April
4
Matys,
Dennis & Haney dominate PSAC swimmer
awards
Jamie
Rudisill earns 4th straight Men’s
Coach of the Year honor
LOCK
HAVEN, PA - It was no secret that the
West Chester University swimming teams
were going to earn post-season awards
from the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference. The question was how many?
On
Wednesday, April 3, the answer came: The
Golden Rams claimed four of the six
yearly honors presented by the PSAC.
West
Chester University head coach Jamie
Rudisill was named the 2001-02
PSAC Men’s Coach of the Year for the
fourth consecutive time, while his two
top swimmers - senior Matt Matys
(Boothwyn/Chichester) and junior
Corey Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake
Forest) were selected as the
2001-02 PSAC Male and Female Athletes of
the Year, respectively.
The
fourth award was presented to freshman Ashley
Haney (Lititz/Warwick), who was
chosen the 2001-02 PSAC Female Rookie of
the Year.
The
awards were voted upon by the head
swimming coaches of the PSAC and
announced by the league office in Lock
Haven, PA.
For
Haney, she continues a trend of rookie
dominance by the Golden Ram women. She
is the third straight WCU female swimmer
to claim the rookie accolade after
sophomore teammate Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon)
earned the honor last season and junior Meghan
Straehle (Westminster, MD/Francis Scott
Key) won it during her freshman
year of 1999-2000.
Haney
was a two-time All-American this season
as a member of the WCU 400-yard medley
(2nd) and 200 medley (4th) relay teams.
She finished ninth in the 100 and 200
breast events to earn Honorable Mention
All-American honors.
The
WCU women posted their highest finish in
school history at the NCAA Division II
National Championships (March 13-16)
when the Golden Rams placed third in the
nation. WCU also won its second straight
PSAC title in mid-February.
In
helping the Golden Rams capture the
conference crown again, Haney won the
100 breast and earned All-PSAC honors in
both the 100 breast and 200 breast
events.
Dennis
earns her second straight Female Athlete
of the Year award after capturing the
NCAA Division II National Championship
in both the 100 and 200 fly races for
the second consecutive year. She now
owns four individual National
Championships - unprecedented in
recorded Golden Rams athletic history.
Dennis
also earned All-American honors in seven
events. She claimed three by herself in
the 100 fly, 200 fly and 100 free (6th),
and she was a member of four relay teams
that finished in the Top 8 in the
country - 400 medley (2nd), 800 free
(2nd), 400 free (3rd) and 200 medley
(4th). The Top 8 swimmers in each event
are considered All-American, while those
who compete in the Consolation Finals
earn Honorable Mention All-American
accolades for finishing 9th-16th.
Dennis
collected seven PSAC Championships - and
the seven All-PSAC honors that come with
them - in her stellar conference meet in
February. She won the 100 fly, 200 fly
and 100 free, and participated on the
first-place 200 free, 400 free, 800 free
and 400 medley relay teams.
Matys
earned his second PSAC Male Athlete of
the Year award after claiming the honor
in 1999-2000. He was also the PSAC
Rookie of the Year in 1998-99.
Matys
led the Golden Rams to their fourth
straight PSAC Championship and a
sixth-place finish at the NCAA Division
II National Championships. He was a
seven-time All-American this year,
finishing in the Top 8 of Division II in
three individual events - 200 IM (3rd),
200 free (3rd) and 100 free (4th). He
also competed on four All-American relay
squads - 200 free (2nd), 400 free (3rd),
800 free (3rd), 400 medley (6th).
At
the 2002 PSAC Championships, Matys was
crowned a champion in the 100 free and
200 IM, and he was on the 200 free and
400 medley relay squads that also won
titles. He earned All-PSAC honors in
those four events, as well as the 200
medley relay, 400 free relay and the 200
free. In all, he finished first, second
or third in seven PSAC Championship
races.
Rudisill
picked up his fourth straight Coach of
the Year award on the men’s side after
completing his 14th season as the head
coach of both the men’s and women’s
teams. Rudisill has claimed six PSAC
titles in the last four years between
the two programs, and he owns four PSAC
Coach of the Year awards in the last
five years after taking the women’s
honor last year.
March
18
Women
take 3rd at NCAA II National
Championships
Best
finish for Golden Rams in team history;
Matys
leads men to 6th with 3 PSAC marks
ORLANDO, FL -
The West Chester University women’s
swimming and diving team posted its
highest finish in school history by
taking third place at the 2002 NCAA
Division II National Championships.
The West Chester
University men also had a stellar
four-day meet, taking sixth in the
country at the YMCA Aquatics Center in
Orlando, FL. The Division II Nationals
were held from March 13-16.
The women closed out
the 2002 event by accepting 10
All-American honors on the final day of
competition. The evening began with
sophomore Amanda Pearsall
(Prospect Park/Interboro)
finishing sixth (17:25.41) in the
1650-yard free, while junior Corey
Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest)
and senior Taura Wizniak (Media/Penncrest)
finished sixth (51.70) and eighth
(55.25), respectively, in the 100 free.
Dennis’ mark would
have broken the school record, however
she took care of that in the
preliminaries on Saturday morning with a
51.65. Pearsall, Dennis and Wizniak each
earned another All-American honor for
their Top 8 finishes.
Senior Meredith
Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) also
collected her only career individual
All-American honor by taking eight in
the 1650 free with her time of 17.30.58.
It was the final swim of her career.
Junior Jaime
Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean) and
sophomore Melissa DeBellis (Blue
Bell/Wissahickon) placed fourth
(2:04.47) and fifth (2:05.75),
respectively, in the 200 back, bumping
up the WCU All-American count even
further.
DeBellis, Wizniak,
junior Megan Straehle
(Westminster, MD/Francis Scott Key)
and Dennis closed out the meet with an
All-American performance in the 400 free
relay. The foursome posted a third-place
time of 3:29.83.
The Golden Rams also
claimed a pair of Honorable Mention
All-American honors in the 200 breast
behind freshman Ashley Haney
(Lititz/Warwick), who won the
consolation finals and took ninth
overall in the nation with her school
record 2:22.32, and freshman Lindsay
Spry (Elkton, MD/St. Mark’s, DE)
and her 15th-place 2:26.00.
Senior Matt
Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester)
finished up his collegiate career in
style by leading the WCU men into sixth
place. He recorded a time of 44.84 in
the 100 free, breaking his own school
record and setting his third
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
mark in just four days. He placed fourth
in the nation and earned All-American
honors in the event.
Junior Ryan
Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton) took
12th in the 100 free (46.29) and junior Bob
Carmody (Newtown/Council Rock)
was 15th (46.56) as both Golden Rams
earned Honorable Mention All-American
honors.
With three swimmers
placing in the Top 16 in Division II in
the 100 free, it was no secret that the
Golden Rams were going to be tough in
the 400 free relay to close out the
National Championships. The foursome of
Carmody, Matys, Weathers and freshman Gabe
Melo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Titular)
earned the second seed in prelims and
finished third in the nation with a
school record time of 3:02.42. All four
swimmers claimed All-American honors.
Freshman Alec
Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) was
14th (1:52.71) in the 200 back and won
an HMAA, while freshman diver Michael
Bergen (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia) also
placed 14th on the three-meter board and
collected an HMAA. He totaled 307.45
points.
Junior Kyle
Almoney (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern)
also wound up 14th and set a WCU team
record in the 1650 free race. He posted
a 16:04.64 to snap his own record.
Men’s Top 10
1. California State-Bakersfield
529
2. North Dakota 507
3. Drury 414
4. Tampa 321
5. Missouri-Rolla 302.5
6. West Chester 271
7. Southern Connecticut State
229.5
8. Clarion 175
9. Truman State 174
10. UC-Davis 140
Women’s Top 10
1. Truman State 733
2. Drury 548
3. West Chester 434
4. UC-San Diego 350
5. North Dakota 313
6. Nebraska-Omaha 309
7. Clarion 207
8. Northern Colorado 165
9. Tampa 163
10. California State-Bakersfield
117
--30--
March
16
Corey
Dennis earns second National
Championship in 2 days
Junior
swimmer captures NCAA II 200 fly crown;
Matt Maty posts Olympic Trial Cut time
ORLANDO,
FL - Colleges
and universities love to treasure the
accolades of their student-athletes,
coaches and teams by erecting plaques,
building trophy cases and hanging
mementos. It is a periscope to the past.
But at
West Chester University, someone was
able to glimpse into the future.
On
Friday night, March 15, West Chester
University junior women’s swimmer Corey
Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest)
won her second NCAA Division II National
Championship in two days and her fourth
in two seasons by capturing the 200-yard
butterfly crown.
By
earning the twin national titles, Dennis’
name will be placed on a plaque in the
Bob Reese Room in Hollinger Field House
- a venue remodeled by Addy and Al Kelly
of Kelly’s Sports, Ltd., to serve as a
place to preserve achievement and
impress recruits.
Dennis’
name already appears on the plaque in
the room, but curiously the year of her
100 and 200 fly National Championships
indicates 2002, not the 2001 titles she
won last March. Those plaques were
engraved nearly a month ago, long before
Dennis won here 2002 crowns over the
past two days. Lucky guess? Engraver’s
error? Typo? Visionary?
It
wasn’t a stretch to lay odds on Dennis
winning the titles again, but it was
probably a good idea not to load anymore
pressure or jinx the junior champion and
her head coach Jamie Rudisill before
leaving for Orlando.
The
Division II Nationals are being hosted
by the YMCA Aquatics Center in Orlando,
FL, through this Saturday evening.
Dennis has led the West Chester
University women into third place with
314 team points. If they maintain their
third-place position, it would be the
best finish ever for the Golden Rams at
the Division II Nationals.
Truman
State is currently tops in the team
point race with 556, while Drury is
second at 437
North
Dakota trails the Golden Rams by 55
points at 259, while San Diego is fifth
(246) and Nebraska-Omaha is sixth (234).
The
West Chester University men are
currently sixth with 206 team points,
just 12.5 behind fifth-place
Missouri-Rolla (218.5) and 28 points
behind Tampa (234). Cal
State-Bakersfield (404), North Dakota
(385) and Drury (268) are first, second
and third, respectively.
The
NCAA offers hardware to the Top 4 teams
in the country for both men and women.
