The 2013 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championship is set to start this Wednesday at its 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.”
 
The Explorers are led by Senior Elizabeth Jordan who has made quite a mark on the record board in her time at La Salle. The Tobyhanna, Pa. native holds a total of eight school records; the next closest record-holder has half that amount. Jordan added her eighth record earlier this season at the Bucknell Invitational where she clocked a personal-best 50.82 in the 100 yard freestyle. She earned bronze in the event at last year's A10 champs with a 51.18 so expect her to deliver another podium-worthy performance. Jordan is also the favorite in the 100 yard breaststroke, given she's the reigning champion and has secured the top time in the conference this season. In addition, she holds the second-fastest times in the conference in the 50 and 100 yard freestyles.
 
Senior Jessica Simunek will also be in the mix for the 100 and 200 yard breaststrokes. She holds the top time in the conference this season in the 200 (2:16.99) and is second in the 100 behind teammate Liz Jordan. Simunek holds two school records – the 200 medley relay and the 100 yard butterfly, both of which were set at last year's championship meet. Her time in the 100 fly was good for a bronze medal.
 
Sophomore Colleen Larkin turned heads at last year's championship event after she won the longest race of the meet as a freshman. Larkin's time of 16:48.64 in the 1650 yard freestyle secured her a gold medal and bragging rights for a year. The Campbell Hall, N.Y. native shows no signs of slowing down – she clocked a personal best 4:54.46 this season in the 500 yard freestyle at the Bucknell Invitational and narrowly missed the school record by seven-tenths of a second. That time was a personal best by over two seconds and would have placed her second at last year's A10 champs. At the same meet, Larkin touched the wall in 16:51.86 in the 1650 yard free – a mid-season time that bodes well for her entering the championship meet.
 
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. native Olivia Armater is the wildcard on the women's squad this year. The senior breaststroker recorded two B-final appearances at last year's championship meet in the 100 and 200 yard distances. However, this is only her third year swimming on the collegiate level; Armater was a sophomore year walk-on who has shaved enormous amounts of time in her events every season. She's already picked up a personal best this season in the 200 breast (2:22.04) at the Bucknell Invitational – a time fast enough to qualify sixth at last year's A10 Champs.
 
On the boards, the Explorers are represented by freshman Kelly Quinn, sophomores Paige Frishkorn and Dahlia Gordon, and junior Shauna Hannings. Quinn has been a consistent performer on both boards all season and has the potential to be the top Explorer at the championship meet. At the Bucknell Invitational this season Quinn finished in fourth place on 1 meter with a score of 234.00.
 
The lady Explorers' relays should produce some impressive performances, as well. The team broke three school records (200 medley, 200 freestyle, and 800 freestyle relays) at last year's meet and have already challenged those times during the course of the 2012-13 season.
 
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.