Keene State College freshman is making her mark early

Ryan Glavey

Sports Editor

Causing a big splash this season is the newest freshman phenom to hit the Keene State College pool.

Freshman swimmer Diana Pimer has become a big part of KSC’s swimming and diving team very early in her college career.

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Pimer was a heavily recruited swimmer out of high school, and eventually chose to come to KSC.

“My biggest reason for coming was Jack (Fabian),” Pimer said, “plus they have my major, exercise science, so it just worked out.”

Fabian said KSC was very fortunate to be able to recruit Pimer.

Fabian said she was also recruited by Division III swimming juggernaut, Kenyon, and was accepted there, but simply chose KSC instead.

Fabian said she just really liked the program KSC had to offer, and he was more than happy to bring her in.

Not only successful in the pool, but Pimer has excelled academically as well during her first semester at college. Pimer said she managed to achieve a 4.0 GPA her first semester.

Pimer also works at the pool, in addition to practicing there twice a day, so she’s become very familiar with the facility.

Pimer is primarily an individual medley swimmer, but also competes in breaststroke events.

To help her adjust to college, Pimer said her teammate Jillian Whitaker has really helped her improve her swimming

“Jill (Whitaker) helps me a lot,” Pimer said. “Working with someone working as hard as, if not harder than you, makes a big difference.”

Pimer swims the 400-yard individually medley, which Fabian said tells him she is a swimmer with a lot of stamina and flexibility.

Being comfortable with all the different strokes allows Fabian to move Pimer around to different spots and compete in various spots for their relay teams.

Pimer said she could not be happier with her ability to help her teammates as a part of some of their relay teams.

“Being on a college relay team is just an awesome feeling,” Pimer said.

Fabian said Pimer’s endurance allows her to swim multiple events in a single meet, without fatiguing like sprinters might.

Fabian said he is trying to put Pimer in as many different places as possibly and get her as much experience in her first year as he can.

“We’re trying really hard to work her in, we know she’ll be a big part of the future of this team,” Fabian said.

While a top-notch swimmer in high school, Fabian said Pimer is still consistently posting personal best times, and said he is glad to see she is still improving.

Pimer said her goal for her freshman year was to make it to nationals, and she said she had her eye on KSC’s individual medley records for the future.

It can be difficult adjusting to college life, but Pimer said she is taking to it quite well.

She said she is meshing with the rest her teammates well too.

“The boy’s team are all like my older brothers, and the girl’s team all get along,” Pimer said.

A large number of the women’s team are freshmen, and Pimer said it has benefited them to all be able to start their careers together, and go through the adjustments together.

Pimer has already notched a B-cut for nationals in the 400-yard Individual medley.

Ryan Glavey can be contacted at rglavey@keene-equinox.com