2007-08 Behrend Swimming and Diving Season Preview
The Penn State Behrend men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are set for their eighth season of competition. Last season marked the first year the AMCC recognized swimming and diving in the conference and both teams made quite an impression on the league, dominating the championship meet and winning the AMCC Championship.
Jen Wallace returns for her fifth year as head coach of the programs. After serving as assistant coach for three years, Wallace’s first four as head coach have been successes. The 2007 season was highlighted by Coach Wallace leading both the men and women’s teams to the first AMCC Championship, as well as helping a number of team members qualify for the ECAC meet.
Expectations are high this season, as
Coach Wallace looks to qualify even more swimmers and divers for the 2008
ECAC meet.
“Our goal this year is to defend our Championship titles,” said
Wallace. A number of meets will be key for the teams to achieve their
goals. One in particular is a tri meet in January when the blue and white
will take on top league rivals, Frostburg State and Penn State Altoona.
The return of sprint and stroke coach
Joe Tristan and diving coach Gordy Schmidt will further help the Behrend
Lions to compete at a high level. Tristan will utilize his experience and
intensity to push the swimmers, while Schmidt will make use of his knowledge
of diving to help coach a strong young core of divers. “I’m happy to have
Joe and Gordy as part of our team,” said coach Wallace. “Joe brings a vast
amount of experience and intensity to the sprinters that will be key to
their success, while Gordy’s love and knowledge of the sport is
unsurpassed.”
The women’s team will be led by sophomore Sara Breese (West Springfield/Northwestern) who was the high point award winner at the AMCC Championships last season and is expected to qualify for the ECAC championships this year. Danielle Wilson (Pittsburgh/Plum) will use her great work ethic and team spirit to motivate her teammates. Senior Missy Pilewski (Cranesville/Villa Maria) will join the team for her final year of competition. Pilewski has been an outstanding competitor for the blue and white qualifying for the ECAC last season as well as holding Behrend records in the 100 and 200 Breaststroke. While sophomore Jenny LaFuria (North East/North East) will bring points in the Free and IM events for the blue and white.
These women will be joined by six newcomers that look to make an immediate impact on the point’s board. Kaitlyn Fello (Bellefonte/Bellefonte) and Krystal Kovach (Pittsburgh/Chartiers Valley) are two freshmen that should take down some current Behrend records, while Katie Van Epps (Pleasantville/Titusville) will be a great asset to the stroke program and lead the way for the freshmen swimmers. Other rookie swimmers include Jen Juncosa (Fairport, NY/Fairport), Danielle Palski (Harleysville/Souderton), and Lauren Shughart (Boiling Springs/Boiling Springs).
The men’s team will be lead by three standout seniors. Dustin Fairchild (Corry/Corry) and Anthony Spoto (Birmingham, MI/Birmingham Seaholm) return to the pool for their fourth seasons, while Jason Hall (Lower Burrell/Burrell) returns for his second season. Fairchild was 2006-07 AMCC Swimmer of the year as well as an ECAC qualifier in a number of individual and relay events. His hard working attitude and experience will help lead the middle distance group. Spoto was also an ECAC qualifier as well as AMCC champion in the 50 and 100 free. He will be a key point scorer for the sprinting group once again. After his return last season, Hall has proven to be a very effective relay swimmer. He not only was an ECAC relay qualifier, he is also a Behrend relay record holder.
The men also return 10 talented
sophomores from last year’s AMCC Championship squad. Thomas Weir
(Rochester/Freedom) was last year’s AMCC newcomer of the year, as well an
ECAC qualifier. Joe Reese (Boalsburg/State College) was
another standout
rookie performer who scored key points for the blue and white last season.
Other retuners include Jason Bobsein (Sellersville/Pennridge), Harmilee
Cousin III (Buckeystown, MD/Tuscarora), Jacob Guiher (Derry/Derry), A.J. Kondash (State College/State
College), Chris Munton (Perris, CA/Perris), Tim Porter (Pittsburgh/North
Hills), John Reish (Pittsburgh/Penn Hills), and Robert Westhelle (Norwood, NJ/Northern Valley).
Zach Remele (Pittsburgh/North Hills)
also joins the blue and
white as a sophomore rookie swimmer. While
Stephen Graves (McMurray/Peters Township)
transferred from the University of Rochester to
add depth to the diving squad.
The men welcome another large class of rookie swimmers. This year they
account for 11 new faces in the Behrend pool. They include Patrick Allen
(Houston, TX/Jersey Village), Jon Bacon (Glendale, CA/Crespi Carmelite),
Chris Graves (McMurray/Peters Township), Mike Kinsel (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk),
Nicholas Lowrie (Corona, CA/Santiago), Ben Strunk (Cogan Station/Williamsport), Greg Todd (Fairview/Fairview), Patrick
Troester (Erie/Collegiate Academy), and Josh Weaver
(Franklin/Franklin).
The 2007-08 season will be
highlighted by the AMCC championships. The schedule begins on October 27 at
the Pitt-Bradford relays. Shortly after, Behrend Lions will travel to
Buffalo State on Friday, November 2. AMCC competition will take place in
late January, when Behrend will square off against rivals Penn State Altoona
and Frostburg State in a tri-meet at Frostburg State. Other highlights
include the Blue Devil Invitational on November 30 through December 2.
“This invite will be an important experience for our younger athletes to
help prepare for college style championships,” said Coach Wallace.
Spirits are high around the Penn State Behrend Pool, as the strong group of
talented newcomers should provide plenty of depth to the talented returning
roster. Coach Wallace has her teams motivated to go after another AMCC
swimming championship.