Alfred Seeks Third Straight Empire 8 Men's Swimming and Diving Title
February 24, 2009
ROCHESTER, NY – Alfred University, which has captured the last two conference championships and three of the past four, will defend its title as Empire 8 teams compete in the 2009 Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association Championships Wednesday through Saturday at Nottingham High School in Syracuse.
Senior Brian Agro of the Saxons, the 2008 Empire 8 Swimmer of the Meet, is the top seed in the state in three events. He is seeded first in the 200-yard individual medley, the 100-yard breaststroke, and the 200-yard breaststroke. Senior Matt Baker, the 2008 Empire 8 Swimmer of the Year, automatically qualified for the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship in the 100-yard backstroke. He is top-seeded in that event and second in the 200-yard backstroke. Senior Mark Baker is seeded first in the state in the 100-yard freestyle.
Evan Wilson of Stevens Institute of Technology, the 2008 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, is the state’s top seed in the 500-yard freestyle and the 400-yard individual medley, and second in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Freshman teammate Carl Nagel is the number one seed in the state in the 50-yard freestyle.
Senior Kevin Milkovich and freshman Michael Phillips of Hartwick College have each earned two Empire 8 Men’s Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week honors this season. Milkovich has captured the Empire 8 title in the 400-yard individual medley the past two years. Senior Steve VanDuzer, who won the conference title in the 100-yard butterfly in 2008, is top-seeded in the state in the event in this year’s championship.
Sophomore Joe Gage of Ithaca College shared Empire 8 Rookie of the Meet honors in last year’s championship with Evan Wilson. Gage won the conference title in the 200-yard freestyle and placed second in the 50-yard freestyle. Gage and freshman Antoine Connors have garnered Athlete of the Week accolades this year.
Senior Phil Baudoin of Rochester Institute of Technology has posted the conference’s second-fastest time in the 100-yard butterfly this season and is seeded third in the state in the event. Juniors Steve Rois (second in the conference in the 500-yard freestyle in 2008) and Casey Schneider have each earned Athlete of the Week honors this season.
Senior Michael Fritz of Nazareth College has recorded two of the season’s top times in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events.
Sophomore Paul Cabrey has turned in solid performances this season for Utica in the 200-yard freestyle.
Psych Sheet