2009-10 PAC Swimming and Diving Preview



BETHANY BISON

The Bethany men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs will begin the 2009-10 season Saturday when they compete at the Pitt-Bradford Relays.


The Bethany women are looking forward to an improvement off a season where they broke some school records. The Bison have three seniors coming back, including the current record holder in both the one-meter and three-meter diving. They have also added three new freshmen to the team that they hope will contribute greatly in the upcoming season.


Senior captain Desiree Finley is the returning diver who has the current records for both one-meter and three-meter diving boards. Although she currently is injured from cross country, head coach John McGowan is looking forward to a quick recovery. She is also expected to contribute on more than just the spring board, as Finley will also be helping the Bison relay teams in the freestyle middle distances.


Another big returning contributor that McGowan is looking forward to see swim this year is junior Cynthia Richards. He says that she has made some great strides in the past two years, and is the Bison’s best performer in the 400 IM and also the backstroke. One of the hardest workers on the team this year is sophomore Lindsay Arnold. She is the Bison’s best butterflier and one of the best freestylers and McGowan says she is unselfish and is willing to swim off-stroke for the betterment of the team. 


McGowan has brought in two freshmen that he is looking forward to contribute to the team in their first season, and also bringing in a new upperclassman to help the team out. Unfortunately one of the best sprinters will not be able to swim until January due to health issues. Emily Andrews, one of the best athletes on the team, is participating in the Pan-Am Games in December, so she will be able to help in the middle distances when she is available. Also, Theresa Smith is working hard and excited about swimming this season. McGowan is looking for Smith to have good times in the butterfly.


McGowan is excited about the women’s squad this year. He says that it is a well-rounded young team which has seen great improvement already and is hopeful more records will fall this year.


For the men, senior returning captain Rich Sawyer is looking forward to another season and led the Bison to a year of great improvements for both him and his teammates. He is going to have to battle a tough academic schedule while not being able to practice with the rest of the swim team but swimming while the divers are in the pool. He is expected to anchor the butterfly and the middle distance freestyles for the Bison. His co-captain, senior Pat McCarthy, is also toward a season of great improvement. He has already made impressive strides in both breaststroke and freestyle in practice this season.


McGowan is very excited about the pair of freshmen he brought in to help out the team this year. Andrew Masterson is looking out to be a strong distance swimmer for the Bison this year. He has improved his times in practice and is approaching his high school times already. Vincenzo “Vinny” Giangiulio is one of the best divers the team has seen in a couple years, according to McGowan, who is looking for him to make a smooth transition from high school to college and the three-meter board. He can also be used in the relay teams as a sprinter.


The guys swim team has a couple new faces and some returning seniors to lead the team. The Bison are looking forward to a season of personal bests and improvements for all of the swimmers and divers.


 

CHATHAM COUGARS

The Chatham University women’s swimming and diving team, led by sixth-year head coach Mike Meyers, enters the 2009 season brimming with experience. After finishing the 2008-09 season with a dual-meet record of 10-3 overall and finishing fourth in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) standings, the Cougars are eager to begin preparing for what is expected to be another successful season in 2009-10.

Last season’s accomplishments for Chatham in the pool included a runner up finish at the Chatham Invitational, and a first place at the Agnes Scott College Invitational. In addition, the team set an outstanding 20 school records over the course of the season, 15 of which came at the PAC Championship meet.

Outside the pool the Cougars were recognized for the second consecutive season with the Team Academic All-American Award given by the College Swimming Coaches of America Association, with a 3.51 team grade point average, as well as the inaugural PAC Sportsmanship Award for swimming and diving.

This season marks the Cougars’ third season in the PAC, and the team will look to veterans Sarah Sindler, Emily Price (pictured) and Chelsea Mummert to bring another year of success to the program.

Joining that trio will be four athletes who established school records a season ago, including swimmers Ashten Omstead, Selina Breiner, Carly Hicks, as well as diver Katie Lucas.

 


GROVE CITY WOLVERINES
Few college swimming and diving programs can watch two national champions and two other multiple-time NCAA All-Americans walk across the stage at graduation without lowering the team’s expectations for the following the season.


The Grove City College men’s swimming and diving team is one of those programs.


