SELINSGROVE, Pa. — The MAC Commonwealth dual meet champion and undefeated Albright College men’s and women’s swimming teams will be favored to win their first overall team titles when Susquehanna University plays host to the Middle Atlantic Conference Swimming Championships for the first time in the program’s 21-year history this Friday through Sunday, February 18 through 20, at the O.W. Houts Gymnasium pool.
Athletes from Albright and host Susquehanna will joins those from 11 women’s and 10 men’s teams, who will vie for titles in 18 events respectively over the three-day, five-session championships. Friday will have just one 7 p.m. session, while Saturday’s schedule will have trials starting at 10 a.m. and finals at 7 p.m., with Sunday’s having trials at 10 a.m., and finals beginning at 6.
Ticket prices will be $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and $2 for students for a single session, and $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for students for all-session tickets.
THE MEN’S MAC PREVIEW
Under head coach Jenis Frederick, the Albright men look to be the favorites this weekend after going 14-0 during the dual meet season and being the runner-ups at last year’s conference championships. Among the Lion dual meet victories was a 117-88 decision over four-time defending team champion and Commonwealth runner-up Widener.
Despite dropping the meet to Albright and finishing 7-4, Widener figures to once again be in the thick of the team championship picture this weekend for 12th-year head coach Bob Piotti. The Pioneers hosted last year’s championships and scored 461 points for the 64-point victory over the Lions.
Lycoming was third a year ago with 317 points, and figures to be the darkhorse again this season after winning the Freedom Conference championship while finishing at 7-7 for fourth-year head coach Jerry Cournoyer.
Host Susquehanna posted its first winning season since 1991-92 while going 5-4 for head coach Ged Schweikert, who is now in his 21st year. The Crusaders were sixth a year ago, but could threaten to equal their best finish ever at the conference championship when they were fourth in 1996-97.
A preview of the individual events follows.
SPRINT FREESTYLE: Albright freshman Chris Goodman was third in the 50-yard freestyle last season (22.59) and has the conference’s top time in both the 50 (22.66) and 200 (1:51.27) this season. Lycoming junior A.J. LeViere was runner-up in the 200 last season (1:48.65) and has the MAC’s second-fastest time in both that event (1:51.91) and the 100 (50.21) this year. LeViere’s sophomore teammate Chris Rager has the top time in 100 (50.02), after being just 12th at MACs (50.80) a year ago. Albright junior Brian Slepetz should also figure in the 50 and 100, presently ranking second (22.67) and third (50.26) in the MAC respectively.
DISTANCE FREESTYLE: Widener sophomore Shamus Keeler appears to be the swimmer to watch, presently ranking first in the 1,650-yard freestyle (18:08.59) and second in the 500 (5:09.10). He has made big strides since his freshman year when he was just seventh in the 1,650 (18:16.05). Lycoming sophomore Jason Herres has the top time in the 500 (5:08.22) this season. While they won’t swim the 1,000 this weekend, Albright freshman Andrew Dryburgh has the top time in the conference in that event (10:46.13) and is also ranked second in the 1,650 (18:21.42) and third in the 500 (5:10.61).
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: Susquehanna senior tri-captain Steve Fischer is the school record-holder in both the 200 (2:03.72, 1998) and 400 (4:34.98, 2000) IM and ranked first in the MAC in each event this season. Fischer broke his own school record in the 400 (4:34.98) in the team’s final meet at King’s, and also recorded the program’s second fastest time ever in the 200 (2:05.31) this season. He set his school record in the 200-IM while placing third at MACs last season, despite battling illness. Fischer is more than two sec-onds faster than Albright sophomore Erik Poseguy (2:07.36) in the conference’s 200-IM rankings. Elizabethtown sophomore Paul Contino should also contend after being runner-up in the 400-IM (4:28.07) last season. He is ranked second in the 400 (4:35.46) and third in the 200 (2:08.79) this year.
BACKSTROKE: Lycoming’s LeViere is the defending champion in the 200-back (2:02.49) and ranked first this season in both the 100 (56.05) and 200 (2:04.19). LeViere’s teammate Herres is ranked second in the 100 (58.12). Albright sophomore David Henkel was runner-up to LeViere in the 200 last season (2:03.71), and is right behind him (2:08.19) in the conference times this year. Scranton sophomore Tim Herbert is also back after being third in the 200 (2:04.19) last season, and is presently ranked third again (2:08.90). Susquehanna freshman Luke Peterson could also threaten while swimming in his home pool, ranking fourth in both (58.67, 2:10.26).
BREASTSTROKE: Albright’s Poseguy is the defending champion in the 200-yard breast (2:17.22) and ranked first in both the 100 (1:02.32) and 200 (2:18.54) this season. Senior teammate and co-captain Chadd Rutt might be his biggest threat in the 100 as he was runner-up last season (1:03.20) and ranked second at present (1:02.82). Widener sophomore Tim Fitzgerald is the defending champion in the 100 (1:01.44) and ranked fourth (1:05.18) this season. Sophomore teammate Matt Hoke was runner-up in the 200 (2:17.41) last season, and ranked third (2:22.33) coming in. Susquehanna’s Fischer was fourth in the 100 (1:04.25) last season and ranked sixth (1:05.58) presently.
