ROCHESTER, NY – The 2013 Empire 8 Athletic Conference (E8) Swimming and Diving Championships were full of highlights last month at the Ithaca College Athletics & Events Center Aquatics Pavilion, and this week some of the individuals and relay teams responsible will be looking to make a splash on the national stage.
The E8 has 35 student-athletes (32 swimmers and three divers) representing four of its six schools that sponsor the sport: Hartwick College, Ithaca College, Nazareth College and Stevens Institute of Technology, are making the trip to the 2013 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships set for March 20-23 in Shenandoah, Texas.
Preliminary events begin each day at 11 a.m. with finals sessions beginning at 7 p.m. A
video webcast of each session is available through NCAA.com, and live timing and scoring will be available.
Championship Website
On the men’s side there are two divers, 15 relay teams and 17 individual swimmers who achieved an "A" or an invited "B" cut as the Empire 8 will be represented in all 20 men’s events.
The Empire 8 women will send one diver, five relay teams and nine individuals in 18 events. The psych sheets have been released and numerous E8 swimmers have a chance to earn national championships and All-American honors.
“This is truly the most talented field of Empire 8 swimmers and divers in our conference history,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “Our conference features great depth and it is a testament to the coaches and administration’s commitment to their program at our member institutions. It will be an exciting national meet.”
“The Empire 8 continues to qualify more and more athletes each year,” said Stevens head coach Brad Thornton. “It’s exciting that our conference championship meet has no guarantees of who is making the finals. Everyone continues to step up the level of competition each year, which makes it a fun conference to be in.”
Thornton is in his first year as Head Coach at Stevens Institute of Technology. Thornton came to Stevens for the 2008-09 season and has been a key part in turning both teams into national powers, serving as the top assistant coach and associate head coach prior to taking the helm.
After sending 16 swimmers (seven women, nine men) to the 2012 national meet, 20 Ducks (eight women, 12 men) are making the trip to Texas this year as the teams looks to continue an amazing run of success.
The Stevens women finished fifth and sixth in the country the last two seasons and has been in the top-15 the last four. Last year, the Stevens men placed 11th in the nation.
“Prior to this year, half the team I hadn’t coached every day,” said Thornton. “Sending 16 swimmers to nationals in 2012 was amazing, so I didn’t want to mess with routine but I also wanted to implement a few new changes to continue to challenge our athletes and increase the number of qualifiers.”
Making the trip for the Ducks on the women’s side will be senior Marissa Douglass, sophomore Brittany Geyer, freshman Elizabeth Heinbach, sophomore April Lawson, sophomore Nicole Miller, junior Louise Moores, sophomore Sharon Rooker and freshman Jennifer Rutledge.
Heinbach is seeded 33rd in the 500-yard freestyle, and Douglas is 20th in the 200-yard individual medley. Geyer is No. 35 in the 200-IM, Moores is eighth in the 50-yard freestyle and Rutledge is No. 32 in the 50-free. The Ducks are seeded sixth in the 200-yard medley relay and 13th in the 200-yard freestyle relay, while Heinbach is 13th in the 400-yard individual medley.? ?
Moores is the No. 5 seed in the 100-yard butterfly and Douglas is 45th in the 200-yard freestyle as the Ducks check in seventh in the 400-yard medley relay. Moores is fifth in the 100-yard backstroke, with Rooker at No. 35, and Geyer is seeded 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke.? ?
Stevens' 800-yard freestyle relay time is 17th, and Heinbach is the 16th seed in the 1,650-yard freestyle, while Rutledge is 29th in the 100-yard freestyle. Geyer is seeded third in the event she won a national title in last year – the 200-yard breaststroke – and the 400-yard freestyle relay team is No. 9.
“We would love to finish fifth again, but if we score more points and finish sixth then so be it,” said Thornton. “[Geyer] was a national champion last year and we’d love to repeat that accomplishment along with a few others.”
On the men’s side the Ducks will be sending senior Alex Benham, senior Greg Charriez, sophomore Wesley Elford, junior Shawn Hanak, freshman Bryon Held, junior Tyler Hessler, senior John Hu, junior Simas Jarasumas, freshman Joshua Lefeber, senior Daniel Munt, junior Nick Noga, and junior Tommy Wolinski.
Going through the psyche sheets, Elford and Benham will both swim in the 500-yard freestyle, with Elford seeded 13th and Benham 24th. Hu is No. 13 in the 200-yard individual medley and Lefeber seeded 39th. Stevens' 200-yard medley relay team will come into the meet No. 7, while the 200-yard freestyle relay is 11th. Hu is seeded second in the 400-yard individual medley, and Munt is No. 39 in the 100-yard butterfly. Benham and Noga are Nos. 24 and 25 in the 200-yard freestyle with Elford and Wolinski come in seeded 30 and 45 in the same event.
The Ducks are No. 12 in the 400-yard medley relay, and Hu is 14th in the 200-yard butterfly. Charrez and Hanak are back-to-back at 21st and 22nd in the 100-yard backstroke, and Jarasunas is third in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Stevens is seeded ninth in the 800-yard freestyle relay, and Elford has the same seed in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Benham checks in 15th in the 1,650. Hanak is 21st in the 200-yard backstroke, Charriez is 30th, and Jarasunas checks in as the second seed in the 200-yard breaststroke. Stevens is No. 10 in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
“We have a lot of returners which is great so the freshman don’t feel they need to carry team on their back,” said Thornton. “They see what it takes to prepare and what it’s all about.”