Grove City enters the 2009-10 season with numerous standouts back in the fold, including seven returning NCAA All-Americans. Those seven All-Americans will join a seven-man senior class in leading the Wolverines this year. Grove City features depth and experience in nearly event this year as the Wolverines pursue their third consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship.


The Wolverines are also aiming to send another large contingent of athletes to the NCAA Championships once again in 2010.


Grove City’s senior class features three three-year lettermen in Rich Albertson, Kyle Grubbs and Lincoln Larsen. Albertson will be one of Grove City’s top entries in the backstroke and butterfly while Larsen is one of the fastest breaststrokers in school history. Grubbs will lead an experienced platoon of divers in 2009-10. He could challenge for an invitation to the NCAA Championships this year.


Four other senior lettermen return this winter for Grove City. Andrew Ashleigh is a two-year letterman and will likely contribute in the breaststroke and freestyle events. Distance specialist Matt Green returns for his fourth season after earning two letters, while classmate Tucker Gregg will look to build on his strong sophomore season. Gregg missed last year due to an injury.


Co-captain Seth Zimmerman, another two-year letterwinner, will help lead a relatively young sprint squad for the Wolverines.


Grove City’s nine-man junior class includes a trio of returning NCAA All-Americans in Cam Coppelli, Bennett Keefer and Nate Nielsen. Coppelli is expected to be one of the Wolverines’ top backstrokers this year while Keefer will bolster Grove City in the breaststroke and individual medley events. Nielsen emerged as a standout in the distance events last year and will likely be one of Grove City’s top entries in the longer events.


Another distance specialist, Jared Bailey, is back after earning letters in each of his first two seasons. Butterflier Chris Marasco returns for his third season after lettering as a freshman and a sophomore. Both are expected to be significant contributors.


Juniors Matt Armstrong, Dan Gummel, Andrew Parry and Dan Wells all lettered as sophomores and will each look to break into the lineup on a full-time basis. Armstrong and Gummel will both compete in the butterfly while Parry and Wells are both backstrokers. The sophomore class is dotted with returning All-Americans and national qualifiers along with several other athletes who made great strides as rookies. Clay Beckner, Ben Bowser, Kirk Gagliardo and Nick Hamilton all return after achieving All-America status as freshmen. Beckner will be one of Grove City’s top breaststrokers while the versatile Bowser will be used in a number of events. He owns the school record in both individual medley races. Gagliardo and Hamilton are both expected to be significant contributors in the freestyle events. Gagliardo is one of the top returning sprinters in the region while Hamilton will be a factor in the longer distances.


Sophomore Josh Kim provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 1650 as a freshman and returns as one of Grove City’s top distance entries. Diver Joe Rzempoluch returns after a strong freshman season and will joing Grubbs in giving Grove City a strong 1-2 combination on the diving squad. Sophomores Chris Downing and Matt Mahan return in the breaststroke while Collin Foster bolsters Grove City in the backstroke. Also back is sophomore butterfly performer Seth Shaheen.


A large freshman class will also be expected to contribute as the Wolverines look to defend their conference title and capture their 59th straight winning season.
 

Expectations are extremely high for the Grove City College women’s swimming and diving team as the program enters its 22nd season of intercollegiate competition. First-year head coach Dave Fritz will rely on 17 letterwinners who return from last year’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship squad. That group includes several NCAA Championships qualifiers and numerous other talented athletes. Although the Wolverines will feature an experience-laden squad in 2009-10, Grove City has just three seniors on the roster.


Senior Andra Reed is a three-year letterwinner and is Grove City’s most experienced performer. Reed willl be counted on in the breaststroke again this year after three solid seasons for the Wolverines. Senior Amanda Thompson returns for her third season after setting school records in both backstroke events last year. Thompson is a returning NCAA qualifier and will also be one of Grove City’s top entries in the individual medley again.


Sprinter Jane Wilson returns for her senior year after missing two seasons due to injury. As a freshman, Wilson set the school record in the 50 free. Six junior letterwinners are also back for Grove City after strong sophomore seasons. Sprinter Sarah Page returns after setting the school record in the 100 free in 2009. A provisional NCAA qualifier, Page will also be a top entry in the butterfly this year. Lauren Baur will join Page in the sprints and butterfly events again this winter. Baur is a two-year letterwinner who ranks among the program’s all-time fastest in the sprints and butterfly.


