E8 Championship Set for Feb. 19-22
Official Psych Sheets | UNYSCA Meet website
Live Stats | Live Video (Finals Only)
With the regular season finished, Empire 8 teams will be traveling to Ithaca, NY, for the 2014 Swimming and Diving Championships beginning Wednesday, February 19 and will run through Saturday Feb. 22 at Ithaca College's Aquatics Pavilion.. Preliminary races and diving will take place during the morning sessions, starting at 10:00 a.m. each day, followed by event finals in the evening sessions, which start at 6:00 p.m. daily.
Fans can follow the action all week long through the meet's official timing and scoring page
http://www.tpmlphelps.com/. Please note that the Empire 8 meet is held in conjunction with the UNYSCA Championship Meet. So scoring/results may be delayed to allow for adjustments to reflect only E8 teams/athletes.
An event-by-event preview of the 2014 Men's Swimming and Diving E8 Championships:
50 Freestyle: Six of the top 10 finishers from a year ago all return in 2014 so the scoreboard could have a slight déjà vu look to it. Defending champion Zack Kundel returns for Ithaca and holds the fourth fastest seed time (21.15). Hartwick’s Brad Ranson finished third a year ago and holds the top seed time of 21.05. Shawn Hanak and Tyler Hessler will try to become the first individual E8 champion in the event for the Ducks.
100 Freestyle: The three-time champion in this event (Lydon Schultz, Hartwick ’13) has graduated leaving the top spot on the podium up for grabs. However, the top honors could remain in Hartwick’s possession as 2013 runner-up Brad Ranson returns and enters with a third fastest seed time (46.76). Tomasz Wolinski and Shawn Hanak of Stevens are ranked ahead with times of 46.01 and 46.08, respectively.
200 Freestyle: Ithaca’s Adam Zelehowsky got the win last year in the event and hopes to do it again this year as well. He has the third ranked time in E8 with a 1:43.42. Hartwick’s Brad Ranson was the runner up a year ago by less than a second and enters with the fifth fastest seed time (1:44.05).
500 Freestyle: With reigning champion Kenny Kleso gone a new champion will emerge this year and odds are in favor of Stevens, who owns five of the top six seed times. Nick Noga holds the top time of 4:40.67, almost six seconds ahead of the closest non-Stevens competitor.
1650 Freestyle: Stevens freshman Mark Lippert has the top performance in the league by almost 20 seconds with a time of 16:08.49, which would have placed him fourth in the 2013 championship. Hartwick senior Luke Grunewald finished second a year ago and enters the 2014 meet with a seedtime of 16:31.33.
100 Backstroke: This event could need a photo finish as the top three swimmers are less than a second apart. Ravi Sun, fourth place finisher from 2012, owns the top time on the performance list. Sun will be challenged by teammate Shawn Hanak and Nazareth’s Daniel Burke, also top five finishers from a year ago. And Ithaca’s Connor White (2011 champion and third place in 2012 and 2013) is ranked fifth in the event and should not be counted out of top honors.
200 Backstroke: Stevens swept the event last year and returns defending champion Ravi Sun with the fastest seed time (1:50.93). Nazareth’s Daniel Burke (1:53.21)will look to challenge Sun and improve on his fourth place finish from 2013.
100 Breaststroke: The podium will have a very different look in 2014 as the top five finishers from a year ago are not slated to return. Ithaca’s Peter Knight placed sixth a year ago and is ranked fifth on the performance list (1:00.67). However three swimmer’s are under the minute mark, including Hartwick’s Jeremey Torres who will try to become the first hawk to stand on top of the podium in 100 breaststroke. Torres holds the third top time (59.98) behind two swimmers from Stevens, Joshua Lefeber and Dana Pilcher.
200 Breaststroke: Hartwick’s Jeremy Torres took third place honors in 2013 and is ranked third (2:10.64) in the event, but it is Stevens sophomore Dane Pilcher who owns the top seed time (2:05.97) and will try to keep the event title in the Duck family.
