Four years of memories will be on display before No. 21 Northwestern squares off against No. 19 Michigan in a Big Ten battle this Saturday.
After four years of wearing Wildcat purple, seniors Hayley Fry, Jill Forster and Sara White-Delehoy will be honored during pre-meet festivities and will then hit the water for the final home meet of their careers.
“They are all just really caring people who put a lot into thinking about what’s best for their teammates and the people around them,” coach Jimmy Tierney said about his seniors. “I think we’re just going to miss their personalities and their presence on the pool deck. They’re special people, and they have big hearts and have contributed a lot to this program over the years.”
White-Delehoy, who is serving as a captain along with the other seniors, said her teammates have been influential in her development at NU.
“They are the people I’m around all the time and can share everything with,” the backstroker said. “I think this is where I’ve grown the most, around these people, and this is where the biggest part of my life at Northwestern has been, because this is where I share everything.”
Despite nearly doubling in size during the past four years, the team has preserved its close-knit atmosphere, a point of emphasis for the seniors during their tenure.
“The greatest thing for me was that it started out pretty small and we’ve kind of been a family,” said Forster, who swims the breaststroke. “I have three sisters back home, and these are my new sisters here, who I can turn to when I need something.”
Being close to her teammates has also enhanced Fry’s time at NU. She added that serving as a team captain has given her a new perspective on swimming.
“It’s been great, because, on the team, we have a really great connection with everyone,” said Fry, who also swims the breaststroke. “All of my best friends are here and I get to see them every day. It’s been a really great opportunity to be able to come to Northwestern and have the experience of being able to compete on the Division I, Big Ten level but have the same academics you can get at an Ivy League school.”
The seniors have excelled as student-athletes, doing well in the pool and in the classroom. Fry, White-Delehoy and Forster, who major in psychology, communication studies and history, respectively, have each been selected to the Academic All-Big Ten team twice.
“They do a terrific job of balancing their swimming careers and their academics,” Tierney said. “They’re just what Northwestern stands for. They came in and dedicated themselves to being better people, better athletes and better students. I think because of that, all three are going to be very successful people when they leave here, in whatever endeavor they choose to go into.”
But for now, they still have a season to finish, including one last home meet.
“It’s a little bittersweet,” said Fry about the end of her swimming career. “I’m 21 years old, so I’m kind of ready to move on, get a job, all that jazz. But at the same time, I’ve spent the last four years here, and I’ve made a lot of really great memories and a lot of really great friends.”