Junior Sarah Bargery will likely be one of the Wolverines’ top entries in the breaststroke and individual medleys in 2009-10. Bargery owns school records in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 IM. Juniors Katie Brunk and Tiffani Douglas are both back to bolster Grove City in the distance events. Brunk will also compete in the breaststroke. Both have been significant contributors over each of the past two seasons.


Diver Stephanie McNeill will help lead Grove City’s diving corps after lettering in each of her first two seasons. Second-year diver Lydia Wiedeman, another junior, also returns.


Grove City’s sophomore class also features several returning standouts in a variety of events. Jenna Richert made an immediate impact in the distance events last season and will likely be one of Grove City’s top freestyle performers.

 

Sophomore Kate Wilt will join Bargery in helping lead Grove City’s breaststrokers. Wilt owns the school record in the 200 breaststroke. Second-year performer Emily Kramer is one of Grove City’s top returners in the sprint events. She will also likely be a key member of the Wolverines’ free relay squads this winter after helping set school records in the 200 and 400 free relays last year. Sophomores Chelsea Johnson and Kara Sisley both rank among Grove City’s all-time fastest in the backstroke. Each will be fixtures in the backstroke with Sisley also competing in the freestyle events again. Butterflier Larissa Cassano and distance specialist Amy Fleming each made immediate contributions as freshmen and both will likely be integral members of the lineup again this year.


Versatile sophomore Jessica Peterson is looking to break into the lineup on a full-time basis this year. Divers Bethany Johnson and Rachel Weeber also return after lettering as freshmen. Johnson is the defending conference champion and College record-holder in both 1- and 3-meter diving. Weeber is looking to make even bigger contributions in 2009-10 after a solid rookie season. Several freshmen are also expected to challenge for spots in the lineup this winter.
 

Grove City opens he 2009-10 season October 23-24 at the Clarion University Fall Classic.
 


WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS
The Washington & Jefferson College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams enter the 2009-2010 season hungry to bring a Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship back to campus.

The W&J women have won five conference titles since 2000, but dropped to third at last year’s league championships despite a number of record-breaking performances. The Presidents’ men also posted their seventh-straight, third-place showing at the conference meet, but are building towards claiming their first championship since 2000.

Leading the way for the men’s squad is three-time PAC Champion junior Brandon Smith. Smith earned NCAA-qualifying times in three events (200 and 400 IM, 200 backstroke) a year ago and owns six school records (four individual, two relays).

Sophomores Michael Boutwell and Benjamin Daggett will look to build upon strong freshman campaigns. Boutwell set the school record in the 500 freestyle, while Daggett collected new school bests in the 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. Junior James Falis and sophomores Keyton Kalakewich and Andrew Putt will also look to make an impact with after gaining more experience for the varsity squad.

Head coach Mike Orstein, who surpassed 400 career victories last year, will also rely on a seven-member senior class to provide depth and leadership. Mark Sirkoch has been one of the conference’s most versatile swimmers in each of the past three seasons and is a member of three school-record relays. Andrew Forish, William Kidston, Dan Martin, Jay Minster and Joshua Wilder are talented swimmers who will be expected to increase their level of production. Luke Morgan returns as the team’s top diver for assistant coach Vic Galati. Galati is in his ninth season working with the Presidents’ men’s and women’s divers.

Junior Christian Larson and sophomores Andy Rish and Jonathan Weeks finished the season on strong notes and are expected to provide key points in meets throughout the winter.

The W&J women will rely on youth this year as 19 of the squad’s 24-member roster are underclassmen. Sophomores Brittany Vogel and Bethany Haver headline that group after record-breaking freshman seasons.

Haver won the PAC Championship and set a school record with 415.60 points in the 1-meter diving event. She qualified for the NCAA Championships and also established a school record in the 3-meter event with 423.51 points. Sophomores Sarah White and Abbey Woodward strengthen one of the region’s strongest diving lineups.

Vogel recorded a NCAA-qualifying mark in the 200 IM and earned top-three finishes at the PAC Championships in four different events.

Sophomore C.J. Corcoran comes off a solid freshman campaign in which she earned a NCAA “B” Cut time in the 100 breaststroke, while Katie Steider and Ellie Tecza are primed to elevate their times after impressive first-year showings.

