With the 2013 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championship underway this Wednesday, the men's squad looks to make a statement at the new host site in Geneva, Ohio. Previously held at Flickinger Aquatic Center in Buffalo, NY, the championship meet has changed venues to the Spire Institute Aquatic Center which just opened in the fall of 2011.
 
“I'm feeling very confident in our preparation for the A10 Championships,” said head coach Matt Nunnally. “I expect that we will be contenders for a podium finish both as a team and as individuals. The top goal for each individual is to achieve personal best times in the events they race.”
 
Senior Daniel Fitzgerald is poised to have another dominating performance in the 100 yard backstroke. Last year he exploded onto the scene after winning gold in a time of 48.68 which broke his own school record he set in preliminaries and narrowly missed the Atlantic 10 Conference record of 48.40. Fitzgerald is a factor to consider in the 100 yard freestyle as well – he finished fourth in the event at last year's championship meet in 45.44 after recording a personal-best 45.39 in prelims.
 
Senior Blase Szyszko proved to be the most dominant breaststroker at last year's championship meet, taking gold in both the 100 and 200 yard distances. His performance in the 200 took down a 22-year-old school record. But don't assume Szyszko has a repeat performance in store – rising freshman Johan Roth may have something to say about it. The South African has taken the Atlantic 10 by storm and has the top seed in the 200 yard breaststroke and the second seed in the 100 yard breaststroke entering the meet. Szyszko holds the top time in the conference in the 100 breast while Roth has the second spot. Look for the La Salle breaststrokers to put up some special swims.
 
Junior Cameron Cabrera has been one of the Explorers' most consistent performers this season, regularly posting times in the 1:42-1:44 range in the 200 yard freestyle and sub-4:50 times in the 500 yard freestyle. Now fully recovered from a debilitating knee injury he suffered his freshman year, Cabrera should threaten the 200 freestyle school record and smash the 4:40 barrier in the 500 freestyle.
 
Junior Dave Derr has surged to the next level this season. The 6'3” sprinter should be a serious contender in the 100 yard backstroke given his terrific performances in dual meets this season. Derr should also challenge in the 100 yard freestyle – last year he anchored the 400 yard freestyle in 45.86.
 
Freshman Justin Hughes has made a strong impact on the team's success this season. The South African backstroker will join Fitzgerald and Derr in the 100 distance and is the top Explorer in the 200 yard backstroke.
 
From the diving squad, the men are represented by freshman CJ Gimpel and junior Robert Freeling. Gimpel has helped alleviate the loss of recently graduated diver Jordan Baker who was the most consistent performer on the boards for the Explorers the previous four seasons. At the Bucknell Invitational earlier this season, Gimpel dove to a third-place finish on 1 meter with a score of 274.10. Freeling has made large strides this season in overcoming a back injury that severely limited his ability to compete at last year's championships. Watch for the La Salle diving duo
 
Live results of the 2013 Atlantic 10 Championship can found on GoExplorers.com. The venue starts at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, February 20 and concludes on Saturday night.