BUTTERFLY: Susquehanna’s Fischer should also be a major player in both butterfly events as he has the conference’s fastest times in both the 100 (54.30) and 200 (2:07.13) this season. He was fourth in both (56.00, 2:07.91) as a sophomore. Albright senior co-captain Scott Long and Widener sophomore Mark Perri will return to defend their championships in the 100 (54.71) and 200 (2:04.89) respectively. Also second in the 100 last season (54.82), Perri is ranked second in both events (56.17, 2:08.53) at present. Long is only ranked fifth in the 100 (58.03).
THE WOMEN’S MAC PREVIEW
Albright should also be favored on the women’s side after rolling to a 15-0 dual meet season under Frederick.
The Lions’ closest meet appeared to come against defending champion Elizabethtown (113-82), which was just 5-8 this season but returns champions in three events for 12th-year coach Mike Guinivan.
Albright was the lone loss for MAC Freedom champ Scranton, which went 11-1 for head coach Tom Evans. Like Elizabethtown, the Royals were competitive in their meet with Albright (89-116) and they should be in the hunt for the team title this weekend.
Host Susquehanna had its best dual meet record since 1988-89, going 7-3 and finishing second in the MAC Commonwealth Conference. The women equaled their best placement at MACs last season by finishing fifth, and could crack the top three this season under Schweikert.
Freedom runner-up Drew was also second at this event last year — losing to Elizabethtown by 80 points. While the Rangers were just 8-6 this season, expect them to contend for fifth-year coach Maggie Bintz.
A preview of individual events follows.
SPRINT FREESTYLE: Albright might pile up the points in these events as junior Carrie Miller is ranked first in the conference in the 50 (24.99), 100 (54.62) and 200 (1:57.76), with freshman Courtney Kroh second in the 100 (55.64) and third in both the 50 (25.75) and 200 (2:01.14). Elizabethtown junior Lindsay Texter is the defending champion in the 200 (2:00.35) and runner-up in the 100 (55.27), but is just ranked fifth (2:02.81) and 10th (58.09) respectively coming in. Juniata freshman Alissa Schneider should also figure in the hunt as she ranks second in the conference in the 200 (2:01.02) and third in the 100 (55.94). Susquehanna sophomore Michelle Badorf set a new school record while finishing as runner-up in the 200 (2:00.92) last season, and is ranked eighth coming in (2:03.86).
DISTANCE FREESTYLE: Elizabethtown’s Texter is also the defending champion in the 500 (5:21.14), but is ranked just eighth (5:32.69). Her junior teammate Brooke Knepper is the returning champ in the 1,650 (18:30.21) and was runner-up in the 500 (5:23.87). She ranks second in the 1,650 (18:49.97) and fifth in the 500 (5:28.76) this year. Albright’s Miller has the top time by over eight seconds in the 500 (5:16.26), while Widener freshman Jessi Smith heads the list in the 1,650 (18:21.40). Scranton junior Sarah Gazdalski won the Co-David B. Eavenson, Sr. Award as Most Outstanding Swimmer at the MAC meet in 1998, and has the second-fastest time in the 500 (5:24.52) this season. Susquehanna junior tri-captain Charlotte Murray has school records in all three distance freestyle events (500-5:24.98; 1,000-11:13.98;1,650-18:43.80) and was second in the 1,650 and third in the 500 while setting those records last season. Murray studied abroad first semester and is ranked third in the 1,650 (19:19.32) and 12th in the 500 (5:39.97).
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: Albright’s Kroh is ranked first in the 200-IM (2:13.55) and second in the 400 (4:43.62). Scranton’s Gazdalski has the top time in the 400 (4:51.33) and is third in the 200 (2:15.91) after finishing as a runner-up in the 200 (2:13.90) last season.
BACKSTROKE: Scranton’s Gazdalski is also the defending champion in both the 100 (1:00.10) and 200-back (2:08.22), and ranked first in both (1:01.40, 2:11.88) this season. Albright’s Kroh is second in the conference rankings in both (1:01.73, 2:14.31). Susquehanna’s Badorf also set a new school record while finishing second in the 200 (2:17.71) last season. She also swam the second fastest time in school history in the 100 (1:03.78) while placing third a year ago. She is ranked third in the 200 (2:19.37) and fifth in the 100 (1:04.96) this year.
BREASTSTROKE: Albright’s freshman pair of Kroh and Kristin Leung are one-two respectively in both the 100 (1:10.36, 1:10.93) and 200 (2:30.76, 2:33.85). Yet another freshman will push them in Susquehanna’s Katie McKeever, who has shattered school records in both the 100 (1:11.01) and 200 (2:35.72) this season to rank third in each.
BUTTERFLY: Once again, Scranton’s Gazdalski is ranked first in both of these events (1:00.62 in 100, 2:14.10 in the 200), although she didn’t swim them last season at MACs. Albright junior Megan Douglass is the defending champion in the 200 (2:17.92), but is ranked just eighth in that event this year (2:23.75). Freshman teammate Brooke Heebner is ranked second in both this season (1:02.53, 2:17.68). Elizabethtown’s Knepper was runner-up in the 200 (2:19.20) a year ago, and presently ranks third.