All-American honors are bestowed upon
the Top 8 finishers, while those
competing in the consolation event (9-16
after preliminaries) are considered
Honorable Mention All-American.
Dennis,
who set an NCAA Division II National
record time in the 100 fly on Thursday
night by breaking Olympian Angel Myers’
1986 mark, grabbed the 200 fly with her
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
and WCU record time of 2:02.13.
She
then closed out the third day of
competition by leading off the 800 free
relay team that ultimately finished
second in Division II. That foursome
also featured junior Meghan
Straehle (Westminster, MD/Francis Scott
Key), senior Taura Wizniak
(Media/Penncrest) and sophomore Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon).
The four swimmers teamed up to take
second, earn All-American honors and set
a new WCU and PSAC record (7:34.29).
In
addition to Dennis, the Golden Rams
totaled three swimmers in the Top 10 in
the country in the 200 fly. Straehle
finished 10th (2:07.51) to grab an
Honorable Mention All-American, while
sophomore Lynae Roos
(Boothwyn/Garnet Valley) took
seventh (2:07.38) to capture her first
All-American honor.
The
500 free saw sophomore Amanda
Pearsall (Prospect Park/Interboro)
also finish second and tally her first
All-American award. She posted a time of
5:02.92. During the prelims on Friday
morning, Pearsall set a WCU record with
her 5:01.52, breaking the mark held by
Missy Cline.
Senior
Meredith Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel
Air) wound up 11th (5:03.90) in
the 500 free and was an HMAA.
Seventh-place
finishes seemed to be the order of the
day for the Golden Rams. DeBellis was
credited with her first All-American
honor of the year after posting a
seventh-place time of 58.02 in the 100
back. She ended up with two on the day
after the 800 free relay. Junior Jaime
Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean) took
11th with a personal best 58.69 in the
event.
The
100 breast saw three Golden Rams take
Honorable Mention All-American honors.
Freshman Ashley Haney
(Lititz/Warwick) was ninth with
a 1:04.86, good enough to win the
consolation meet and break her own
school record.
Freshman
Lindsay Spry (Elkton, MD/St. Mark’s,
DE) was 12th (1:05.33), while
senior Kim Lewis (Delran,
NJ/Delran) finished 14th
(1:06.63).
Junior
diver Lisa Mentzer
(Coatesville/Coatesville)
matched her best finish with an
11th-place score of 299.10 on the
one-meter board. She also finished 11th
earlier this week on the three-meter and
will come home with two HMAA’s.
The
men were again led by senior Matt
Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester) who
took individual liberties with the
Golden Ram 800 free relay team.
Matys
was the leadoff swimmer on the 800 free
and used his opportunity to level the
all-time WCU and PSAC 200 free mark.
Because the opening swimmer in a relay
starts from the blocks, the leadoff is
permitted to count that time toward
records and qualifying standards.
Matys
posted a mark of 1:38.80 in the first
leg that ultimately helped guide the
Golden Rams to a third-place finish. But
for Matys, the time represented maybe
the single-fastest race of his career.
His 200 free time was an Olympic Trial
Cut.
What
shouldn’t be lost, however, is the
6:42.89 turned in by the quartet that
also featured juniors Ryan
Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton)
and Kyle Almoney (Mt.
Wolf/Northeastern), and senior Todd
Albert (Pottstown/O.J. Roberts).
The foursome smashed the old WCU 800
free mark by nearly seven seconds, a
phenomenal drop in time when
establishing a new mark. All four
swimmers were named All-American.
Individually,
Weathers was 16th in the 500 (4:38.23,
HMAA), but it was his preliminary time
of 4:36.61 in the morning session that
earned him a school record.
The
200 fly saw Albert win the consolation
race and take ninth in 1:51.91. He was
honored with an HMAA.
Albert’s
evening time was actually faster than
Almoney’s finals mark of 1:52.29, but
Almoney locked himself into the Top 8
after posting a 1:51.72 in the prelims.
He took seventh and collected an
All-American certificate.
The
NCAA II Championships will conclude on
Saturday evening with the 100 free, 200
back, 200 breast, 400 free relay, 1650
free and the men’s three-meter diving.
March
15
Corey
Dennis smashes 16-year old National D-II
record
Swimmer
earns second straight NCAA II 100 fly
crown; Women 3rd, men 5th after Day 2
ORLANDO,
FL - The West
Chester University men’s and women’s
swimming & diving teams combined to
produce the single most impressive day by a
Golden Ram program at the NCAA Division II
National Championships in school history.
On
Thursday (March14), junior Corey
Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest)
retained her 100-yard butterfly crown by
destroying the all-time NCAA Division II
mark and led the WCU women into third place
after two days of competition in Orlando,
FL.
The 2002
Division II Nationals are being held from
Wednesday March 13 through this Saturday,
March 16, at the YMCA Aquatics Center. The
men’s and women’s Championships are
running concurrently.
After two
days of competition, the WCU women are third
in the standings (180 points) - 12 points
ahead of North Dakota but 139 behind
second-place Drury - while the men are in
fifth with 154. They trail fourth-place
Missouri-Rolla by just 5.5.
Dennis,
the 2001 Division II National Champion in
both the 100 and 200 fly events, claimed the
third National Championship of her career by
retaining her 100 fly crown. And she did it
in style by setting a Division II National
record time of 55.42.
Her mark
was .40 faster than the original record set
on March 14, 1986 - 16 years to the day - by
former Olympian Angel Myers (55.82) of
Furman. Dennis becomes a three-time National
Champion - the first in recorded WCU history
in an individual sport. Her time was also a
WCU and a Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference record.
Dennis was
also instrumental in the WCU women’s 400
medley relay team taking second place and
setting both a WCU and a PSAC all-time mark.
She handled the third leg of the 400 MR team
that posted a time of 3:51.28. It was the
highest finish for a WCU women’s relay
team in school history.
Sophomore Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon),
freshman Ashley Haney (Lititz/Warwick)
and senior Taura Wizniak (Media/Penncrest)
comprised the squad. All four swimmers
earned All-American honors, with Dennis
claiming a pair for her National
Championship.
Wizniak
gathered up her second All-American honor of
the evening while handling the second leg of
the seventh-place 200 free relay team
(1:37.33). Junior Tracy Collington
(Chester Springs/Downingtown),
Wizniak, junior Meghan Straehle
(Westminster, MD/Francis Scott Key) and
sophomore Becky Naudasher
(Lansdale/North Penn) formed the
squad. And all four earned All-American
honors.
Wizniak
would make it a trio of All-American awards
with her eighth-place finish in the 200 free
(1:53.39). She actually posted a faster
prelim time in the morning that established
a new WCU team record (1:52.66).
The
Division II National Championships award
All-American accolades to the Top 8 swimmers
in each event, while the ninth-16th
finalists claim Honorable Mention
All-American awards.
Straehle
also picked up a pair of All-American honors
after taking fifth in the nation in the 400
IM with her 4:27.75. She had set the WCU
record in the preliminaries (4:30.51) during
the morning session, then came back and
annihilated both the Golden Rams’ record
and the all-time PSAC mark in the finals.
DeBellis
took 10th in the 100 fly (57.57) and was
dubbed an HMAA.
The men
have been outstanding as well thanks to
senior Todd Albert (Pottstown/O.J.
Roberts), junior Bob Carmody
(Newtown/Council Rock) and junior Kyle
Almoney (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern).
All three
swimmers earned All-American honors for WCU
in the 100 fly for finishing in the Top 8 in
the country. It was the first time in school
history that the Golden Rams had placed
three swimmers in the Top 8 in the nation in
the same event. All three set personal best
times.
Albert was
the fastest with his fourth-place mark of
49.31, while Carmody took fifth with a 49.58
and Almoney grabbed seventh with a 50.13.
Albert
earned his second All-American honor as the
third leg of the sixth-place 400 medley
relay team (3:24.14). The quartet of
freshmen Alec Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde
Lake) and Jason Brennan
(Collegeville/Methacton), Albert and
senior Matt Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester)
set a WCU record and earned the moniker
"All-Americans" for their combined
effort.
Matys
collected his second All-American honor of
the night by recording a 1:39.33 in the 200
free, jumping from seventh place in the
preliminaries to third in the country in the
finals.
He made it
three All-American honors in just one night
by leading off the second-place 200 free
relay team. Matys, junior Ryan
Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton),
freshman Gabe Melo (Ft. Lauderdale,
FL/Titular) and Albert recorded a
1:22.95. It was the highest finish ever in a
relay race for the men in school history.
Weathers
earned an HMAA for taking 10th in the 200
free with his time of 1:40.95.
The NCAA
Division II National Championships continue
on Friday (today, March 15) with the 500
free, 100 back, 100 breast, 200 fly, 800
free relay and one-meter women’s diving.
The finals begin at 6 p.m.
March
14
Collington,
Matys lead swimmers after Day 1 of NCAA’s
Duo
claim All-American honors; WCU women
5th, men 12th after Wednesday
ORLANDO,
FL
- Junior women’s sprinter Tracy
Collington (Chester Springs/Downingtown)
turned in stellar races in both the 50-yard
freestyle and as part of the 200 medley relay to
lead the West Chester University women’s
swimming & diving team into fifth place
after the opening day of competition at the NCAA
Division II National Championships.
Collington
earned All-American honors for finishing in the
Top 8 of both events. She has helped the team
compile 66 points, four behind fourth-place
Nebraska-Omaha (70) and 15 behind third-place
North Dakota (81). Truman State (192) and Drury
(155) are the early leaders.
The
2002 NCAA D-II Nationals are running
concurrently with the men’s in Orlando, FL.
The event is being held at the YMCA Aquatics
Center in Orlando, FL, and began on Wednesday,
March 13, with the 50 and 1000 free events, the
200 IM and the 200 medley relay. The women’s
three-meter diving competition was also held.
The
preliminary events are taking place in the
mornings, while the finals are being contested
at night.
Collington
turned in a school-record time of 23.84 in the
50 free, earning All-American honors for
finishing sixth in the nation. Swimmers and
divers finishing from first through eighth are
bestowed All-American honors, while participants
winding up from ninth through 16th earn
Honorable Mention All-American accolades.
Collington
was also the anchor of the women’s 200 medley
relay team that set a Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference and WCU record with its
fourth-place mark of 1:45.90. The foursome also
consisted of sophomore Melissa DeBellis
(Blue Bell/Wissahickon), freshman Ashley
Haney (Lititz/Warwick) and junior Corey
Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest). All
four athletes earned All-American honors.
