Sports
Rosenbaum ’14 defends her national title
By Kendall Weir '12, Sports Editor
March 29, 2012
One would think there are no more records for Maggie Rosenbaum ’14 to break. She defended her national title in the 100 back and has not even reached the halfway point of her collegiate career. So, think again.
In defending her title in the 100 back and placing third in the 200 back, Maggie Rosenbaum ’14 put up another phenomenal showing at this year’s NCAA D-III swimming and diving championships in Indianapolis, IN. She added to her already comprehensive list of achievements and continued to cement her name in bold letters in Hamilton’s history books.
“There is definitely more pressure after you win once, but I tried to block that out as much as possible during the season,” she commented on heading to NCAAs.“I just wanted to focus on what I was doing and get stronger, and luckily it all worked out.”
For a national champion, she certainly carries herself with humility. It more than just “worked out:” on day one, Rosenbaum placed 11th overall in the 200 IM, breaking a school record that was previously held for the better part of a decade. On day two, she swam the fastest 100 back that all of Division III saw this season in the preliminary heat, then went on to become this year’s 100 back national champion later in the day with a time of 55.30 seconds. She also received two All-American awards and one All-American honorable mention.
Lord only knows how Rosenbaum will top two consecutive seasons in which she took home national titles, but we can be confident that she will find a way, with the double threat that is her drive and her outlook on the future.
“I’m going to get back to work and try to take next year as a brand new season,” she said, “without any expectations that are based on what happened this season.”
Maybe just as impressively, Rosenbaum was not the only Hamilton swimmer to leave Indianapolis with All-American honors. Megan Gibbons ’12 came in 19th overall in the 500 free in the process of breaking a 17-year-old record. She also finished seventh overall in the 100 free, breaking her own record, set earlier this season. Gibbons’ feats earned her All-American recognition in addition to an All-American honorable mention.
“Megan has been a better training partner than I could have hoped for. She is such an incredibly hard worker and has taught me so much,” Rosenbaum said of Gibbons, crediting the senior swimmer who will graduate in May for contributing to her success. However, Gibbons’ influence will stay with Rosenbaum on the Hill: “She's not really going anywhere—I can always look up at the record board and see her. She is a champion, and I owe her so much.”