The 21st-ranked Middlebury women’s swimming and diving team begins its 2024-25 season with a home meet on Saturday, November 23 against Connecticut College. The Panthers return seasoned competitors both in the pool and on the diving boards this winter.

Chloe Katz and Isabella Caddeau come back for another season after solid winters in the pool. Katz, a freestyle specialist, garnered All-American First Team honors in the 500 (seventh) and second-team accolades during the 1,650 (ninth) at the NCAA Championships. She claimed All-NESCAC laurels in the 1,000 and 1,650 with third-place efforts and won 10 individual events last winter. Caddeau is a butterfly and backstroke specialist who earned eighth place in the 50-yard backstroke at the NESCAC Championship and was a member of the seventh-place 200 medley relay team. 

Bella Barragate and Hannah Baumgartner are seasoned veterans with championship experience. Barragate competed in the breaststroke events last winter, highlighted by a 14th-place finish in the 200 at the league’s event. Baumgartner competes in multiple strokes for the Panthers. She swam the second leg of the seventh-place 400 free relay and the third leg of the fourth-place 800 free relay. Individually, she placed 10th in the 200 at last season’s championship. 

Pai Easterbrook will be on the diving boards this winter for the Panthers. Easterbrook was a consistent scorer on both the 1-meter and 3-meter events a season ago. She posted a pair of top-17 finishes during the NESCAC Championship, including a 13th-place showing on the 3-meter board.

Rueppel returns to guide the program for his 14th season. He is joined by new assistant coach Emily Daniels, while Bradley Schott coaches the Panther divers for his 11th winter.