Senior
Taura Wizniak (Media/Penncrest)
joined Collington in the 50 free, taking 11th
place with her time of 24.40. She was named a
Division II Honorable Mention All-American.
Senior
women’s captain Meredith Eyler (Abingdon,
MD/Bel Air) crushed her own personal
best time in the 1000 free and claimed ninth
place with a 10:25.49. She also earned Honorable
Mention All-American honors for her finish.
Sophomore
Amanda Pearsall (Prospect Park/Interboro)
wound up 16th in the 1000 free (10:32.92, HMAA),
while junior Megan Straehle (Westminster,
MD/Francis Scott Key) picked up her
first national award of the 2002 meet by taking
10th in the 200 IM (2:07.66, HMAA).
Junior
diver Lisa Mentzer
(Coatesville/Coatesville) collected an
11th-place finish on the women’s three-meter
board, recording the best National finish of her
career. She was also presented with an Honorable
Mention All-American award.
The
men are being led by senior Matt Matys
(Boothwyn/Chichester), who set a PSAC
record and a WCU mark in taking third place in
the 200 IM. He posted a time of 1:51.74 and
earned All-American honors.
The
WCU men are currently in 12th with 23 team
points.
The
men’s 1000 free saw junior Kyle Almoney
(Mt. Wolf/Northeastern) set a personal
best and a school record with his time of
9:32.52. He placed 14th for an HMAA award.
Junior
Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton)
also was named HMAA for his 15th-place swim in
the 50 free (21.29).
The
men’s 200-yard medley relay team took 16th
with a time of 1:35.49. The foursome featured
freshmen Alec Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde
Lake) and Jason Brennan
(Collegeville/Methacton), senior Todd
Albert (Pottstown/O.J. Roberts), and
freshman Gabe Melo (Ft. Lauderdale,
FL/Titular). All four swimmers were
named HMAA.
The
NCAA Division II Championships continue on
Friday with the finals for the 200 free relay,
400 medley relay, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 fly and
men’s one-meter dive being contested in the
evening.
February
27
PSAC
Champions - again!!!!
Men
win 4th straight swimming title; Women
make it two in a row; Pearsall is MVP
CLARION,
PA - For
the first time in the history of the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, a school
other than Clarion University has swept the PSAC
Swimming Championships for two straight years.
The
West Chester University men’s and women’s
swimming teams both defended their PSAC
Championships from 2001 on Saturday night,
February 23, ending the three-day conference
battle with a pair of first-place finishes. For
the men, it marked their fourth straight PSAC
title, while the women have now won two in a
row.
Clarion
University, which had dominated women’s
swimming from the outset nearly 30 years ago,
had never been beaten for a PSAC title in its
own pool until this past weekend.
The
men were led by senior Matt Matys
(Boothwyn/Chichester), a four-year
veteran who has never witnessed his team taste
defeat in the conference championships.
The
Golden Ram men compiled 593 points, followed by
Clarion (480.5), Shippensburg (240.5),
Bloomsburg (236), Kutztown (185), IUP (180),
Slippery Rock (145) and Edinboro (52).
The
women, meanwhile, were unconscious for the
Golden Rams. WCU dialed up an astonishing 740
points - a team record. Clarion (389) and
Bloomsburg (272) finished second and third,
respectively, yet combined their point totals
were still far behind the Golden Rams.
Shippensburg
took fourth with its 244, followed by Slippery
Rock (127), East Stroudsburg (117), IUP (87),
Millersville (76), Kutztown (56), Edinboro (47),
Lock Haven (36) and Mansfield (7).
The
final day of competition featured multiple
outstanding races by WCU swimmers.
Sophomore
Amanda Pearsall (Prospect Park/Interboro)
was a triple-winner for the Golden Rams and
earned MVP honors for her stellar performance.
She won the 1650-yard free (17:37.12) to claim
her third PSAC crown, All-PSAC honors and a
berth at the NCAA Division II National
Championships.
Senior
Meredith Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air)
placed fourth in the event (17:49.42), while
sophomore Mary Schock
(Fleetwood/Fleetwood) took fifth
(18:20.03).
The
Golden Rams claimed three of the top five slots
in the 200 back thanks to sophomore Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon) who won
the event with her 2:05.53. Junior Jaime
Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean) was second
(2:08.44), while sophomore Anne Wenzel
(Orlando, FL/Barron Collier) finished
fifth (2:13.54). DeBellis and Dolbow earned All-PSAC honors.
The
100 free belonged to junior Corey Dennis
(Harrington, DE/Lake Forest), who won
the race with a 52.56, and senior Taura
Wizniak (Media/Penncrest), who was
second with a 52.95. Junior Megan Straehle
(Westminster, MD/Francis Scott Key)
completed the top three sweep with her
third-place time of 53.15. All three swimmers
were named All-PSAC.
But
the domination in the 100 free did not end
there. Sophomore Becky Naudasher
(Lansdale/North Penn) wound up fifth
(54.03) and junior Tracy Collington
(Chester Springs/Downingtown) took sixth
(54.45).
Dennis
also won the 200 fly (2:05.08), while sophomore Lynae
Roos (Boothwyn/Garnet Valley) took
second and qualified for the Division II
Nationals. Her time of 2:07.19 was 2.5 seconds
under the National standard. Both Dennis and
Roos were named All-PSAC.
The
200 breast saw WCU capture the top four spots.
Senior Kim Lewis (Delran, NJ/Delran)
won the PSAC title (2:24.32), while freshman Ashley
Haney (Lititz/Warwick) finished second
(2:24.61) and freshman Lindsay Spry
(Elkton, MD/St. Mark’s) grabbed third
(2:28.59). All three were named All-PSAC.
Sophomore Ashley Jernigan (Hatfield/North
Penn) wound up fourth (2:29.23).
The
Golden Rams completed the three-day
championships with a first-place finish in the
400 free relay (Dennis, Wizniak, Straehle and
Naudasher). The foursome posted a time of
3:30.62 and earned All-PSAC honors.
The
men saw junior Kyle Almoney (Mt.
Wolf/Northeastern) earn his second
second-place finish of the championships with a
16:17.02 in the 1650 free. He was named
All-PSAC. Freshman Alex Gallas
(Philadelphia/Masterman) was fourth with
his 16:51.57.
Freshman
Alec Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake)
won his first PSAC title (200 back) with a
1:52.65. His time was a National Qualifier.
Junior Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton)
finished fifth (1:56.69).
Matys
then won the 100 free title (46.13), while
junior Bob Carmody (Newtown/Council Rock)
placed fourth (47.21) and freshman Gabe
Melo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Titular) took
sixth (47.58).
Matys
and Best were named All-PSAC for their efforts.
The
200 breast stroke saw freshman Jason
Brennan (Collegeville/Methacton) take
second (2:08.35) and rookie Rob Barnum
(Allentown/Emmaus) finish fourth
(2:11.56). Senior Todd Albert
(Pottstown/O.J. Roberts) won the 200 fly
in a personal best time of 1:53.31.
The
400 free relay team of Carmody, Matys, Melo and
Weathers posted a first-place mark of 3:05.50.
Albert and the four relay swimmers all earned
PSAC Championships and All-PSAC honors.
The
West Chester University men’s and women’s
swimming teams combined to capture eight of the
10 events contested on the first day of
competition on Thursday, February 21, as the
2002 PSAC commenced at Clarion University.
The
WCU men took the early 49.5-point lead over
second-place Clarion 176.5-127. The WCU men won
three of the first five events, thanks almost
entirely to their captain. Matys was the anchor
of the PSAC Champion 400-yard medley relay team
that posted a 3:25.86. The Golden Ram mark
matched the all-time fastest PSAC Championship
meet record.
In
addition to Matys, the quartet featured Best in
the leadoff role, Brennan and Albert.
Instead
of swimming in the 3-4 positions, Albert and
Matys took the leadoff and second-leg roles,
respectively, in the 200 free relay. The result
was a victory and a PSAC Championship for the
team that also included Melo and Weathers. The
foursome served up a 1:24.33.
Matys
then flew solo in the 200 IM, winning another
PSAC Championship in the individual race with
his 1:53.23.
The
WCU women went 5 for 5 on opening day, taking
every event while constructing a 54-point lead
over Clarion (183-129).
Pearsall
was thrilling in the 500-yard freestyle,
capturing the race and the PSAC Championship
with her 5:05.16. Straehle won the 200 IM
(2:08.17), while senior captain Meredith
Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air) placed
second (2:10.25).
Junior
Tracy Collington (Chester
Springs/Downingtown) captured her second
straight PSAC Championship in the 50 free, this
time posting a mark of 24.50. Wizniak was second
with a 24.88.
Collington
and Wizniak also picked up PSAC crowns as
one-fourth of the 200 free relay team that won
gold (1:37.01). Collington was the lead, while
Wizniak swan the third leg. DeBellis was the
second leg of the race and Straehle - who would
become a three-time PSAC Champion on Thursday
like Matys - directed the final push as the
anchor.
Straehle
was also the anchor on the winning 400 medley
relay (3:53.93) team that was led by DeBellis.
Lewis handled the second leg - the 100 breast
stroke - and earned an NCAA Division II National
qualifying time with the 400 medley relay squad,
while National Champion Dennis completed the
third leg in the pool.
On
Friday, February 22, the West Chester University
women’s swimming team virtually clinched the
2002 PSAC title, while the men were well on
their way to their fourth straight crown after
just two days of competition.
The
WCU women nearly built a 200-point lead over the
second-place Golden Eagles of Clarion after
recording a 484-286 margin. The men, meanwhile,
saw Clarion make a charge toward their
opening-day lead through the first four events,
but the Golden Rams claimed the top four slots
of the 100-yard fly to erect a 424.5-334 lead.
The
Golden Rams took second in the 200-yard medley
relay (1:34.27) behind Best, freshman Rob
Barnum (Allentown/Emmaus), Albert and
Matys. All four swimmers earned All-PSAC honors.
