Rowan Women’s Swimming gears up for NJAC Championships – The Whit

Rowan has been targeted all season on progressing swimmers for postseason success. From late Sept. onward, the aim has not modified to dominate the pool in Hampton, Virginia, and enhance upon final yr’s third-place end.

Now, the week has come for Rowan to place all of the work to the take a look at on the Hampton Aquaplex, attempting to increase upon final yr’s success and ship swimmers to the NCAA Championships in March at Indiana University’s natatorium in Indianapolis.

One swimmer has grow to be a family title in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) meets for 3 years, and has no plans of any slowdown in 2026: Ella Pennington. 

Pennington was the NJAC Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 and earned NJAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year in 2024-25. As it stands, Pennington holds the highest time in NCAA Division III for the 100 backstroke, a time of 54.51. She holds Division III’s fourth-ranked time within the 200 backstroke, slightly below a second off the lead.

“I think just, as a team, especially with Coach [Gerardo Gonzalez Ruiz], I feel like we are definitely seeing a lot of progress in the right direction,” Pennington stated. “Not just me, everyone had really good races [against Kean]. I think we’re definitely seeing like all the work we put in at the beginning of the season start to pay off. And I think Coach [Gonzalez Ruiz], especially, has just been really focusing on our details, and I think that’s showing.”

Junior Kaitlyn Crouthamel has been pairing properly with Pennington for a 1-2 punch from the Profs all season lengthy. 

Crouthamel is available in because the Twelfth-ranked swimmer within the NJAC and is coming off a first-place end within the 500 Free at Kean. The junior from Cape May additionally positioned second within the 1000 Free.

“It’s a hard toss-up between the mile and (400 Individual Medley),” Crouthamel stated. “The [400 Individual Medley] is definitely my favorite event to swim, and I enjoy swimming it a lot. I think I can perform well in it. But, I also really want to focus on the mile and hopefully get that NCAA bid with that, too.”

Gonzalez Ruiz feels Crouthamel is in a great spot to make a push to NCAA competitors, and is utilizing the NJAC Championships as a stepping stone to take action.

“[NCAA’s] is what we’re still hoping for,” Gonzalez Ruiz stated. “That’s what we’re shooting for. She’s been working really hard with Coach (Erin Quay), the distance coach. Her swims throughout the season; she’s had some really hard lineups. The 500 relay, the 1000, and that’s been practiced for her leading into this final week at conferences to see what she can achieve after all.”

For feedback/questions on this story, DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or electronic mail [email protected]