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2006 Swimming & Diving Championship Preview
Oakland looks to continue championship streaks in swimming & diving
Oakland's Zoltan Horvath |
Oakland's Chris Sullivan |
Oakland's Melissa Jaeger |
IUPUI's Allison Rober |
Western Illinois' Amber Piercy |
ELMHURST, ILL. - Oakland, winners of the past six Mid-Continent Conference Swimming & Diving Championships on the men’s and women’s side, aims to continue its recent run of titles at the Mid-Con Championships Thursday-Saturday, February 16-18. The 2005-06 Championships will take place in the IUPUI Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI in Indianapolis, Ind.
OU head coach Pete Hovland, the 2004 Coach of the Year, will bring a roster that includes eight swimmers who took home individual championships a year ago. 2004 Newcomer of the Year Zoltan Horvath (100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke), 2004 Swimmer of the Year Bryon Tansel (100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle) and 2004 Diver of the Year Ryan Kish (1-meter diving, 3-meter diving) lead the men’s returning champions. Chris Sullivan has has a strong season with the top time in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly, while Dawid Tatarczyk holds the top spot in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Melissa Jaeger (100 butterfly, 200 butterfly), Maria Musialczyk (200 breaststroke) and Amanda Burwell (400 individual medley) return to defend their respective titles and will be supported by Sophia Gustaffson who owns the top mark in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle. Oakland’s relay teams also look to defend its titles after posting the top spot in every event this season.
After a second-place finish a year ago, Western Illinois will look to dethrone Oakland for its ninth title on the men’s side and second on the women’s end. Ryan Wichman recorded Top 5 times in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle, while Mark DuBois (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle), Brent Eames (500 freestyle, 200 butterfly) and Gregory Thede (100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke) all finished in the Top 10 in their respective events. Eric Campbell and Anthony Holzhauer give WIU two strong contenders in the diving events after Top 10 marks this season. Madeha Farrar, the defending 100 breaststroke champion leads the Western Illinois women, while Amber Piercy, a three-time Athlete of the Week this season, holds Top 5 times in the 500 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle. Lindsay Mathis, Amanda Smith and Jennifer Madgiak give the Westerwinds depth after strong performances this season.
IUPUI aims to add its first-ever titles in its home pool after strong performances this season. Brian Wheeler leads the Jaguars with team-best times in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle, as well as the 200 butterfly, while Richard Dailey (100 backstroke, 200 backstroke) and Matt Levenhagen (100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke) recorded Top 5 times in their respective events this season. The men’s diving contingent gives IUPUI a strong chance for a championship as James Eckerty (1-meter) and Ryan Orzechowicz (3-meter) lead the Mid-Con in their respective events. The women’s side is led by Allison Rober who placed Top 10 times in the 1,650 freestyle, 100 and 200 breaststroke and 200 and 400 individual medley. Elizabeth Scott had a solid season diving for the Jaguars as she placed second on the Mid-Con leaderboard in the 1-meter and 3-meter events.
Valparaiso will look to improve on a third-place finish on the women’s side and fifth place for the men a year ago. David Pederson was solid for the Crusaders this season as he placed Top 10 times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and 200 and 400 individual medley. Travis Thames gives Valparaiso a contender in the 100 and 200 butterfly, while Travers Smith, Bob Pedersen and Adam Jajtner give the Crusaders depth in several events. The women’s side is led by Leah Scheider and Amanda Gregory. Scheider was third in last year’s 100 butterfly while Gregory recorded a Top 10 time in the 200 freestyle this season. They are also a part of Valpo’s 200 freestyle relay team which is a contender for the title after a Top 3 time this season.
Centenary enters its second Championship looking to build on a solid performance a year ago. 2004 Coach of the Year Butch Jordan will look to Chase Lambert and Bryan Myers to lead the men’s contingent. Lambert led the team in the 200 and 500 freestyle as well as the 100 and 200 butterfly, while Myers had team-best times in the 50 freestyle and 200 backstroke this season. The Ladies are led by Leslie Clampitt and Taryne Cantillo. Cantillo was Centenary’s top all-around swimmer with team-best times in the 200 and 500 freestyle and 100 and 200 butterfly. Clampitt is a solid sprinter as she posted top times in the 50 and 100 freestyle. The Gents also have a good chance for a championship in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle after Top 3 times in both events this season.
Eastern Illinois enters the Championships looking to claim the title with a solid group of swimmers. Bill Senese proved to be the Panthers’ top swimmer with Top 10 times in the 50 freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke. Jason Warner and Chad Croucher give EIU depth and experience in several events as they look to add individual titles to their seasons. The strongest area for Eastern Illinois may very well be the relay squads as they finished second to Oakland in the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 800 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay. Marlise Davidson and Claire Garvey will lead the Panthers women in a variety of events. Davidson posted top times in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, while Garvey had team-best times in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle as well as the 200 and 400 individual medley.
South Dakota State looks to win the Mid-Con title with a talented group of swimmers. Mark Garrigues swam in a multitude of events as he posted Top 10 times in the 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 backstroke and 200 and 400 individual medley. Brandon Maydew gives SDSU a contender in the 100 and 200 breaststroke with Top 10 times in both events, while Josh Mueller looks to claim a title in the distance events. Mallory Onisk, Mariah Pavlicek and Heather Youngberg lead South Dakota State women into the Championships. Onisk had Top 10 times in the 100 butterfly, 200 and 400 individual medley, while Pavlicek and Youngberg added depth with solid times in the backstroke and freestyle events.
 
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