Dark, Wiercinski Selected as 2019-20 Team Captains
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M— The University of New Mexico head swimming coach Dorsey Tierney-Walker has announced seniors Natasha Dark and Breanna Wiercinski as team captains for the 2019-20 season.
Both Dark and Wiercinski are Albuquerque natives from St. Pius X High School and Albuquerque High School, respectively.
Dark, a diver, enters her final season at UNM coming off of her best season as a Lobo in which she posted eight top-three finishes, qualified for the NCAA Zones in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform dives and improved on her score and placement in both the 1-meter and the 3-meter from the championships the year prior. At the final meet of the season against Nevada, Dark recorded a career high in the 1-meter dive for her first career win in the event. In addition, Dark won the 3-meter at the Air Force Tri-Meet.
Beyond her contributions in the pool, Dark has also represented the Lobos at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research on a pilot program that Dark as well as UNM soccer player Gwen Maly collaborated on centering on peer mentorship for student-athletes who want to become doctors, and as the UNM Mountain West SAAC representative. She also is a member of the UNM SAAC.
Congratulations to Natasha Dark and Gwen Maly who presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. #Golobos @UNMLoboSwimDive @UNMLoboWSoccer pic.twitter.com/1L8OPzCA13
— New Mexico Lobos (@UNMLOBOS) May 30, 2019
Although at the time, being named a team captain came as a surprise when head coach Tierney-Walker informed her that she would be a captain, it was a moment that the diver remembers vividly and one she had hoped would come to fruition since starting her college career.
“For me, that was one of the best moments I’ve had within my college sports experience because I have wanted to become a leader for this team since I started diving at UNM,” recalled Dark.
As a leader, Dark aspires to follow in the footsteps of former captains, with 2018-19 former captains Allyson Concepcion and Emily Huffer, as well as Deidra Dorough being prime examples.
“Ally Concepcion, my captain and good friend, has taught me immensely on what it means to lead by example, to empathize with fellow teammates, and to keep a poised and dignified persona in any situation she is faced with so as to always be a symbol of leadership and dependability.
“Deidra Dorough was our captain two years ago, and Emily Huffer was another one of our captains this year. These two incredible young women taught me how to effectively organize, coordinate and lead group and team efforts, which can be difficult on such a large team.”
The diver knows that the charge to lead will not always come easy, but Dark hopes to work with fellow captain Wiercinski to impart discipline and positivity on the 2019-20 team along with an emphasis on transparency and communication.
To Wiercinski, “personally, being named a team captain is an honor because it feels as though our coaches are recognizing our hard work and dedication that we have and will continue to put into this team. I am so grateful to be chosen for this position, and I will try my best to be positive and uplifting to my teammates and coaches.”
Like Dark, the swimmer looks to focus on positivity and leading by example, traits she has admired and learned from past captains.
Wiercinski specializes in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle as well as the 100-yard breaststroke. In her junior season, the Lobo competed in seven meets and earned three season bests at the Phill Hansel Invitational. The swimmer had two top-three finishes on the season, winning the 100-yard free against Pepperdine with a time of 53.57 and placed third in the 50-yard free against NMSU with 24.27.
The Lobos return to the pool this fall with nine newcomers and having graduated five.