Almoney
recorded a second-place time of 9:36.27 in the
1000 free, while junior Mike Fender
(Swarthmore/Cardinal O’Hara) was
fourth with a 9:59.43. The 400 IM saw freshman Alex
Gallas (Philadelphia/Masterman) take
second (4:12.21) and sophomore Grant
McGeary (Chester Springs/O.J. Roberts)
finish fifth (4:19.14). Almoney and Gallas
earned All-PSAC honors for finishing in the top
three.
The
Golden Rams took control of the meet in the 100
fly by sweeping the first four places. Albert
was the PSAC Champion with a 50.71, Carmody took
second with a 51.24 and junior Jason
Sweger (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East)
wound up third with a 52.33. All three swimmers
won All-PSAC honors. Melo finished fourth with a
52.46.
Matys
and Weathers posted times of 1:41.06 and
1:41.23, respectively, to finish second and
third in the 200 free. Both swimmers were named
All-PSAC.
Junior
Erik Boll (Reading/Muhlenberg) had
an outstanding run in the 100 breast, recording
a time of 59.00. He was second and earned
All-PSAC accolades. Brennan was fourth with a
1:00.36, while Barnum took fifth with his
1:00.55. The 100 back saw Best earn All-PSAC
honors with his second-place finish (52.69).
The
800 free relay squad ended Day 2 with a victory
(6:56.79) thanks to Albert, Almoney, junior Dan
Schaeberle (York/Dallastown) and
Weathers. All four were crowned PSAC Champions
and All-Conference.
The
women were dominating from the outset when
Pearsall recorded her second victory of the
meet. She won the 1000 free in 10:31.53.
The
women’s 200 medley relay team then set a meet
record and posted an NCAA Division II National
Qualifying time of 1:48.23 to earn the moniker
PSAC Champions. The foursome consisted of
DeBellis, Spry, Dennis and Collington.
The
Golden Rams captured three of the top four
places in the 400 IM behind Straehle. She
recorded a time of 4:30.90 to win the event and
set WCU and PSAC Championship meet records. The
old mark was held by WCU assistant coach Diane
(Burkett) Heiland. Eyler was second in the 400
IM with a 4:37.65. Both swimmers were named
All-PSAC. Dolbow wound up fourth with her
4:48.38.
Dennis
(56.53) and DeBellis (58.08) went 1-2 in the 100
fly to earn All-PSAC honors, while Wizniak
captured the 200 free (1:53.80). Freshman Emily
Weidensaul (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin)
wound up fifth (1:59.04).
Then
the Golden Rams made their statement in the
100-yard breast stroke. Haney set the tone in
the 100 breast by winning the event with a meet
record time of 1:05.49. It was also the fastest
mark in school history.
But
maybe even more impressive than the record was
the WCU finish - the Golden Rams took first
through sixth place.
Lewis
grabbed second (1:06.68), Spry was third
(1:06.70) and Naudasher claimed fourth
(1:09.11). Haney, Lewis and Spry were selected
All-PSAC. Collington wrapped up the race in
fifth with her 1:09.12 as the Golden Rams piled
up crucial team points.
DeBellis
won the 100 back in 59.03, while sophomore Wendy
Wallace (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Mt. Laurel)
finished sixth (1:01.24).
WCU
put a stranglehold on the meet with its 800 free
relay victory. DeBellis, Wizniak, Dennis and
Straehle were crowned PSAC Champions for their
combined time of 7:45.37.
February
21 (m)
WCU
men looking for 4th straight PSAC swimming crown
Matys
attempting to leave WCU a perfect 4 for 4 in titles;
WCU boasts deep lineup
CLARION,
PA - There
seems very little that can stop the tsunami that
is the West Chester University men’s swimming
team. After three straight Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference Championships and a streak
of unbeaten dual-meet events, the Golden Rams
could have become a little complacent.
It
never appeared that way, but after the Golden
Rams fell at Division III power Johns Hopkins in
January, the focus on another conference crown
has been unwavering.
The
men completed their season with a 10-1 dual-meet
mark, extending their streak of victories to 34
out of their last 35. When the Golden Rams went
to battle this morning at Clarion, they had an
armored division of powerful swimmers, including
senior Matt Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester).
The veteran team leader is looking for a perfect
career - four PSAC Championships in four
attempts.
The
senior contingent out at Clarion is also
featuring Todd Albert (Pottstown/O.J.
Roberts) and Brian Birnbrauer
(Lansdale/Lansdale Catholic).
The
three-day PSAC Swimming Championships will run
from Thursday-Saturday, February 21-23, with the
first finals results expected tonight at around
9:30 p.m.
Juniors
Kyle Almoney (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern),
Erik Boll (Reading/Muhlenberg), Bob
Carmody (Newtown/Council Rock), Mike
Fender (Swarthmore/Cardinal O’Hara), Dan
Schaeberle (York/Dallastown), Jason
Sweger (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East)
and Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton)
are the core of the lineup, while sophomores Grant
McGeary (Chester Springs/O.J. Roberts)
and Doug Nowak (Havertown/Radnor)
add depth.
Freshmen
standouts making their first collegiate
post-season appearance in the pools include Rob
Barnum (Allentown/Emmaus), Alec
Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake), Jason
Brennan (Collegeville/Methacton), Alex
Gallas (Philadelphia/Masterman), Gabe
Melo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Titular) and Erik
Summa (Broomall/Radnor).
The
Golden Rams were already staking claims at
Clarion when WCU swept Clarion and IUP in a
tri-Meet on January 19-20. The Golden Rams
dunked Clarion 208-160 and drowned IUP 292-57.
Matys
won four individual events - 100-yard free
(46.79), 200 IM (1:56.42), 200 free (1:43.24)
and 100 back (53.38) - while Albert captured the
100 fly (51.50).
Almoney
was a triple-winner in the solo races, taking
the 200 fly (2:00.15), 500 free (4:43.64) and
1650 free (16.29.92).
The
200 free relay (1:26.39) belonged to Carmody,
Matys, Melo and Albert, while the 400 medley
relay (3:34.17) was taken by Best, Boll, Albert
and Melo. Best also won the 200 back (1:57.90).
The
Golden Rams finished up with a win in the 400
free relay (3:10.41) thanks to Schaeberle,
Matys, Almoney and Fender.
WCU
returned home to dominate Southern Connecticut
(226-135) and Rowan (282-82) in a tri-meet on
January 26-27.
The
200 medley relay (1:37.51) team of Best, Barnum,
Almoney and Weathers jump off the deck in first
place, while Albert won both the 200 free
(1:45.20) and 50 free (21.89) events .
Matys
was a triple-winner in the individual races,
taking the 200 IM (1:55.30), 400 IM (4:09.46)
and 100 back (52.96). Fender finished first in
the 500 free (4:46.74).
The
Golden Rams captured a pair of relay events. The
200 free relay (1:27.99) team of Sweger, Melo,
Almoney and Boll finished first, while the 800
free relay (7:04.35) squad of Weathers, Fender,
Albert and Almoney also claimed gold.
Almoney
returned to garner first place in the 200 fly
(1:54.20), Best won the 200 back (1:56.13), and
the 400 free relay (3:08.95) belonged to Albert,
Almoney, Matys and Weathers.
On
February 2 the Golden Rams closed out the
regular-season with a 141-91 thumping of
Bloomsburg. The Golden Rams began the meet with
Bloom by winning the 400 medley relay (3:34:61)
behind Best, Barnum, Almoney and Weathers.
Albert
stepped up to earn the 200 fly (2:00.20) and
1000 free (10:32.22), while Almoney won the 200
free (1:44.00). Best was best in the 100 back
with his 54.14.
Matys
picked up a couple of wins in nontraditional
races for the senior captain. He won the 50 free
(21.23) and 500 free (4:43.35) races, while the
100 free went to Carmody (46.47).
The
200 back stroke (2:01.59) was collected by
Gallas and the 200 breast fell into the hands of
Brennan (2:13.72) as the two freshman geared up
for the PSAC’s.
February
21 (w)
WCU
women begin quest for second straight PSAC title
PSAC’s
begin today at Clarion; Eyler, Lewis, Wizniak will
offer senior leadership
CLARION,
PA -
In 2001, the West Chester University women’s
swimming team did something it had never done
before - capture the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference Championship.
Last
season the Golden Rams plowed their way to their
first conference title ever, dethroning a
Clarion club that had ruled the league for most
of its existence.
But
now as the team to beat, WCU will attempt to
take its second straight PSAC crown in the
turbulent waters at Clarion University.
Twenty
Golden Ram swimmers boarded a bus bound for
Western Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning hoping
to clutch gold when they return on Saturday
night. The PSAC Championships began Thursday
morning with preliminary races and will run
through Saturday night when the
European-soccer-style singing and banner waving
that now typifies the conference finale
indicates the reigning title-holders for the
upcoming year.
The
trip along Interstate 80 for the Golden Rams,
however, is familiar.
On
January 19-20 the West Chester University women
blistered into Clarion for a couple of
victories, making a statement that they can win
the PSAC title in the pool patrolled by the
Golden Eagles. West Chester smoked Clarion
227-142 and dunked IUP 313-42.
Toss
in a tri-meet sweep of Rowan and Southern
Connecticut State on January 25-26, and a
season-ending whipping of Bloomsburg on February
2, and the Golden Rams have won 25 consecutive
dual-meets and 30 out of their last 31.
Ride
the wave, baby.
The
Golden Rams lineup for the PSAC Championships
that began on Thursday morning, February 21,
will include nine sophomores, four juniors, four
freshmen and a trio of seniors. The PSAC’s
will conclude on Saturday night, February 23.
Should
the Golden Rams claim back-to-back titles, the
depth in their second-year class could provide a
string of championship seasons. But the
leadership will come from the top in seniors Meredith
Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air), Kim
Lewis (Delran, NJ/Delran) and Taura
Wizniak (Media/Penncrest).
The
Golden Rams will also be bolstered by their
junior class of qualifying swimmers led by Tracy
Collington (Chester Springs/Downingtown),
Corey Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest),
Jaime Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean)
and Meghan Straehle (Westminster,
MD/Francis Scott Key).
The
sophomore year is loaded with talent and could
be the difference for the Golden Rams this week.
PSAC participants include Jerilyn Blaxland
(Bethlehem/Salisbury), Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon), Ashley
Jernigan (Hatfield/North Penn), Becky
Naudasher (Lansdale/North Penn), Amanda Pearsall
(Prospect Park/Interboro), Lynae
Roos (Boothwyn/Garnet Valley), Mary
Schock (Fleetwood/Fleetwood), Wendy
Wallace (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape), and Anne
Wenzel (Orlando, FL/Barron Collier).
