Swimming and Diving Enters 2005-06 Season With High Expectations

Ashley Pantall

Entering the 2005-06 season, the outlook looks bright for the Pirates. Seton Hall returns a core group on both the men and women’s side that will propel the Pirate Blue to the top of the BIG EAST. After a successful 2004-05 campaign which includes both the men and women improving their records from the previous year, 11 Seton Hall records broken, along with numerous individual honors, the squads look to use the momentum of last year to carry them into this season. Under the instruction of sixth year head coach Ron Farina, the 2005-06 season should be a successful one.

Women’s
After compiling a 9-5 duel meet record in 2004-05, the women’s team looks to continue the success into the 2005-06 season. Senior Ashley Johnston will lead the squad, as she set school record times in the 200 and 400 individual medleys, was named ECAC Championship Women’s Swimmer of the Meet, was a CoSida District II Academic All-America selection, and was named Seton Hall’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year. In addition to the individual medleys, Johnston will be expected to bring in victories in the butterfly events.

“Ashley had a successful breakout season last year,” Farina said. “We’re looking for her to build upon that and continue her success. She should contend for a BIG EAST Championship as well as produce NCAA consideration times.”

In the freestyle events, sophomore Michelle Ducharme will be expected to lead after a successful freshman campaign where she set three school records in the 500,1000, and 1650 freestyles.

“Michelle had a great freshman year,” Farina said. “If she can continue her success last year to this year she will be in contention for a BIG EAST Championship.”

The Pirates return BIG EAST qualifier Jessica Kolackovsky, who will assist Ducharme in the distance freestyle events. Upperclassmen Anna Greenwood, Trudy Wojciehowski, and Keelee Wrenn will add depth to the mid-distance and sprint freestyle events along with freshman Hannah Meyer.

Junior Megan Dennis and sophomores Haley Ottenbreit and Erin Legg will be looked upon for key victories in the backstroke events. Adding contributions in the backstroke as well as butterfly events will be freshmen Brianna Plaza and Christine Zuffante. Sophomore Tara McCormick and freshman Jen McDermott will solidify the breaststroke events.

Senior Ashley Pantall will be competing in the butterfly and breaststroke events where she is expected to continue the consistency of bringing some key victories. Junior Fallon Quiles has gained valuable experience at the high level of the BIG EAST competition and looks to improve even more in the 2005-2006 season.

In the diving events, the team returns a duo of outstanding divers with junior Laura Dubendorfer and sophomore Rachel Giblin. In addition, the Pirates add freshman Ashley Frantz who possesses the ability to be a top 16 scorer at the BIG EAST Championships.

Men’s Preview

The men’s team returns a core group of swimmers which should propel them to the top of the BIG EAST. After a 6-6 record in 2004-05, and only graduating one senior, the men’s team looks to be stronger than ever.

“It is my expectation that we will have a good year, based on the depth and strength in each event,” said Farina.

Senior Jack Leavitt, who was the BIG EAST Champion, Seton Hall’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year, and school record holder in the 100 backstroke will lead the squad along with classmates Mike LaRosa, who set a school record in the 100 freestyle, and Matt Miklius, an ESPN the Magazine/CoSida Academic All-America honoree and a CoSida District II Academic All-America selection. Leavitt will continue with the backstroke events and be joined by school record holder Evan Koening and freshman Chris Prus.

LaRosa and Miklius will be supported in their events with four newcomers. Joining LaRosa in the sprint events will be Angelo D’Errico and Greg Murtha. Andrew Wilson and Matt Rienzo will assist Miklius in the distance events.

Senior T.J. Johnson along with junior Hide Murakami will take on the butterfly and freestyle events, where they will be expected to produce some key victories. School record holder Steve Falcone returns as the top competitor in the breaststroke and freestyle events. After a year of experience in the BIG EAST, junior Tim Curran and sophomore Jamie Del Mastro should continue their success from their debut season and produce even more victories in the breaststroke and freestyle events.

“We have a nice mix of youth and veterans in the breaststroke and freestyle events,” said Farina. “We are very deep and very strong in those events and we’re depending on our upperclassmen for leadership.”

Adding depth in the freestyle and breaststroke events, senior Matt Farber and sophomores Mike Miklius and Matt Geiger should contribute points for the Pirates.
After a successful freshman season, sophomore Zach Smith returns to the boards for the Pirates.

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