:44.73) and 500 freestyle (4:41.33).
Rivals Dive In
Cincinnati and Xavier will be meeting to open the season for the sixth straight season. The last time UC did not kick off the season with a visit from the Musketeers was the 2008-09 campaign when the Bearcats traveled to the Golden Grizzly Quadrangular and faced Oakland, Wayne State and Western Kentucky. Last year, the Bearcats swept the visitors, as the men’s team scored a 111-85 victory and the women took a 183-99 decision.
Up Next
Following the meet with rival Xavier, the Bearcats travel to Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Oct. 24, to swim against Ohio State and Purdue (women only). The meet begins at 4 p.m. at OSU’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
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