Freshmen
Nicole Bush (Latrobe/Greater Latrobe),
Ashley Haney (Lititz/Warwick), Janelle
Haney (Lititz/Warwick) and Emily
Weidensaul (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin)
are making their first foray into the collegiate
post-season.
At
Clarion last month, the Golden Rams proved
dominating. WCU began the event with a victory
in the 200-yard medley relay (1:52.11) when
DeBellis, freshman transfer Lindsay Spry
(Elkton, MD/St. Mark’s, DE), Dennis
and Collington teamed up for a first-place time.
The
Golden Rams then shuffled their order a little
and substituted Straehle for Spry in winning the
200 free relay (1:40.94). Collington took the
lead, followed by DeBellis, Dennis and the
anchor Straehle.
Dennis,
Straehle and DeBellis then helped lead the
Golden Rams to a sweep of the 100 fly event as
Dennis took first (59.64), Straehle grabbed
second (59.71) and DeBellis placed third
(1:00.88). Dennis also won the 200 IM (2:12.01)
just ahead of second-place (2:13.23) finisher
DeBellis, and she snagged the gold medal in the
100 free (54.18).
Straehle
(25.35) won the 50 free and 200 fly events
(2:12.60), while DeBellis placed second in the
200 fly (2:14.89). Wizniak was second in the 100
free (55.19) and 200 free (1:58.61). Eyler took
second in both the 400 IM (4:46.35) and 500 free
(5:17.08).
Spry,
who joined WCU in January, picked up a victory
in the 100 breast (1:07.38) as the Golden Rams
claimed all three top finishes. Ashley Haney
wound up second (1:08.69) and Jernigan grabbed
third (1:11.37). Spry also won the 200 breast
stroke with her 2:28.56, finishing just ahead of
Jernigan (2:32.02).
The
800 free relay (8:02.31) team took second place
for the Golden Rams thanks to Eyler, Wallace,
Weidensaul and Wizniak.
The
Golden Rams received a second-place finish in
the 1650 free (18:03.79) behind Pearsall.
Wenzel
had a strong two-day meet in leading up to her
participation in the PSAC’s. She was a
double-winner in the 100 back (1:02.37) and 200
back (2:11.77) races, and she started the 400
medley relay team (4:05.66) of Ashley Haney,
Straehle and Collington that finished first.
The
Golden Rams closed out the two-day trip to
Clarion with a triumph in the 400 free relay
(3:39.64) thanks to Dennis, DeBellis, Naudasher
and Wizniak.
On
January 26-27 the Golden Rams returned to the
confines of the Graham Natatorium on WCU’s
South Campus to sweep both Southern Connecticut
263-104 and Rowan 277.5-85.5.
The
Golden Rams began the tri-meet with a 1-2 punch
in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Dennis,
Collington, Jernigan and Ashley Haney won the
race in 1:55.33, while Wallace, DeBellis, Lewis
and Wizniak posted a second-place mark of
1:56.46.
Eyler
won the 200 free (1:58.32), Dennis took the 400
IM (4:40.12) and Roos captured the 100 fly
(1:01.44) and 200 fly (2:14.42) races as the
Golden Rams displayed their domination.
Dennis
led a 1-2-3 sweep of the 500 free after posting
her time of 5:10.24. DeBellis was second
(5:10.42) and Weidensaul came up third
(5:22.01).
The
Golden Rams also won the 200 free relay
(1:41.15) thanks to Bush, Straehle, Haney and
Wizniak, while the 800 free relay (8:02.73)
squad of Wizniak, Eyler, Wallace and Lewis
finished first. Bush also led the 400 medley
relay team to a time of 4:14.16 as the Golden
Rams finished number one. Janelle Haney,
Blaxland and Straehle also were on the quartet.
WCU
continued to pile up the team points as Spry
snared the 100 breast (1:06.16), Straehle won
the 1650 free (17:52.16), DeBellis collected the
100 free (53.85) and Wenzel earned the 200 back
(2:12.68). The 200 breast stroke belonged to
Ashley Haney with her mark of 2:28.44.
In
the diving competition, junior captain Lisa
Mentzer (Coatesville/Coatesville) won
the one-meter event (587.50 points) and finished
second on the three-meter (602.70).
WCU
closed out the two-day meet with a 1-2 finish in
the 400 free relay. DeBellis, Wizniak, Eyler and
Lewis won the race (3:38.33), while -
Collington, Dolbow, Straehle and Dennis
(3:39.84) wound up second.
On
February 2, WCU jumped out to a huge lead and
then coasted to a 136-118 victory over
Bloomsburg at home. Most of the Golden Ram
swimmers competed in unfamiliar events as WCU
tuned up for the PSAC’s.
Bush,
Janelle Haney, Straehle and Dennis began the day
with a victory in the 400 medley relay
(4:06.83), while Dolbow won the 1000 free
(1:13.89) and Straehle claimed first place in
the 200 free (1:56.69).
Dennis
also won the 100 free (53.98) and the 100 back
(1:01.84) events, while Wallace was second
(1:02.19) and Weidensaul third (1:03.93) in the
100 back. DeBellis snared the 50 free (25.31)
and Bush earned first place in the 200 back
(2:14.98).
Jernigan
closed out the day with a nice time in the 200
breast (2:31.01), good enough for first place.
January
22
Kyle
Almoney selected PSAC Swimmer of the Week
Junior
earns honor after stellar meets at Johns Hopkins,
Clarion
LOCK
HAVEN, PA -
West Chester University junior swimmer Kyle
Almoney (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern) has been
named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Men’s Swimmer of the Week.
The
honor was announced on Tuesday, January 22,
2002, by the PSAC League Office in Lock Haven,
PA.
Almoney
helped West Chester to a sweep of Clarion and
IUP in Western Pennsylvania by winning the mile
(16:29.92) and the 200-yard fly (2:00.15). He
was also part of the first-place 400-yard free
relay team (3:10.41).
The
tri-meet was hosted by Clarion on Friday night
and all day Saturday, January 18-19.
In
the Golden Rams’ loss to John Hopkins on
January 15, Almoney won the 200 fly (1:56.82)
and finished second in both the 1000 free
(9:47.78 fastest unshaven time in school
history) and the 500 free (4:46.99) events.
The
Golden Rams are now 7-1 on the season and have
won 31 of their last 32 dual meet competitions.
WCU
is the three-time defending PSAC Champion.
January
18 (m)
After
three years, WCU’s streak comes to an end
Golden
Rams still have taken 29 of last 30 dual-meets; team
finishes 4th at UVA
BALTIMORE,
MD -
For the first time in three years, the West
Chester University men’s swimming and diving
team splashed out of a meet on the low end of a
team score.
The
Golden Rams fell to Division III power Johns Hopkins
118-89, succumbing to a dual-meet defeat for the
first time since losing to Rowan 148-95 on January
16, 1999. WCU had collected 29 consecutive victories
in dual-meet scoring.
The
loss to Johns Hopkins occurred in Baltimore, MD, on
Tuesday night, January 15.
The
men were led by senior Matt Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester)
who was a triple winner after picking up two solo
races in the 200-yard IM (1:56.15) and 100 free
(46.87), and leading off the 400 free relay team
that also featured junior Ryan Weathers
(Eagleville/Methacton), freshman Gabriel Melo
(Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Titular) and junior Dan
Schaeberle (York/Dallastown). That foursome
posted a time of 3:11.50.
Senior
Todd Albert (Pottstown/O.J. Roberts) captured
the 50 free (21.84) and finished second in the 200
fly (1:57.27), while junior Kyle Almoney (Mt.
Wolf/Northeastern) grabbed the 200 fly (1:56.82)
and finished second in both the 1000 free (9:47.78
fastest unshaven time in school history) and the 500
free (4:46.99 - fastest unshaven time in the PSAC
this year).
Freshman
diver Mike Bergen (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia)
will compete at the NCAA Division II National
Championships in March after securing his berth with
a 306.225 score on the one-meter.
The
Golden Rams are now 5-1 on the season.
WCU
smothers Division I William & Mary
WEST
PALM BEACH, FL -
The West Chester University men improved their
record to 5-0 on January 5 after beating Division I
William & Mary 130-110.
The
one-day meet featured a series of odd races used as
a training session for both teams. The three-time
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Champions are
gearing up for the defense of their crown come
February.
The
Golden Rams were led by senior Todd Albert
(Potts-town/O.J. Roberts), who won the 150 fly
(1:26.02) and 25 free (10.55); senior Matt Matys
(Boothwyn/Chichester), who grabbed the 75 free
(34.88); freshman Alec Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde
Lake), who finished first in the 150 back
(1:29.18); and junior Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton),
who won the 150 free.
Junior
Kyle Almoney (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern) grabbed
the 400/800 double race with the unique times of
3:55.51/8:03.57.
Best,
freshman Jason Brennan (Collegeville/Methacton),
Albert and junior Mike Fender
(Swarthmore/Cardinal O’Hara) teamed up to take
first place in the 600 medley relay (6:00.07).
WCU
beats Yale, Columbia, Villanova & CCSU
CHARLOTTESVILLE,
VA -
The West Chester University men’s swimming and
diving team capped a remarkable performance on
December 1 by defeating four Division I teams at the
2001 Cavalier Invitational.
The
three-day event, hosted by the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, saw West Chester’s
men take fourth place. The Golden Rams were the only
non-Division I program at the event.
Virginia
won the competition after the men posted 1197
points, followed by UMBC (570), West Virginia
(538.5) and the fourth-place Golden Rams (519.5).
WCU beat out fifth-place Yale (499), sixth-place
Columbia (251), seventh-place Villanova (142) and
last-place Central Connecticut (50).
The
steam-rolling performance of senior Matt Matys
(Boothwyn/Chichester) again led the Golden Rams.
He collected a third-place finish in the 100-yard
free with his time of 45.81.
Matys
also handled the second leg of the men’s 400 free
relay (3:04.25) as the quartet of junior Ryan
Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton), Matys, freshman
Gabe Melo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Titular) and
senior Todd Albert (Pottstown/O.J. Roberts)
took third and qualified for the NCAA’s.