100 Butterfly: Prior to last year, Stevens had yet to win an individual E8 title in this event but with the Ducks holding five of the top six seed times, the odds look to be in favor of the Ducks earning back-to-back individual titles. Ithaca’s Taylor Van Cott (2012 champion and runner-up 2013) will look to shake things up at the top of the leader board.
200 Butterfly: Stevens junior Price Hu looks to follow in his brother’s footsteps (John Hu, 2010 and 2013 champion) and win the individual title. Hu enters with meet with a time of 1:53.73, but it is Ithaca’s Lucas Zelehowsky who holds the top time of 1:53.29. The 2011 and 2012 champion, Taylor Van Cott of Ithaca is seeded fourth (1:54.95).
200 IM: Stevens took the top four spots in the event in 2013 and could do the same in 2014, as the Ducks own the top four seed times, led by Ravi Sun (1:53.23).
400 IM: It could be a 1-2-3 sweep by the Ducks in this event as six of the top eight seed times in the even belong to Stevens. Ravi Sun holds the top time in the event of 4:04.88, four full seconds ahead of Joshua Lefeber (4:09.29). Nazareth’s Timothy Rappold will be in the mix once again as he finished fifth a year ago and has a seed time of 4:16.26.
200 Free Relay: Ithaca is the two-time defending champion and set a new E8 record of 1:22.10 last year. However, Stevens owns the top time of 1:22.97, followed by the Bombers (1:24.29).
400 Free Relay: This event always provides an exciting end to the championships and last year was certainly no exception. Stevens out-touched Hartwick by .30 seconds. While lineups may change, one thing is for certain this is one event that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. Entering the championship, Stevens has the top time in the 400-meter relay at 3:04.07 and will be looking for its fourth win in the last five years.
800 Free Relay: Hartwick set a new E8 record time of 6:45.57 in the event last year and is ranked second on the performance list. Stevens ranks first and looks to reclaim top honors for the first time since 2011.
200 Medley Relay: Stevens got the win in this event last year, but will losing three of their swimmers in the line-up have an impact on them? It doesn’t appear to be the case as the Ducks own a two-second lead over Ithaca on the seeding chart.
400 Medley Relay: Stevens appears to be the clear favorite in this relay as well, with an eight second advantage over second seeded Ithaca. The battle for second and third should be close as the Hawks trail the Bombers by less than two seconds.
Diving: Ithaca junior Matt Morrison and Nazareth sophomore Jeff Green should be the top-two contenders on the boards. Morrison returns as the 1-meter and 3-meter diving champion and is ranked first in the 3-meter event and second in the 1-meter. Green is the top ranked diver in the 1-meter and stands second in the 3-meter.
An event by event preview for the 2014 Women's Swimming and Diving Championships:
50 Freestyle: Three different schools have won this event in the past three years, with Stevens holding the slight advantage to win in 2014. However, there is no room for error in this short race. But perhaps Nazareth will take top honors for the first time since 2005. Senior Emily Sauter is seeded third and placed fifth a year ago.
100 Freestyle: Stevens junior April Lawson enters as the E8 favorite with a time of 53.03 and will look to improve on her third place finish a year ago. Challenging Lawson will be teammate Jenn Rutledge (2013 – runner-up) and Nazareth senior Emily Sauter who placed fourth in 2013.
200 Freestyle: It could be a rookie sweep, as five of the top-eight times in the event belong to freshman. Stevens freshman Danielle Caruso leads the rookie pack with a seed time of 1:54.29 and is joined by Ithaca freshman Grace Ayer (1:58.29) at the top of the leader board. Other freshman to watch for include Claire Hendershot (Stevens), Cameron Hess (Nazareth) and Dylan Staniszewski (Alfred).
500 Freestyle: A Ducks’ swimmer has won the event the last five years and looks primed to extend that streak as freshman Danielle Caruso holds the top time in the conference with a 5:05.76, almost eight full seconds faster than Nazareth freshman Cameron Hess. Last year’s winner, Elizabeth Heinbach the third fastest seed time of 5:14.47.
