Newcomers Playing Valuable Roles at NCAA Championships

Newcomers Playing Valuable Roles at NCAA Championships

Wednesday, March 16, 2016 | Women's Swimming & Diving

Freshmen Hannah Burns and Mollie Pulte to compete at NCAA Championships

By: Benjamin Schmitz

ATLANTA -- The NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships always mark a special time of the year for those student-athletes fortunate enough to compete. It's an opportunity to showcase an entire year's workouts and countless hours of dedication to a sport they've invested so much of their lives to. Previous results mean nothing, expectations are high, and the spotlights are at their brightest. It's the moment many have dreamt about since they first started swimming.

For two University of Florida freshman -- Hannah Burns and Mollie Pulte -- the 2016 NCAA Championships are about to make those dreams a reality for the first time in their young careers. The duo mark two of just 65 newcomers that will compete in the four-day event.

"It's been a pretty crazy year adjusting to collegiate swimming after coming out of high school," said Pulte. "It's definitely been a higher and more intense atmosphere than I was accustomed to, but with that, this program has already pushed me to reach limits I never thought were imaginable as a freshman.

"Going to the NCAA Championships has always been a goal of mine, but I wasn't sure if it would happen this season or not. It's the fastest short course meet on American soil and I'm honored to be going as a representative of Florida. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time and definitely looking forward to it."

Though Pulte and Burns are the only current UF freshman competing at this year's games, they're not the only Gators on the roster who rose to the challenge in their first years at UF. Sophomore Amelia Maughan, junior Taylor Katz, and seniors Natalie Hinds, Ashlee Linn, and Lindsey McKnight each swam at the NCAA Meet as freshmen.

Of that group, Hinds shined the brightest, earning seven All-America honors, which tied the team lead in 2013. She placed third in the 100-yard freestyle with a UF-record time of 47.73 and finished ninth in both the 100-yard butterfly (51.89) and the 50-yard freestyle (22.12). If that wasn't enough, she wrapped up the meet as a member of the school's record-setting 400-yard freestyle relay team (3:12.96).

Now in 2016, the takeaway isn't just the success which has evolved from that group, but in their ability to help the underclassmen as they take on similar challenges themselves.
"This group of upperclassmen has been an outstanding group of role models for us," said Pulte. "It's a lot of fun being able to compete with them because they've experienced all of this before and they're able to give us insight during the big moments. Their message typically relates to being able to take pride in being a Gator and keeping faith in the training that we've put in all season."

Burns, a Lake City, Florida, native, in no stranger to that training, the environment, and the work that produces UF swimmers. As a former Gator Swim Club member, the Columbia High product has benefitted from a relatively smooth transition from high school swimming to the collegiate level.

"I've been around the program a bit having swam for Gator Swim Club, so I had a good idea coming in what swimming here at UF might be like," said Burns. "There has still been a transition, but I'm adapting well and loving every second of it."

Though the success in her first season may have came as no shock, the NCAA Championships will provide a whole new realm of competition for her.

"I truly have no idea what to expect this week," said Burns. "It's unlike any meet I've ever been a part of. I'm excited to go out with my teammates and give it my all. I don't want to over think anything too much at this point so I'm just taking it day-by-day."

Regardless of a new meet or not, it won't be the first time Burns has took on a challenging field. As a prep, she was a five-time Florida State High School Champion and a USA National Junior Team member -- not to mention a 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier. Nevertheless, her goals entering this week will remain similar to what they have been at past meets: representing the team to the best of her ability.

"My biggest goal this week is to represent the team well," said Burns. "From an individual standpoint, if I go out and swim the times that I'm capable of, and the times that I've trained all year for, that will be enough for me to call this week a success."

Pulte, Burns, and the Gators will open competition tonight at 6 p.m. ET, inside the McCauley Aquatic Center in Atlanta. There, a total of 322 participants (281 swimmers and 41 divers) from across the country await them. Twelve Gator women sit among that field as they look forward to competing through four days and seven sessions of competition.

Fans interested in watching the 2016 NCAA Championships, can do so by live streaming the meet on laptops and tablets, or by following along via livestats.

Notable Links:
Complete NCAA Championship Notes
2016 Championship Central Page
Competition Schedule
Psych Sheet

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