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Women's Swimming
Coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, University of Northern Iowa head women's swimming coach Stacey Simmer enters her seventh season with the Panthers and looks to take last season's success a step further. The 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Simmer has once again put together a very talented group of veteran swimmers. The Panthers finished fourth in the MVC Championships last season, earning 11 top-10 finishes. Throughout the season, the talented team also broke four school records. With seven seniors on this season's team and a very talented group of juniors, the Panthers look to be a force in the MVC this season, and in seasons to come. During the 2002-03 season, Simmer coached two-time MVC all-conference swimmer Erika Uthoff-Schmuecker to an MVC Championship in the 100-yard breaststroke, and she has coached seven MVC first team scholar athletes. Also, many of the Panthers' swim records are held by swimmers coached by Simmer. "We are very fortunate to get someone with Stacey's credentials to coach our women's swimming team," former UNI director of athletics Rick Hartzell said upon Simmer's appointment. "Her youthful enthusiasm and technical knowledge of swimming will give us a chance to get this program back on track. We are excited to have Stacey with us." Simmer swam for the University of Iowa from 1997-2001. As team captain her senior year, she received the Golden I-Book award for academic recognition. She also graduated holding individual records in the 50-yard free (23.08) and 100-yard free (50.79) and was part of the record-holding 200-yard free relay team, 400-yard free relay team, and 400-yard medley relay team. She also swam the 50 free at the 2000 United States Olympic Trials. Born and raised in Cedar Falls, Simmer is a 1997 graduate of Northern University High School. She received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Iowa in December of 2001. Simmer and her husband, Erich, have a three-year-old son, Hogan, and a one-year-old daughter, Isabelle. |
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