1650 Freestyle: There have been three back-to-back champions in this event over the years, and 2014 could provide the fourth as defending champion Elizabeth Heinbach (Stevens) returns with the second fastest time (17:44.23) on the performance list. Challenging Heinbach for the top spot will be teammate Danielle Caruso (17:35.50) and don’t rule out the 2012 champion, Gwen Mathias of Hartwick, who enters the competition ranked seventh.
100 Backstroke: There will be a new champion atop the podium in 2014, but could it still be a Duck? Stevens has won the event the four of the last five years and has two of the top three seed times in swimmers Sharon Rooker and Katlyn Christenson. However, it is Ithaca junior Kylie Bangs (2013 runner-up) who holds the top time of 58.81.
200 Backstroke: Stevens junior Megan Lisbon will be looking for her third win in the event (2011 & 2012). She has posted the second fastest time in the league with a 2:09.74, ranking behind Ithaca’s Kylie Bangs (2:08.36).
100 Breaststroke: The 2-3-4 finishers from a year ago all return in hopes of earning the individual title. 2013 runner-up Brittany Geyer is ranked first (1:05.42), while teammate Elena Piper stands second in E8 rankings (1:07.50) and Hartwick’s Clare Nelson is seeded fifth (1:09.77).
200 Breaststroke: Stevens Brittany Geyer is favored by seven seconds on the psych sheet. Senior Clare Nelson (Hartwick) placed fourth a year ago and is hoping for a top-three finish.
100 Butterfly: The league features three swimmers who posted sub one-minute times during the season. The top time of 58.46 belongs to Stevens junior Sharon Rooker. She is followed by teammate Maria McClure (59.30) and Ithaca freshman Grace Ayer (59.65). Ithaca has never had an individual E8 champion in this event.
200 Butterfly: The top spot on the podium could once again feature a Duck. A Steven’s swimmer has won the event the last four years and Elizabeth Heinbach and Maria McClure may extend that streak. Heinbach holds the top time of 2:09.98, while McClure is the defending champion with a seed time of 2:12.95.
200 IM: Carly Jones of Ithaca won this event the last three years, but it is time to make room for a new champion. Stevens has never won an individual title in the 200 IM event, but 2014 may be the year that all changes. Junior Brittany Geyer headlines the performance with a time of 2:08.17. However the title could remain with the Bombers as Grace Ayer and Elizabeth Gawrys are ranked second and third.
400 IM: Stevens junior Brittany Geyers returns as defending champion with the top ranked time of 4:27.76, ten full seconds ahead of teammate Elizabeth Heinbach.
200 Free Relay: Stevens has won the event the last five years and looks primed to extend its winning streak to six in 2014. The Ducks hold the top time of 1:37.57. Nazareth is ranked second (1:40.10) and has never won the E8 event. Ithaca is ranked third (1:41.36) and last won the event in 2008.
400 Free Relay: Stevens has dominated the 400-free relay the last five years and much like the 200-free relay, the Ducks are favored to win again with a top seed time of 3:35.4019 (five seconds head of Nazareth).
800 Free Relay: Stevens is the defending champion in the distance relay and owns the top time from the season of 7:50.39, ten seconds ahead of Nazareth’s time.
200 Medley Relay: The Ducks will be looking to repeat in this relay event as well. The Stevens A team and B team actually sit atop the psych sheet, and could potentially finish 1-2 in the race.
400 Medley Relay: Stevens will be looking to claim top honors for the fourth time in this event. Ithaca is the only E8 school to have won this relay event four-straight years (2007-2010). Stevens has the favored lineup with the only sub-four minute time (3:54.39). Ithaca is ranked second (4:01.92).
Diving: The diving events have been won by the Ithaca Bombers the past three seasons and 2014 could produce similar results. Nickie Griesemer, Heather Markus and Emily Warfle will be the top representatives on the boards for the Bombers.