1996-1997 can only be described as an amazing year for the Trinity women's swimming and diving team.  Led by senior Alice Wald-Hopkins and juniors Sarah Scott and Shelley Wheeler, the Tigers posted an 8-2 dual meet record and captured the Southern Collegiate Athletic conference Invitational Championship for the first time ever.

    "Amazing" describes Trinity's 790-769 win at the February SCAC Invitational, given that the Tigers finished over 300 points behind University of the South in the 1996 end-of-season classic.  Relying on upper class leadership and first-year depth, the lady Tigers out-scratched and outscored Sewanee in a close and exciting team battle. Trinity swimmers finished an impressive 1-2-3-5 in the list of individual high-point scorers, with All-American Sarah Scott leading the way. More amazing was the number of meet records reeled off by Tiger women. Although Trinity didn't win every swimming event, they did have one or more swimmers break the former SCAC meet record in all 13 individual events and in all 5 relay races. Trinity captured 9 of 13 individual swimming titles while racing to their 1997 team victory.

    The fall semester dual meet season included easy wins over Austin College and Colorado College, and a close "W" at Sewanee.  The month of January began with a challenging training camp in Los Angeles. It was a real test of fortitude for some used to the milder water temperatures found in Texas. Trinity finished their western trip with dual meet wins over Redlands and Occidental and losses to Claremont College and UC San Diego. The winter schedule concluded in late January with wins over Hendrix College, Austin College, and Southwest Texas State University.

    Going into the SCAC Invitational Championship (February 20, 21, 22), Trinity's coaching staff felt the team was ready for a good meet... it turned out to be a great one! In the first event on the opening night, Sewanee captured the 200 freestyle relay. Shelley Wheeler and Sarah Armstrong then stepped up for the 500 freestyle and captured 1-3 to take some of the wind out of the Sewanee sails.  The host team countered with a 50 freestyle win, but Ashley Weeter, Alice Wald-Hopkins, and Lynn Lyons went 2-3-5 as the Texans scored big points. Sarah Scott then raced to an NCAA qualifying time in the 200 IM with a 2:11.05 and Trinity was on fire. Sara Bastian finished runner-up on the 1 meter diving board before the evening's final event. . .the 400 medley relay. Trinity won the race going away, establishing a meet record with another NCAA "Q" time (4:06.13). The stage was set for a possible meet victory.

    Day 2 of the SCAC Invitational began with a close Trinity win in the 200 medley relay, followed with a 1-2 finish by Shelley Wheeler and Leslie Weeter in the 400 IM. First year Suski Sokol captured the Tiger's third consecutive event, winning the 100 butterfly with the third consecutive meet record of the night. All-American Sarah Scott and frosh Sarah Armstrong kept things rolling with a 1-3 finish in the 200 freestyle, and Ashley Weeter continued the win streak by swimming under the NCAA qualifying standard in the 100 breaststroke.  Sewanee finally broke the Trinity lock on gold by winning the 100 backstroke, only to see Trinity's 800 freestyle relay team sprint to a 14 second win over a very surprised Sewanee squad. The Tigers from Texas left the pool excited about the evening's results. . .and they sensed the opportunity now at hand. Trinity would enter the final day of the meet with a team title within their grasp.

    Saturday night opened with Shelley Wheeler splitting a 1-3 Sewanee finish in the 1650 freestyle. The host team was not going to surrender without a fight. Sarah Scott then won the 200 backstroke with her third NCAA cut of the meet, leading Erika Chow and Erica Clower to a 1-4-6 result in the dorsal event. Senior standout Robin Spruill kept Sewanee in the game with a win 100 freestyle, and the host team continued to stay alive on the strength of a 1-2 finish in the 3 meter diving. The outcome of the meet was up for grabs and it was time for Trinity to either do or die. Ashley Weeter promptly responded to Sewanee's rally with a big win for Trinity in the 200 breaststroke as the Tigers bounced back with a 1-2-6 finish and some very big points. There were but two races left on the evening program, with the outcome of the meet still in limbo. Leslie Weeter and Suski Sokol then proceeded to nail the coffin shut with a gold and a silver in the 200 butterfly. The rest was almost anticlimactic. Trinity's 400 freestyle relay finished runner-up in the meet's final race, but the final score read Trinity 790 to Sewanee's 769 and Rollins College's 323. The team win was sweet and Trinity's ascent to the top of the SCAC was complete. The coaching staff went for a swim and the Tigers returned to San Antonio with their first championship title. It was an exciting finish to a challenging season!