Feb. 17, 2010
PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle swimming and diving teams head into this week's Atlantic 10 Championships with high expectations and many of last year's top finishers back for another round. The Explorers kick off the 2010 edition of the conference championship at Flickinger Natatorium in Buffalo, NY, on Wednesday with diving preliminaries starting at 4:30 PM.
The men's squad is predicted to finish sixth in the league, while the women were tabbed fifth. The Massachusetts men and the Fordham women were predicted to hold the top spot.
The Explorers established several new school records in last year's meet along with Shannon Duval setting a new Atlantic 10 mark in last year's 200 yard breaststroke preliminary.
Those accomplishments combined with strong swims this year bring an excitement to the championship.
"The men's and women's teams have shown tremendous commitment this season to working hard and we expect that to pay off with lots of fast swimming and high diving scores," Head Coach Matt Nunnally said. "The youthful energy of this year's teams will be a big part of the success at the championships."
Duval is expected to once again contend for All-Atlantic 10 honors. She enters the league meet seeded first in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and the 200 yard individual medley after posting top times in the league during the regular season. The senior is coming off of a stellar regular season, earning three of the final four Performer of the Week awards. She set two pool marks in the 200 yard breaststroke and a new program record in the 200 yard freestyle.
Emily Heath is also listed as the top seed for the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events, and ranks sixth in the conference in the 200 yard breaststroke. Heath enters the meet after posting a third place time in last year's 500 yard freestyle.
Dana Reis is also seeded in the top 16 in both the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle after placing third in last year's 1,650. Also looking to get on the medal stand is Brittany Sedberry, who is seeded fourth in the 400 yard medley relay.
The 100 yard breaststroke looks to be an exciting event for the Explorers. Along with Duval's top seed, Liz Jordan is seeded second and Marci Wixted is also in the top 16. Two Explorers should also contend in the 100 yard backstroke as Alex Stoddart is in the four spot and Jess Carbin is sixth.
The women's relay squads look to be strong as well as the 200 and 800 free relays along with the 400 medley relay are seeded third, and the 400 free relay is slated to finish fourth.
The Explorer men look to make a splash as well especially with three-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week recipient Blase Szyszko diving in to his first career league meet. Szyszko is seeded second in the 200 breaststroke and fifth in the 100 breaststroke.
The 200 breaststroke event holds a strong potential for Explorer scores. Along with Szyszko’s two seed, Eric Patenaude is fourth and Colson Ferrari is seventh.
Tom Lawrie is in range of the medal stands as he is seeded third in both the 400 individual medley and the 200 yard backstroke. Joining Lawrie in the 400 IM seeded ranks is Brian Batson, who enters the meet in the seven spot.
The 200 free event should be an Explorer event as four swimmers stand in the top 16. Owen Black is seeded fifth, Dan Fitzgerald is ninth, Zach Anderson sits in the 10 spot and Brian Batson is seeded 13th. Kyle Goan, Mark Glinski and Brandon Hargraves look to potentially score in the event as well.
Anderson and Hargraves will look to make a splash in the 500 free as well as Anderson is seeded fourth and Hargraves 15th.
On the diving side, Justin Huckel and Jordan Baker will lead the Explorer contingent as both are expected to score in the 1-meter event.
The men’s relays will contend for medals as well. The 400 free relay squad is seeded second and the 200 free is seeded third. The 400 medley relay is slated for fourth and the 800 free relay is seeded fifth.
Stay tuned to GoExplorers.com for full updates on the Explorers’ run at the Atlantic 10 Championships. Live results will be available through the conference at the following URL: http://www.star-meets.org/results/A-10/index.htm.