Junior
Kyle Almoney (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern) earned a
place on the Golden Ram flight to Nationals by
recording a 1:52.97 in the 200 fly. He finished
sixth.
Freshmen
Rob Barnum (Allentown/Emmaus) and Jason
Brennan (Collegeville/Methacton) wound up sixth
(2:09.88) and seventh (2:09.99), respectively, in
the 200 breast stroke on the final night of
competition.
On
Day Two, the men’s 800 free relay team capped
another outstanding performance for the Golden Rams
by taking fifth place and qualifying for the NCAA
Division II National Championships. The foursome of
Matys, junior Mike Fender (Swarthmore/Cardinal O’Hara),
Almoney and Weathers will travel to Nationals after
posting a time of 6:51.35.
Individually,
Matys grabbed fifth in the 200 free (1:40.34), while
Weathers placed ninth (1:41.32). Albert had the best
overall finish with a second-place time of 50.44 in
the 100 fly, and junior Bob Carmody
(Newtown/Council Rock) took eighth in the same
event. Sophomore Grant McGeary (Chester
Springs/O.J. Roberts) posted the best time of
his career in the 100 fly with a 52.00.
Barnum
may have produced the most inspirational swim of the
meet. The rookie is almost fully recovered from a
terrible car accident he suffered last year. At
Virginia, the first-year collegian splashed to a
59.18 mark in the 100-yard breaststroke, nearing his
all-time best and taking seventh place against maybe
his toughest competition of the season.
The
men were led by Best, Brennan, Albert and Matys
on the first day of competition when the
foursome teamed up to take fourth in the
400-yard medley relay (3:26.72). The foursome
will compete at the NCAA Division II
Championships after cracking the National
qualifying time.
But
the best men’s quartet race of the evening
went to Matys, Melo, Albert and Weathers as the
foursome took second place in the 200 free relay
(1:22.64). The time was a school record and
earned the group a trip to the NCAA Division II
Championships.
Weathers
posted the best 50 free mark of his career at
21.25 in a time trial.
Almoney
also had an outstanding meet, shattering his
school record in the 500 free during the
preliminaries with a 4:36.77. He wound up eighth
in the finals after turning in a 4:38.96.
January
18 (w)
Golden
Rams pick up 20th straight dual-meet victory
Straehle
leads WCU in win over Johns Hopkins; Golden Rams 4th
at UVA
BALTIMORE,
MD - The West Chester University women’s
swimming team (7-0) won its 20th straight dual
meet on January 15 continuing a trend that began
over two seasons ago.
The
Golden Rams defeated Johns Hopkins 117-89 on
Tuesday, capturing their 25th meet in their last
26 competitions.
The
women were led by the outstanding performance of
junior Meaghan Straehle (Westminster,
MD/Francis Scott Key) who won the
200-yard IM (2:11.46), finished second in the
500 free (5:51.05) and led the foursome of
freshman Emily Weidensaul
(Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin), sophomore Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon) and
sophomore Becky Naudasher (Lansdale/North
Penn) to victory in the 400 free
(3:40.75) relay.
DeBellis
also picked up a solo victory in the 100 free
(54.26), while sophomore Mandy Pearsall
(Prospect Park/Interboro) grabbed the
1000 free in 10:51.42.
The
Golden Rams qualified two female divers for the
NCAA Division II National Championships in
March. The one-meter board belonged to West
Chester thanks to the tremendous effort by
freshman Lauren Frank (Pottsville/Blue
Mountain). She qualified for the
Nationals and posted a telling 248.925 in
winning the event.
Junior
captain Lisa Mentzer
(Coatesville/Coatesville) was far behind
in the scoring column, but she ended up second
with her 175.40.
Mentzer
then qualified for the D-II Nationals with a
victory in the three-meter. She posted 278.175
points to earn her pass to Nationals. Frank also
qualified for the event, recording a
second-place score of 257.175.
WCU
dunks D-I William & Mary in Fla.
WEST
PALM BEACH, FL –
The West Chester University women moved to 6-0 on
the season with a 143-94 victory over Division I
William & Mary on January 5 in West Palm Beach,
FL.
The
one-day meet featured a series of odd races used as
a training session for both teams. The Golden Rams
are gearing up for the defense of their first
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship
they earned last February.
Junior
Corey Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forrest)
won the 150-yard fly (1;36.96), junior Jaime
Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean) captured the 150
backstroke (1:37.86) and junior Meghan
Straehle (Westminster, MD/Francis Scott Key)
took both the 75 free (39.99) and 150 free (1:29.50)
to lead the WCU women.
Dolbow,
freshman Ashley Haney (Lititz/Warwick),
Straehle and senior Taura Wizniak (Media/Penncrest)
won the 600-yard medley relay in a time of 6:36.79,
while senior Meredith Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel
Air) grabbed the 400/800 double race in
4:18.79 and 8:41.54.
Junior
Tracy Collington (Chester
Springs/Downing-town) captured the 25 free.
Women
take 4th at Cavalier Invitational
CHARLOTTESVILLE,
VA –
The West Chester University women’s swimming
and diving team capped a remarkable performance
at the 2001 Cavalier Invitational on Saturday
night, December 1, by finishing fourth.
The
three-day event, hosted by the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, saw West
Chester beat out West Virginia (404), Yale
(381.5), UMBC (338), Central Connecticut (55)
and Villanova (26). The Golden Rams were the
only non-Division I program at the event.
The
Cavaliers took first with 1064 points, followed
by Texas A&M (625), Richmond (465. 5) and
fourth-place WCU (454).
The
Golden Rams were led by junior Jaime
Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean) in the
200-yard backstroke. She placed ninth and
qualified for the NCAA Division II National
Championships with her time of 2:06.70.
Sophomore Ann Wenzel (Orlando, FL/Barron
Collier) also qualified for Nationals by
taking 10th in the race with a 2:08.49.
WCU
boasted a trio of women earning NCAA Division II
passes in the 100 free. Junior Corey
Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest)
turned in a 52.28, junior Meghan Straehle
(Westminster, MD/Francis Scott Key)
posted a 52.40, and senior Taura Wizniak
(Media/Penncrest) reeled off a 52.77 as
all three veteran swimmers will return to the
Division II National Championships this season.
Dennis also qualified for the NCAA’s in the
200 fly by taking 10th in 2:06.58.
The
trio then teamed up with sophomore Becky
Naudasher (Lansdale/North Penn) to place
high in the 400 free relay (3:32.33). The
quartet finished fifth and earned a trip to the
National Championships.
After
setting the school record on Friday night in the
100 breast stroke, freshman Ashley Haney
(Lititz/Warwick) picked up a sixth-place
finish in the 200 breast (2:25.00) to qualify
for the NCAA’s - not too shabby for a rookie.
Senior
Meredith Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air)
was terrific in the grueling 1650 free for the
Golden Rams. She earned a spot at the D-II
Nationals by taking 13th in a time of 17:30.37.
On
Day Two of the competition, the women’s 800
free relay team set a school record and earned a
pass to the Division Nationals by recording a
7:43.64. Straehle, sophomore Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon), Dennis
and Wizniak comprised the squad.
Straehle
had an outstanding run in the 200 free
preliminaries. She boasted a school-record time
of 1:53.17 to take third, then stayed in the top
five in the finals by posting a slightly slower
time that left here in fifth.
Dennis
also took fifth in the 100 fly (57.54), while
Dolbow was ninth in the 100 back (59.44). Haney
was the most audacious for the Golden Rams all
evening. The rookie smashed the school record
and qualified for the Division II Championships
in the 100 breaststroke by turning in a 1:05.87.
On
the opening day of the competition, the women’s
400 medley relay team of DeBellis, Haney, Dennis
and Straehle also qualified for Nationals with a
3:56.11.
Straehle
qualified for the Nationals in the 200 IM
(2:08.80) during the preliminaries, while
Wizniak’s 24.47 in the 50 free prelims earned
her a pass to the big dance come March.
But
maybe the most impressive race was displayed by
the women’s 200 free relay team (1:36.54). The
foursome of DeBellis, junior Tracy
Collington (Chester Springs/Downingtown),
Straehle and Wizniak set a school record, tied
for second and will travel to the NCAA II
Championships.
Collington
had the best 50 time - ever - for WCU, setting
the school mark and qualifying for the Division
II Championships with her prelim mark of 24.27.
November
17
Swim
teams keep records perfect in PSAC meet at Kutztown
Women’s
team runs mark to 5-0 on Saturday; men up streak to
28 straight dual-meet wins
KUTZTOWN,
PA -
Senior Matt Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester)
set five Kutztown pool records, while senior women’s
captain Meredith Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air)
was a triple winner as the West Chester University
men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams
continued their mastery of the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference.
The
WCU women swept East Stroudsburg (147-109) and host
Kutztown (183-70) on Saturday (November 17) to up
their 2001-02 record to 5-0. The Golden Rams have
won 18 straight dual meets and 23 out of their last
24.
The
men are 4-0 after beating Kutztown 168-94. West
Chester has captured 28 consecutive dual-meets.
Matys
was simply stupendous for the men, setting five
Kutztown University pool records in the meet. Matys
led off the 400 free relay with a time of 46.56 in
his 100 free leg. Because he started from the
blocks, Matys’ result was considered an all-time
best in Kutztown pool history.
In
addition to the individual mark, Matys’s relay
team also set a pool record with its time of
3:11.22. Junior Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton),
freshman Gabe Melo (Ft. Lauderdale,
FL/Titular) and senior Todd Albert
(Pottstown/O.J. Roberts) were all
responsible for smashing the old time. Albert also
won the 100 back (55.25).
Matys
led off the 400 medley relay team with the 100
backstroke, setting the KU pool record at 53.56. His
team of freshman Rob Barnum (Allentown/Emmaus),
sophomore Grant McGeary (Chester Springs/O.J.
Roberts) and junior Dan Schaeberle
(York/Dallastown) finished second in a time
of 3:40.72.
The
Golden Rams did win the race (3;39.70) behind junior
Jason Sweger (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East),
freshman Jason Brennan (Collegeville/Methacton),
Weathers and Albert. Brennan also won the 500 free
(5:02.32).
Matys
also registered a pair of all-time best marks in two
individual events. He won both the 200 free
(1:42.57) and 200 back (1:55.52) in pool record
times. It was the first time in Matys’ four-year
career that he had competed in the pools of KU.