While sending 20 athletes from one program is impressive, equally as impressive is Nazareth senior Carissa Risucci and Ithaca senior Carly Jones, who will each be making her fourth straight trip to the national meet.
“Carissa is one of the most talented athletes to come through Nazareth,” stated head coach Martie Staser. “It’s been a phenomenal experience to coach her. She is a great leader who sets high aspirations and goals for herself.”
Risucci is seeded second in the 200-yard breaststroke and fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke. Her goals for the 100 breaststroke is to make it into the top eight. She finished 12th in the 100 breaststroke last year, 21st in 2011 and 15th in 2010. Risucci finished fifth in the 200 breaststroke at last year's national meet, fourth in 2011 and eighth in 2010. Her goal for 2013 is to place in the top three.
“She has been training by herself for three weeks, which can be difficult to stay focused and positive,” said Staser. “However, as a returner to the national stage the feeling is comfortable for her.”
Risucci will have some company in the 200-breaststroke event, as defending champion, Geyer of Stevens is seeded third and Ithaca’s Carly Jones is ranked 16th.
“Carissa, Brittany and Carly have all pushed each other this year, so it will be an exciting event for Empire 8,” said Staser.
Jones earned a spot at the meet via her NCAA B qualifying time in the 200-yard individual medley. She is also qualified to swim in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard breaststroke.
Jones will be joined by senior diver Kloe Boeckel on the women’s side as well as four men’s swimmers and two divers. Sophomore Peter Knight, junior Zack Kundel, senior Jake Robbins and freshman Adam Zelehowsky qualified in the 200-yard freestyle relay, while senior Martin Brown and sophomore Matt Morrison made it to nationals in both diving events.
“Coaching the four male swimmers that we have competing at the NCAA meet has been an extremely rewarding experience,” said Ithaca men’s head coach Kevin Markwardt. “Each of our four swimmers is from a different class and each of them bring something wholly different to the table. Watching our upperclassmen [Robbins and Kundel] evolve into the tremendous athletes and leaders they are today has been an absolute pleasure, and we are excited that our underclassmen [Knight and Zelehowsky] are able to learn from them and hopefully step into their roles in the coming years.”
The quartet is also entered in the 400-yard freestyle relay at the nationals, along with the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relays. Kundel and Robbins will also swim in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAAs. Zelehowsky is eligible to compete in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle in individual events.
“Having three divers (Kloe, Martin and Matt) qualify this year is very exciting for us and a reflection of the commitment we have made to this program,” said diving coach Mike Wantuck.
A total of six members of the Hartwick men's and women's swimming and diving teams have been selected to compete at the national meet.
Sophomore Jade Woodend will represent Hartwick for the women. She is seeded seventh in the 50 free, 13th in the 100 free, and 21st in the 200 free. Woodend is the first Hawk female athlete to make the national meet since the 2004-05 season.
“She has no expectations of winning, she just wants to try to get faster,” said Hartwick head coach Dale Rothenberger. “We’d love to have her swim at night (top 16), which would be a great accomplishment. She has all the potential and capability to do so.”
On the men’s side, senior Kenny Kleso, senior Lydon Schultz, sophomore Miles Blaney, junior Brad Ranson and freshman Corey Perez will be making the trip.
Kleso, Schultz, Blaney, and Ranson are making their second appearance at the NCAA Championships as they also participated last year. This will be Perez and Woodend's first time at the national event.
“Jade and Corey are excited, and trying to keep their nerves in check will be key,” said Rothenberger. “Having four returners making the trip as well has helped to keep them focused during training and will keep them confident.”
Kleso will partake in the 500 free, 200 free, and the 200 breast. Schultz had an automatic qualifying time of 44.79 in the 100 free and is seeded seventh nationally. He is seeded 19th in the 50 free and will also participate in the 200 free where he is seeded 47th.
Blaney is seeded 19th in the 500 free and 31st in the 200 fly. Ranson qualified in the 200 free with a time of 1:41.68. He is seeded 44th. Perez will swim in the relays.
Hartwick is seeded 12th in the 400-free relay, 13th nationally in the 800-free relay, 17th in the 200-free relay, 22nd in the 400-medley relay and 23rd in the 200-medley relay.
Rothenberger said the team is focused on advancing to the night swims (top 16). “Kenny and Lydon have that experience and it would be great for the everyone to get that experience,” said Rothenberger.
“The depth and talent in the Empire 8 Conference is the best it has ever been,” said Markwardt. “I think that the competition has really raised the bar by creating an environment not only that requires something incredible to win, but just to place in the top three or even final in an event. It certainly brings out the best in our athletes and I look forward to seeing how the conference continues to evolve.”
Use the links below to see the official psych sheets, invited swimmers by team and alternate lists for both genders. Fans can track the action at the Division III meet on the NCAA's web site (
men -
women).
2013 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships
March 20-23, Shenandoah, Texas
Psych Sheets |
Men |
Women |
Invited Swimmers by Team |
Men |
Women |
Alternate Lists |
Men |
Women |