Swimming and Diving Teams Have High Hopes for Season
10/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
With an experienced group of veterans and a talented crop of newcomers, the 2006-07 Seton Hall swimming and diving teams have the potential to have one of the most successful seasons in recent years. Head coach Ron Farina enters his seventh season at the helm of the program, and despite the graduation of nine seniors, believes this team has the potential to make an impact in BIG EAST. The team comes off a year of qualifying the most ever individuals at the BIG EAST championship: the men had eight, women had 10.
“I think both the men’s and women’s team, based on BIG EAST qualifications, will have their largest squad at the BIG EAST this year,” Farina said. “That’s our main focus at the end of the year, to get as many people qualified for BIG EAST.”
Women’s Preview
The women’s team enters the 2006-07 with high hopes, and is coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in the program's history. Despite the graduation of Ashley Johnston, who was named the Seton Hall’s Senior Female Athlete of the Year and was a CoSida District II All-Academic selection, the team returns a solid crop of veterans. Seniors Jessica Kolackovsky and Trudy Wojciehowski will lead the squad as captains.
“Trudy and Jess are good captains this year,” Farina said. “They both made BIG EAST the last three years. I think the younger girls look up to them. There’s also a lot of leadership with the juniors. We are looking forward to a good season and with some nice leadership on the women’s side.”
Junior Michelle Ducharme will also play a large role in the leadership of the team, as she returns as the top swimmer in the middle and distance freestyle events. Ducharme enjoyed a successful 2005-06 season, as she broke her own school records in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles, and was named Seton Hall’s Co-Sophomore Female Athlete of the Year. Kolackovsky was a BIG EAST qualifier last season in both the middle and distance freestyle events, and will play an important role in getting key points for the Pirates in the 1000 freestyle. Freshman Natalie Toczylowski will back up Ducharme in the middle distance events. Toczylowski will also fill a hole in the individual medley events.
The sprint freestyle events will be anchored by Wojciehowski and sophomore Hannah Meyer, both of whom were BIG EAST qualifiers last season. Junior Keelee Wrenn will add depth, along with freshman Olivia Jackson, both who will solidify the sprint events.
In addition to Meyer’s contributions in the freestyle events, she will also be looked upon for key victories in the breaststroke events, along with seniors Brianna Plaza and Tara McCormick, all of whom qualified for the BIG EAST. Senior Fallon Quiles has improved greatly over her career and will add depth along with
Senior Erin Legg and junior Haley Ottenbreit will play a significant role in the backstroke events. Both Legg and Ottenbreit were BIG EAST qualifiers last season. Sophomore Christine Zuffante is also a key portion to the Pirates success in the backstroke events, as is coming off a successful freshman season with BIG EAST qualifying times. Senior Megan Dennis adds depth to the backstroke events,
The butterfly events will be led by the efforts of Legg, Wojciehowski and Zuffante. All three qualified for the BIG EAST last season and will help to replace the hole left by
Men’s Preview
The men’s team returns a core group of swimmers that will help the team to the top of the BIG EAST. Although the team lost 11 members of the 2005-06 squad, the team has a strong group of upperclassman and talented group of newcomers that Farina feels is capable of filling the holes.
“We have a lot of veteran leadership on this team that mixes with the younger guys,” Farina said. “I believe we have a nice mix and should be able to feed off each other.”
Senior Jack Leavitt returns to the pool this year after taking a year off due to injury. Leavitt was the BIG EAST Champion in the 100 backstroke in 2004-05, Seton Hall’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year in 2004-05, and is the school record holder in the 100 backstroke. Leavitt will be joined in the backstroke events by sophomore Chris Prus, who has improved greatly since his freshman year and freshman Chris Kearny.
“Jack gives the men’s team a little more direction,” Farina said. “He is focused, and is a great role model for the underclassman to follow and try to emulate. He sets an example of what they want to accomplish.”
Fifth-year seniors Hide Murakami and Tim Curran and enters his fifth year with the program and will be looked on for some key victories. Murakami will tackle the butterfly and freestyle events while Curran will take on the breaststroke and freestyle events.
Taking on the sprint events will be sophomore Angelo D’Errico, who was a BIG EAST qualifier his freshman season. D’Errico’s events is one of the most competitive in the BIG EAST, and Farina believes that D’Errico has the potential to do even better his sophomore season.
“Angelo qualified and scored at BIG EAST his freshman year,” Farina said. “He is in the deepest event at the Conference championships. His goal is to qualify for the NCAA.”
Sophomores Andrew Wilson and Matt Rienzo will give the squad a lot of flexibility, as they will earn some points for the Pirates in the individual medley, butterfly and freestyle events. Freshmen Andrew Royster and Stan Sadovski will add depth to Wilson and Rienzo.
Adding depth in the freestyle and breaststroke events, juniors Mike Miklius, Matt Geiger should contribute points for the Pirates. Freshmen Jason Benson and Eric Harakal will sure up the distance events for Seton Hall.
Diving Preview
The diving squad will be led by new diving coach Mike Alamarsi, who was a former diver for the Pirates from 1996-2001.
“With the hiring of new diving coach (former Seton Hall diver) Mike Almasri, the kids are highly motivated,” Farina said. “I think we’re going have a very large contingent of our divers making BIG EAST.”
In the diving events, the women’s team returns a duo of outstanding divers with senior Laura Dubendorfer and junior Rachel Giblin. Freshman Kim Molonzo will add depth to the diving squad.
Freshmen Tyler Flint and P.J. Hughes will make up the men’s diving team. Farina has high hopes as the men’s team rebuilds and solidifies the diving program.
“We are looking for
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With the amount of talent and good mix of veterans and newcomers, the 2006-07 swimming and diving teams look positioned to make a splash in this year’s BIG EAST championship.
“Both teams have a lot of depth,” Farina said. “We just have to see who is going to step up and be a leader in and out of the pool. I think all have the potential in their respective events to have special seasons, both on the men’s and the women’s side. It will be encouraging. They are all very capable of qualifying for BIG EAST. I’m very optimistic for the season.”