Junior
Mike Fender (Swarthmore/Cardinal O’Hara)
was victorious in the 1000 free (10:05.91), while
freshmen Alex Gallas (Philadelphia/Masterman)
and Erik Summa (Broomall/Radnor)
placed 1-2 in the 200 fly. Gallas posted a winning
time of 2:04.69, while Summa registered a 2:13.73 to
take second. Gallas was also second in the 500 free
(5:06.12).
Junior
Erik Boll (Reading/Muhlenberg)
captured both the 50 free (22.54) and 100 free
(50.50) events for WCU.
McGeary
and junior Kyle Almoney (Mt.
Wolf/Northeastern) also claimed victories at
Kutztown. McGeary won the 100 fly in 55.05 and
Almoney took the 200 IM in 2:03.19.
The
West Chester University women were led by triple
winner Meredith Eyler (Abingdon, MD/Bel Air).
The senior captain captured the 200 free (2:00.22),
the 500 free (5:19.74) and the 100 fly (1:02.33).
Eyler’s
time in the 200 free began a four-swimmer sweep by
the Golden Rams. Sophomore Becky Naudasher
(Lansdale/North Penn) took second (2:01.91),
while senior Kim Lewis (Delran, NJ/Delran)
placed third (2:05.52). Freshman Nicole Bush
(Latrobe/Greater Latrobe) wound up fourth in
2:06.10.
Sophomore
Melissa DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon) grabbed
both the 100 free (54.05) and 200 IM (2:14.27)
races, and junior Meaghan Straehle
(Westminster, MD/Francis Scott Key) won both
the 200 fly (2:13.87) and 200 breast (2:30.24).
Junior Corey Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake
Forest) and sophomore Lynae Roos
(Boothwyn/Garnet Valley) finished right
behind DeBellis in the 100 free by posting times of
54.58 and 57.51, respectively. Dennis was also
second in the 200 breast (2:38.14) and the 100 back
1:01.83.
West
Chester began the meet with an easy victory in the
400 medley relay when senior Taura Wizniak
(Media/Penncrest) led Straehle, DeBellis and
Eyler to a first-place finish in 4:11.15. It was the
opening event of the tri-meet.
Sophomores
Wendy Wallace (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and
Mary Schock (Fleetwood/Fleetwood)
finished first and second, respectively, in the
1000-yard freestyle. Wallace posted an 11:02.99,
while Schock turned in an 11:08.58.
Junior
Jaime Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean)
finished second in the 500 free with her time of
5:24.55.
November
16 (m)
WCU
makes it 27 straight with sweep of Lehigh, New
Jersey
Men’s
swim team finishes ahead of Bucknell, Villanova at
Penn State Invitational
STATE
COLLEGE, PA -
By the time the West Chester University men’s
swimming and diving team had rolled out of State
College, the impression left in the pool by the
Division II Golden Rams had to be one of
profound respect.
WCU
entered the Penn State Invitational on Saturday,
November 10, with a dual-meet unbeaten streak
standing at 27. And while the invitational
scoring did not impact any of the four teams’
dual-meet records, the Golden Rams still
collected more box tops to beat both Bucknell
and Villanova - a pair of Division I programs.
Penn State - a nationally-ranked Division I team
- won the event, but the Golden Rams held their
own by taking second.
The
WCU men recorded 761 points, falling in line
behind Division I Top 10 Penn State (1399) but
beating both Bucknell (496) and Villanova (366)
handily.
Senior
Matt Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester)
had an outstanding meet, winning both the
100-yard free (46.57) and 200 IM (1:56.25),
while taking second in the 200 free (1:42.57)
and 50 free (21.48) events.
He
then teamed up with senior Todd Albert
(Pottstown/O.J. Roberts), freshman Gabe
Melo (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Titular) and
junior Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton)
to claim second in the 200 free relay (1:25.26).
The foursome also took second in the 400 free
race, posting the fastest unshaven time in
school history (3:09.88).
Individually,
Albert won the 100 fly for WCU in a time of
51.13. He also placed third in the 200 fly
(1:57.67) and finished fourth in the 50 free
(21.68).
Junior
Kyle Almoney (Mt. Wolf/Northeastern)
picked up a second-place finish in the 200 fly
(1:57.16), then grabbed third in the 1650 free
(16:29.25) and fourth in the 100 fly (52.09). He
was also fourth in the 500 free (4:48.96).
Freshman
Alec Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake)
posted a pair of nice races, taking sixth in the
200 back (2:00.81) and fourth in the 100 back
(54.84).
In
the 400 medley relay, the quartet of Best,
freshman Jason Brennan (Collegeville/Methacton),
Albert and Matys teamed up to grab second place
in a time of 3:34.32. Best was at his best
again, this time leading the 200 medley relay
squad of freshman Rob Barnum
(Allentown/Emmaus), Albert and Melo to a
fourth-place finish (1:39.30).
Individually,
Brennan wound up fifth in the 200 breast with a
2:15.74.
The
Golden Rams also received a strong performance
from sophomore Nate Richards
(Chambersburg/Chambersburg), who took
second in the three-meter dive by compiling
222.95 points.
For
his efforts at Penn State, Matys was named the CollegeSwimming.com
National Division II Men’s Swimmer of the Week.
A
week before traveling to PSU, the Golden Rams
hosted Division III New Jersey and Division I
Lehigh in a tri-meet at WCU’s Graham
Natatorium. West Chester beat Lehigh 159.5-82.5
and knocked off New Jersey 165-78, improving its
2001-02 dual-meet mark to 3-0. The Golden Rams
also extended their win streak to 27.
The
men began the meet by winning the 400-yard
medley relay thanks to Best, Brennan, Albert and
Melo. Albert also captured the 50 free (21.39)
and 200 fly (1:57.82), while Best took home the
200 back (1:57.41). Brennan snagged the 200
breast (2:13.97) and Melo claimed second in the
50 free (22.04).
Almoney
was a double-winner for the Golden Rams in the
distance races, taking both the 1000 free
(9:57.59) and 500 free (4:50.44) events. He also
finished second in the 200 fly (1:58.97).
Matys
was a double-winner as well after picking up the
200 IM (1:55.71) and the 100 free (46.01) races.
Matys then teamed up with Weathers, and juniors Mike
Fender (Swarthmore/Cardinal O’Hara)
and Dan Schaeberle (York/Dallastown)
to finish off the tri-meet with a victory in the
400 free relay (3:11.92).
Individually,
Fender was second in the 200 free (1:45.47) and
the 500 free (4:52.50), while Schaeberle was
third with his 4:58.18 in the 500 free.
Freshman
diver Michael Bergen (Bloomsburg/Central
Columbia) took second in the three-meter
diving after totalling 212.35 points. He was
just .15 behind the winner.
November
16 (w)
Women’s
swim team runs dual-meet streak to 16 in
a row
Golden
Rams sweep Lehigh, New Jersey; finish
third at Penn State Invitational
STATE
COLLEGE, PA -
Finishing in third place in a four-team event
usually doesn’t warrant a lot of back pats from a
head coach.
But
finishing third at the Penn State Invitational in a
four-team meet that featured three other Division I
schools isn’t too shabby.
Finishing
third after beating Division I Lehigh and Delaware
in the preceding three weeks makes third place maybe
even astounding.
The
West Chester University women’s swimming &
diving team ha been doing a lot of competitive
battles in the early part of the 2001-02 campaign,
gearing up for what could prove to be their second
consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Championship.
On
Saturday, November 10, West Chester took third at
the 2001 Penn State Invitational held in State
College, PA. The four-team meet featured Division I
programs Penn State, Villanova and Bucknell, as well
as the Division II Golden Rams.
The
women posted 656.5 points, finishing in third ahead
of Bucknell (527) but behind winner Penn State
(1214.5) and second-place Villanova (720).
Junior
Tracy Collington (Chester
Springs/Downingtown), senior Taura
Wizniak (Media/Penncrest), sophomore Melissa
DeBellis (Blue Bell/Wissahickon) and junior Corey
Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest) stunned
the Division I crowd in the very first race by
skating to victory in the 200 free relay (1:38.61).
Junior
Meghan Straehle (Westminster, MD/Francis Scott
Key) had a terrific day for the Golden Rams.
She finished third in the 400 IM (4:38.85), while
her times in the 200 IM (2:11.68 - 6th), 50 free
(25.21 - 6th) and 100 fly (59.80 - 5th) placed her
in the top six of each event. Collington had the
best 50 free time for the Golden Rams at 25.19,
earning a fifth-place finish.
Also
reaching the Top 6 were freshman Ashley Haney
(Lititz/Warwick) in the 100 breaststroke
(1:08.67), and Dennis in both the 100 fly (59.54 -
4th) and 200 fly (2:11.53 - 5th). DeBellis posted a
fifth-place time of 53.76 in the 200 backstroke.
DeBellis,
Haney, Dennis and Straehle teamed up to place sixth
in the 400 medley relay by posting a mark of
4:05.21. The same quartet took fourth in the 200
medley relay with their 1:52.81. DeBellis, Straehle,
Collington and Wizniak closed out the meet with a
third-place time in the 400 free relay (3:36.29).
Junior
diver Lisa Mentzer (Coatesville/Coatesville)
earned her best finish in the three-meter event,
compiling 200.65 points to wind up fifth.
The
solid outing at Penn State came on the heels of a
sweep vs. New Jersey and Division I Lehigh on
November 3 at WCU. The Golden Rams defeated Lehigh
155-84 and New Jersey 180-60 to run their dual-meet
winning streak to 16 straight and 21 out of 22.
The
WCU women claimed the top two places in the 400-yard
medley relay behind DeBellis, Haney, Dennis and
Wizniak to start the meet. The quartet captured the
race in 4:01.47, while the foursome of sophomore Anne
Wenzel (Orlando, FL/Barron Collier), senior Kim
Lewis (Delran, NJ/Delran), sophomore Mary
Schock (Fleetwood/Fleetwood) and freshman Emily
Weidensaul (Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin)
finished second in 4:06.24.
Individually,
DeBellis captured the 200 backstroke (2:11.42) and
placed second in the 200 free (1:57.50). Her victory
in the 200 back set the stage for a 1-2-3 Golden Ram
sweep when Wenzel earned second (2:11.91) and junior
Jaime Dolbow (Newark, DE/McKean)
finished third (2:13.55).
