Swimmer will defend her victories

Kate Kovenock '05

Kate Kovenock '05 has asserted her status as one of the most accomplished swimmers in the nation and as a top scholar. Naturally, she is proud of her success.

But Kovenock still has two more meets in her CC swimming career. She will defend her victories in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle at the NESCAC Championship hosted by Middlebury College Feb. 18-20. And on March 10-12 the season culminates with the 2005 NCAA Championship in Holland, Mich. Kovenock has already qualified for the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle events.

You can track her performance at these two meets by visiting the team's Web site.

Kovenock, a tri-captain from Orono, Maine, has earned All-America honors in each of her four seasons in the pool. In March 2004 she capped a magical season by winning the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championship in St. Peters, Mo. Three weeks earlier, Kovenock set three conference records at the New England Small College Athletic Conference Championship (NESCAC) by sweeping the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle events.

Head coach Marc Benvenuti has directed the Camel women's swim team to a 9-1 record this season and a 26-1-1 mark over the previous two seasons.

Photo: Jon Crispin / Kate Kovenock '05, center, dives from the blocks in a meet last year at Jane Cadwell Lott '36 Natatorium.

“Kate's contribution has been much more than on the scoreboard, he said. “Kate has been the cornerstone of the program.  She knows what it takes to win and lifts everyone around her up to another level.” 

Kovenock also has enjoyed tremendous success in the classroom. Last June, she was selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA) Academic All-America Team. A philosophy major, Kovenock has also been selected twice for the NESCAC All-Academic Team.

And on March 23 to 27 she will visit San Francisco to present a paper titled, “Reformulating the Precautionary Principle” at a meeting of the International Society for Environmental Ethics. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Pacific Division meeting of the American Philosophical Association.

Kovenock said she is glad she chose Connecticut College. “I really felt comfortable here from the first time I visited the campus,” she said. “There are a lot of ways to be challenged.”