Two additional sophomores, Sarah Cull and Hanna Carroll, are primed for breakout years.

Senior Megan Rielly and juniors Jaclyn Andrews and Chrissy Brant will provide veteran leadership for the young squad. Juniors Kyra Fedorovich and Andi Wirginis also return after missing time last season due to injuries.

Both Washington & Jefferson teams open the season on Nov. 4th for a dual meet at Frostburg State
 


WESTMINSTER TITANS

Teams start their new seasons on different days. For some, it's after summer vacation or when school starts or even on the first day of practice. For members of the Westminster College men's and women's swimming and diving teams, they all knew the precise moment when the 2009-10 season started. Both teams finished in second place at last year's Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships, marking a second straight year that both four-time conference champions missed out on the title.

"Right at the conclusion of the PAC meet you can tell they were immediately focused on this year," said head coach Rob Klamut, who enters his 25th year at Westminster. "Now, only the seniors know what it's like to win at PACs. There is some unfinished business."

At the PAC Championships, the runner-up Westminster men finished 143.5 points behind Grove City and the second-place women were 74 behind Grove City.

That's not to say Westminster didn't accomplish anything last season. The Titans won 17 events at the 2009 PAC Championships, six produced by the men and 11 from the women. There were also 22 school and nine PAC records set during the season. The Westminster women sent a relay team to the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time in team history as the Titans finished tied for 20th place in the final team standings.

"There's more focus on the NCAAs," Klamut said, even referring to those who missed the cut. "More people are talking about that, saying ‘Hey, we are close.'"

In dual meets last year, the Titan men posted a 6-3 record and the women went 5-5. There will be a combined 23 letter-winners back from last year, giving Klamut some considerable options.

"Both teams are similar in talent and depth," Klamut said. "They are evenly competitive and that will give you a potential for success."

Westminster's women return 11 out of 17 letter-winners from last year, including half of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams that secured an honorable mention for the All-America team with a pair of 12th-place finishes. They include senior captain Emily Dressler (left) and sophomore Caitlin Lehberger.

Dressler, the holder of seven school records (3 relays), was voted the PAC co-Most Valuable Performer after winning the 200 (1:54.76), 500 (5:03.19) and 1650 (17:33.63) freestyle races and the 400 medley relay at the PAC meet.

Lehberger, who placed as high as ninth in the 100 breaststroke at nationals, set eight school records (4 relays) during her rookie year and claimed five PAC titles, including the 100 (1:04.30) and 200 (2:22.47) breaststrokes and the 200 IM (2:06.77).

In addition to Dressler and Lehberger, there are three other first team all-PAC swimmers returning in sophomore freestyler Sierra Beecher, junior breaststroke specialist Courtney Herdt and senior freestyler and backstroke specialist Maile Kirkpatrick.

Returning Titan women who earned second team all-PAC honors last year include sophomore breaststroke specialist Emily Kompare, sophomore freestyler Brittany Reynolds and senior freestyler Emily Paul.  Paul was also voted a team captain for 2009-10.

On the men's side, there are 12 of 21 lettermen back from last year, including a PAC individual champion in senior captain Ben Gutmann (right), who won the 100 breaststroke at PACs last year with a time of 57.33.

Also returning is half of the PAC champion and school-record holding 400 freestyle relay team (3:51.37) in senior captain Brett Gerthoffer and sophomore Mike Barringer. Gerthoffer won the 200 freestyle title in 2008.

Junior freestyle and backstroke specialist Devin Gannon joins Barringer and Gutmann as returning Titans who earned first team all-PAC honors last year.

Gerthoffer and sophomore freestyle and backstroke specialist Kris Brooks are two second-team all-PAC swimmers who are returning to the team this year.

There is one significant returner from the 1993-94 team that will impact the 2009-10 season. No, not a competitor, but rather the diving program returns to Westminster after a 15-year hiatus.

"Reestablishing the diving program is going to be a wonderful complement to the swimming program," Klamut said. "I am very excited to begin bringing quality student-athletes who are divers to Westminster. Diving will help the program stay competitive at the conference, regional and national level."

Westminster opens the season Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Clarion Fall Classic before hosting the Westminster Relays on Friday, Oct. 30.

 

###