Collington
picked up a nice triumph in the 50 free (24.92) and
also placed second in the 100 free (55.01), while
Straehle captured the 200 IM (2:10.93) and the 100
free (53.56). She was also second in the 500 free
(5:11.47).
Sophomore
Ashley Jernigan (Hatfield/North Penn)
collected the 200 breast stroke in a time of
2:29.73, finishing just ahead of Haney who was
second for the Golden Rams in 2:29.96.
Dennis
earned a second-place finish in the 200 fly
(2:09.72), while Mentzer was second in the one-meter
(192.15) and three-meter (199.75) dives.
The
Golden Rams closed up the meet with an easy win
in the 400 free relay (3:39.59). Collington,
sophomore Becky Naudasher (Lansdale/North
Penn), Weidensaul and Wizniak teamed up
for the victory.
November
15
Senior
Matt Matys selected CollegeSwimming.com
National
Division
II Swimmer of the Week for stellar meet
at PSU
CHANDLER,
AZ -
West Chester University senior captain Matt
Matys (Boothwyn/Chichester) has
been selected the CollegeSwimming.com
National Division II Player of the Week.
The
award was announced by the internet site
from its offices in Chandler, AZ, on
Tuesday evening.
Matys
was outstanding at the Penn State
Invitational on Saturday, November 10,
in State College, PA. He led the Golden
Rams to a second-place finish out of
four teams as West Chester beat out
Division I foes Bucknell and Villanova.
Matys
won the 100-yard free (46.57) and 200 IM
(1:56.25) and took second in both the
200 free (1:42.57) and 50 free (21.48).
He
teamed up with senior Todd Albert
(Pottstown/O.J. Roberts),
freshman Gabe Melo (Ft.
Lauderdale, FL/Titular) and
junior Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton)
to claim second in both the 200 free
relay (1:25.26) and 400 free relay
races.
Matys’
400 free relay team posted the fastest
unshaven time in school history at
3:09.88.
In
addition to his award, Matys was honored
for the second straight time as the West
Chester University Male Athlete of the
Week.
Behind
Matys’ outstanding performance, the
West Chester men’s team recorded 761
points, falling in line behind Division
I Penn State (1399) while beating both
Bucknell (496) and Villanova (366).
The
Golden Rams are 3-0 in dual-meet scoring
this season and have won 27 consecutive
dual-meet events.
October
27 (m)
Golden
Rams capture 25th consecutive
dual-meet
WCU
pounds Delaware 148-84; Golden Rams
dominate College of New Jersey
Relays
WEST
CHESTER, PA -
The
West Chester University men’s swimming and
diving team posted its 25th consecutive
dual-meet victory on Saturday afternoon,
October 27, when the Golden Rams defeated
Division I Delaware 148-84.
The victory gave WCU a 1-0
record in the 2001 season after opening up
the year with a dominating performance at
the College of New Jersey Relays on October
13. In that meet, WCU captured every relay
event to take first place.
But against Delaware, the
Golden Rams sent another message around the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference that
they are the team to beat for the 2002
league title.
WCU opened up the dual-meet
with the Blue Hens with a victory in the
400-yard medley relay (3:34.80). Freshmen Alec
Best (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake), Jason
Brennan (Collegeville/Methacton) and
Gabriel Melo (Fort Lauderdale,
FL/Titular) teamed up with senior Todd
Albert (Pottstown/O.J. Roberts) to
win the race.
Individually, the Golden
picked up a victory in the 1000 free when
junior Kyle Almoney (Mt.
Wolf/Northeastern) posted a 9:56.62.
Junior Mike Fender
(Swarthmore/Cardinal O’Hara)
grabbed the 200 free in 1:45.52, while
junior Ryan Weathers (Eagleville/Methacton)
took second in 1:48.06.
Almoney also won the 200 fly
(1:56.95), edging out Albert who finished
second in 1:57.74.
The Golden Rams also swept
the 50 free behind senior Matt Matys
(Boothwyn/Chichester), who took
first in a time of 21.22. Albert placed
second in 21.90, while Melo was third in
22.39.
Matys engineered another
sweep - this time in the 100 free - after
winning the race in 46.31, while Weathers
took second in 48.73 and senior Brian
Birnbrauer (Lansdale/Lansdale Catholic)
collected third in 50.09.
Best claimed an individual
victory in the 200 back stroke after
recording a solid 1:57.29, while sophomore Grant
McGeary (Chester Springs/O.J. Roberts)
posted a second-place time of 2:04.26.
The one-meter diving event
was grabbed by freshman Michael Bergen
(Bloomsburg/Central Columbia), who
amassed 215.65 points. Sophomore Nate
Richards (Chambersburg/Chambersburg)
finished second on the one-meter board with
his 202.65, then he claimed first place on
the three-meter (242.35) plank.
On October 13, the Golden
Rams whitewashed the competition in the
College of New Jersey Relays, capturing
every relay event without much of a
challenge.
The 200 medley relay
(1:40.18) winners featured Best, freshman Rob
Barnum (Allentown/Emmaus), Albert
and Melo, while the 300 fly (2:41.06) team
of Melo, Almoney and Albert also grabbed a
victory. The 300 back stroke trio of junior Jason
Sweger (Dauphin/Central Dauphin East),
Best and Matys posted a winning time of
2:43.31.
For a young swimmer, Melo is
getting an education by swimming with the
big boys of Almoney, Albert and Matys.
Brennan, Barnum and junior Erik
Boll (Reading/Muhlenburg) teamed up
to take the 300 breast stroke in quick
fashion, posting a time of 3:31.65, while
the foursome of Almoney, Weathers, Fender
and Matys won the 800 free (7:19.06) with
little fanfare.
The 400 medley relay
featured Best, Barnum, Almoney and Melo as
the rookies and the veteran won in a time of
3:41.90. The 200 free (1:27.50) squad of
Albert, Melo, Sweger and Matys was also
victorious.
The 1500 free (15:12.24)
featured Fender, Almoney and freshman Alex
Gallas (Philadelphia/Masterman),
while the 400 medley relay team (3:43.79) of
Sweger, McGeary, Albert and Matys registered
an easy triumph.
The Golden Rams finished off
the event by taking the 400 free (3:14.77)
behind Albert, Matys, Melo and Fender.
October
27 (w)
Women’s
swim team sinks Delaware, dominates
NJ Relays
Golden
Rams beat Blue Hens 129-112; victory
extends dual-meet streak to 14, 19
of 20
WEST
CHESTER, PA -
The West Chester University women’s swimming
and diving team captured its 14th consecutive
dual-meet on Saturday afternoon, October 27,
when the Golden Rams defeated Division I
Delaware 129-112.
The
event was hosted by WCU in its Graham
Natatorium.
The
victory gave WCU a 1-0 record in the 2001 season
after opening up the year with a dominating
performance at the College of New Jersey Relays
on October 13. In that meet, WCU captured every
relay event to take first place.
But
against Delaware, the Golden Rams sent a warning
to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference -
title #2 belongs to WCU. The Golden Rams won
their first PSAC crown last February.
The
women’s team began the meet with the Blue Hens
by sending sophomore Melissa DeBellis
(Blue Bell/Wissahickon) to victory in
the 200 free (1:56.41). She was followed closely
into second by senior Taura Wizniak
(Media/Penncrest) and her time of
1:58.75.
WCU
then claimed the 200 IM and the 50 free behind a
couple of veteran swimmers. Junior Meghan
Straehle (Westminster, MD/Francis Scott Key)
won the 200 IM (2:10.18), while junior Corey
Dennis (Harrington, DE/Lake Forest)
captured the 50 free (25.09). Second place in
the 50 free belonged to junior Tracy
Collington (Chester Springs/Downingtown)
after she posted a 25.33.
The
Golden Rams also benefitted from the 1-2-3 sweep
in the 100 free led by Straehle. She posted a
time of 53.37 to take the win. Second place went
to Wizniak in 54.34, while the bronze medal
belonged to sophomore Becky Naudasher
(Lansdale/North Penn) after recording a
55.03.
Dennis
also grabbed the 200 butterfly in an NCAA
Division II National Qualifying time of 2:09.09.
She has already booked passage to Nationals.
Second place in the 200 fly belonged to
sophomore Lynae Roos (Boothwyn/Garnet
Valley) and her 2:12.72.
The
Golden Rams swept through the 200 back stroke as
well after DeBellis captured the event in
2:10.59. Sophomore Anne Wenzel (Orlando,
FL/Barron Collier) ended up second
(2:10.83) and junior Jaime Dolbow (Newark,
DE/McKean) claimed third (2:12.88).
At
the College of New Jersey Relays on October 13,
the Golden Rams had little opposition in taking
every relay event.
The
Golden Rams won the 200 medley relay (1:53.55)
behind the foursome of DeBellis, freshman Ashley
Haney (Lititz/Warwick), Dennis and
Wizniak.
Dennis
then was instrumental in winning the 300 fly
after she teamed up with Straehle and Roos for a
solid 3:03.17.
The
300 back saw DeBellis, Wenzel and Dolbow
(3:07.57) claim first place, while the 300
breast belonged to sophomore Ashley
Jernigan (Hatfield/North Penn), senior Kim
Lewis (Delran, NJ/Delran) and Haney
(3:31.67).
The
800 free relay was easily won by the Golden Rams
(8:08.66). Wizniak, senior Meredith Eyler
(Bel Air, MD/Abingdon), freshman Nicole
Bush (Latrobe/Greater Latrobe) and
sophomore Wendy Wallace (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape)
formed a formidable quartet.
The
WCU domination continued in the 400 medley relay
when Wenzel, Haney, Dennis and Wizniak posted a
4:09.02, and then extended to the 200 free
behind Collington, Straehle, Naudasher and
DeBellis (1:41.63). WCU also won the 1500 free
in 16:13.98 thanks to DeBellis, Eyler and Roos.
The
Golden Rams closed out the College of New Jersey
Relays by winning both the 400 medley relay
(Dennis, Straehle, Jernigan and Eyler in
4:18.34) and the 400 free races.
DeBellis,
freshman Emily Weidensaul
(Hummelstown/Lower Dauphin), Collington
and junior Amanda Smith (York/York
Suburban) took the 400 free in 3:49.77.
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