2007-08 Swimming and Diving Season Preview
10/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
With an experienced group of veterans and a talented crop of newcomers, the 2007-08 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 eighth season at the helm of the program, and despite the graduation of eight seniors, believes this team has the potential to make an impact in the BIG EAST.
“As good as a season we had last year, our goal is always to be a better team,” said Farina. “We have the pieces in place this year to build upon that and hopefully have a more successful year than last year.”
Women’s Preview
The women’s team enters the 2007-08 season with high hopes. Despite the graduation of Captains Jessica Kolchovsky and Trudy Wojciehowski, Seton Hall will look to senior Michelle Ducharme to play a large role in the leadership, as she returns as the top swimmer in the middle and distance freestyle events. Last season, Ducharme was a top scorer in the BIG EAST conference championship finishing eighth in the mile, surpassing her own school record in the process.
Coming off a BIG EAST qualifying season as a backup to Ducharme is sophomore Natalie Toczylowski. Toczylowski will look to take on a bigger role this year and become a primary distance freestyler mainly. Sophomore Kaitlyn Hafner will be looked upon to lead the 200 and 400 individual medley as well as the 200 butterfly. Walk-ons Ashley Pittner and Rachel Sullivan will bring depth to the events.
The sprint freestyle event will be anchored by junior Hannah Meyer, while senior Keelee Wrenn, sophomore Olivia Jackson, and sophomore Christina Miklius will also bring their experience to solidify the event.
With the added depth this season, senior Tara McCormick and junior Brianna Plaza will assume their roles in the breaststroke events. Both qualified for the BIG EAST Championships last season and will be looked upon as leaders in the event. Freshman Brittany Henning, who is coming off a senior national qualification time, and freshman Allison LaFrano will also take part in the event.
Senior Haley Ottenbreit will lead the Pirates in the backstroke event this year, and Christine Zuffante will also play a key role in the success of the event. Zuffante had a strong finish last season and will be looked upon to step up in the 100 and 200 backstroke and individual medley. Walk-on Kara Walbaum will add depth to the event as well.
The butterfly events will be led by senior Cherylann Devito as well as sophomore Jessica Hart.
“This season, the women’s team will have a lot of girls up front that can go up against a lot of the teams we will be facing,” added Farina. “We will have three or four girls strong in every event, which gives up plenty of depth, especially against BIG EAST teams like
Men’s Preview
The men’s team is coming off an 8-2 season with ten of their 13 swimmers returning. Although the three graduating swimmers were the top swimmers on the team, Coach Farina believes he has filled the holes with talented freshman as well as the returning upperclassmen.
“This year we brought in seven strong freshmen that can qualify for the BIG EAST, while returning ten talented upperclassmen. So, we seemed to have filled the holes left behind by the graduating class, and continued to remain competitive in a strong conference.”
Juniors Angelo D’Errico, Matt Rienzo, and Andrew Wilson will be looked upon to lead this team. D’Errico will be looking to make the next step after qualifying for the BIG EAST Championship, senior nationals, and making his Olympic time trial cut. Both Rienzo and Wilson also will do the same as they solidify the distance events after scoring in the BIG EAST mile last season. Freshman Kenny Pritchard will be the number one backup behind D’Errico in the breaststroke events along with senior Matt Geiger.
In addition to D’Errico’s breaststroke events, he will lead the sprint events along with senior Angelo Stracquatanio who continues to improve each year. Newcomers Nick Naumann, Nathan Andrepont, and Michael Oldham will step in as well to provide depth.
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“Webster is probably one our most versatile swimmers this season,” added Farina. “We will look to him to really set the tone in the freestyle events.”
After losing two top seniors in the backstroke events, the Pirates will look to Naumann along with fellow freshman Steve Leavitt as a back-up. Sophomore Andrew Royster will also add depth to the backstroke as well as the butterfly events.
Stepping into the 100 and 200 butterfly events this season will be freshman John D’Errico.
Geiger will return for the individual medley events, while freshmen D’Errico, Leavitt, and Webster will be looked to solidify them.
“As good as a season we had last year, our goal is always to build upon. We have the pieces in place this year to build upon that and hopefully have a more successful year this year than last year. I’m excited about the prospects of the men’s season this year and if everybody comes together I think we’ll be very successful.”
Diving Preview
Mike Almasri returns to lead the men’s and women’s diving team for his second season as coach.
This season for the women’s team, senior Rachel Giblin will return after finishing last year with nine top five finishes. She will be joined by sophomore Kimberly Alonso who will look to improve in her second season, as well as freshman Brittany Hervey who has the talent to step in right away.
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The men will be led by sophomores Tyler Flint and P.J Hughes.
With a great mix of upperclassmen and newcomers, the 2007-08 swimming and diving teams look positioned to have their best season and reach their ultimate goal.
“Our goal is 100% qualification for the BIG EAST championships. We would like to see everybody on the men’s team and everybody on the women’s team make their time standards and go to the BIG EAST championships. Improve upon our places last year as well and after BIG EAST continue to be a part of the ECAC championships. The Season should be a lot of fun for everybody.”
