The Ithaca College ladies’s swimming and diving crew is ramping up for its sixth consecutive Liberty League Championship Tournament marketing campaign after discovering success on South Hill and on the NCAA Division III Championship.
Head coach Mike Blakely-Armitage is coming into his third season on the helm. He joined this system on the heels of a four-year Liberty League Championship win streak, and has continued the legacy with two extra titles within the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Blakely-Armitage mentioned he seems like he’s “standing on the shoulders of giants” and the previous success of this system.
“It’s just maintaining that momentum and the legacy that we have with our program,” Blakely-Armitage mentioned. “We would like to maintain that dominance. We’ve won six in a row for the women’s team. … None of the women on our team right now know what it’s like to get second place.”
First-year diver Madison Morris mentioned that whereas she has felt the legacy and expectations to win the Liberty League championships since becoming a member of the crew, she thinks of it as an thrilling alternative for the group to work towards.
“Being on the pool deck with the older girls, they’ve all experienced winning before,” Morris mentioned. “So to come into that, they say it’s sink or swim, but you don’t really have a choice to fail. You’re put into a program where you’re going to succeed.”
Outside of Liberty League championships, Morris mentioned the dive crew is benefiting from its smaller roster — eight, in comparison with the swim crew’s 27 — to set particular objectives.
“We want to send all of us to regionals, which you have to qualify for with a score,” Morris mentioned. “So the [diving] team goal this year is getting all of us there, including the freshmen and some of the newcomers.”
Diving discovered particular person success on the nationwide stage with Kailee Payne ’25, who was named First Team All-American and received her fourth National Championship in March. Payne holds program information for 1- and 3-meter dives.
Blakely-Armitage mentioned within the wake of Payne’s commencement, diving coach Chris Griffin is concentrated on build up the diving crew’s depth.
“No offense to anybody on our team, but Kailee Payne is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete,” Blakely-Armitage mentioned. “It’s very hard to win back-to-back titles, to win two diving board competitions in a single nationals, and then do it twice in a row. She’s kind of the pinnacle of what we would hope our progress would be. [Griffin] is trying to maintain an excellence of getting people to regionals, and then to nationals, which he’s been really successful at.”
When it involves swimmers, Blakely-Armitage mentioned the crew can count on sturdy performances from sophomore swimmers Sydney Koehler and Elizabeth Bodie. Koehler was named swimming and diving Rookie of the Year throughout her first yr with the crew, and Bodie set this system report for 200-yard butterfly with a time of two:07.74. Blakely-Armitage additionally highlighted junior swimmer Kathleen Papiernik’s continued dominance, incomes two Liberty League Swimmers of the Week on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.
Morris mentioned the diving squad’s team-first mentality has saved them motivated, in addition to offering some pleasant competitors.
“It’s a race to see who can outscore other people,” Morris mentioned. “We all bounce back and forth, so your chances of winning two meets in a row is super slim. It’s really fun because you get to love the people as people, and then you get to kind of be rivals with them on the competition side.”
First-year swimmer Charlotte Barton had additionally discovered quick camaraderie amongst her crew. She mentioned the early elevate occasions had been a straightforward adjustment coming from her extremely aggressive highschool diving crew, and he or she seems like she has identified her teammates for perpetually.
“[Training] is really difficult and you’re tired, but you feel very accomplished and good about yourself, too,” Barton mentioned.
This tradition has been rigorously constructed by Blakely-Armitage, who mentioned whereas he expects greatness from the crew, he refrains from prominently displaying previous championships’ trophies, focusing extra on the method than the tip outcome. Upperclassmen have made a acutely aware effort to welcome new athletes, which Morris mentioned has boosted crew morale and power.
“It’s like you have 25 older sisters, and they’re all so supportive,” Morris mentioned. “Divers usually get cast out, and that’s super common on teams because it is such a different sport from swimming, but this team has really tried to incorporate everybody into what they’re doing. Having the older girls memorizing your diving scores and knowing your goals, that’s been awesome.”
The Bombers tackle the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers at 1 p.m. Nov. 22 in Rochester, earlier than returning house in December for the Bomber Invitational. The invitational is a crucial alternative for regional {qualifications}, however Barton mentioned the Bombers are prepared for something the season has to offer them.
“I’m excited for any meet we have,” Barton mentioned. “They’re all super fun, and it’s an opportunity to get up there and go fast.”