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Back in the pool! Scots start swim
season Friday
Release Date: October 27, 2006
MONMOUTH, Ill. — When we last left
the Monmouth College men’s swim team, the Fighting Scots were coming
off an outstanding performance at the Midwest Conference
Championships. Coach Keith Crawford’s team came close to a perfect
meet, posting 24 season-best times out of 24 individual swims and
scoring points in 23 of them.
Those points came up just one shy of catching Ripon for fourth
place, which is where the Scots finished in 2005. Still, Crawford
was upbeat about the meet, and he likes his team’s chances to
continue its individual improvements – and, ultimately, its league
finish – during the 2006-07 season.
Already, the team has gotten better in terms of roster size.
Crawford’s first men’s team in 2004-05 had just six swimmers, and
that number rose to nine last year. This season there are 16
competitors ready for action at Monmouth’s season-opening meet
Friday at Millikin.
“The men are better and much deeper than a year ago,” said Crawford.
“Our biggest strength will be our collective depth. Of the 16 guys,
every single one of them should be able to score at the conference
meet. If they can all score in all three of their events, those
points add up in a hurry.”
Although Andrew Wilson did not return to the team after breaking
nine school records at last year’s MWC meet, three A-flight
finalists are back. That includes junior Dan Campione, who set two
school records while placing second in the 200-yard backstroke
(2:02.04) and third in the 100-yard backstroke (55.62, with a record
55.55 in the prelims). Campione also took sixth in the 50-yard
freestyle, and teammates Jim Travnik and Eric Pavlacka placed fourth
and fifth, respectively, in the 1650-yard freestyle.
“Dan Campione is our No. 1 returner, and I’m also hoping for big
things from Jim Travnik and Eric Pavlacka,” said Crawford.
Other returners for the Scots are senior Brian Kura – who will
captain the team along with Campione – and junior Ryan Bouwman.
Newcomers include junior transfer Kurt Niemeier and 10 freshmen –
John Clifford (St. Thomas More), Harrison Heilman (Downers Grove
North), John Kaiser (Glenbard North), Joseph Moran (Neuqua Valley),
Ed Novak (Schaumburg), Matt O’Rourke (Evergreen Park), Jonathan
Peterson (Burlington), Joe Schwinger (Downers Grove South), Matt
Travnik (Lincoln-Way Central) and Joshua Van Swol (Lincoln-Way
East).
Crawford is especially high on Niemeier, who will swim middle
distance freestyle events. Others who could contribute at a high
level are Travnik, Peterson, Kaiser, Van Swol and Heilman.
“Third place is within our reach,” said Crawford of the conference
meet, which will be hosted by perennial power Grinnell in February.
“Grinnell is the heavy favorite, but it should be interesting
between Lake Forest, Lawrence and us for the next three spots.”
On the women’s side, Monmouth has placed eighth in the two
conference meets in the program’s history, and Crawford said there
is a chance his eight-member squad could finish higher.
“We’re hoping we can move up a spot or two,” said Crawford. “We
think we have at least six swimmers who can score in multiple events
at the conference meet.”
Sophomore Sarah Christensen was the lone Scot in an A-flight final
last year, but she made the best of it, placing fourth in the
100-yard breaststroke in a school-record 1:12.06. She also set a
record in the prelims of the 50-yard freestyle with her time of
26.32. Megan Wentzlaff was also solid at the MWC meet and will be
counted on as a team leader, serving as a captain with junior
Jessica DeMink.
Rounding out the team are sophomore Andrea Dorscheid and newcomers
Heather Plum (Freeport), Meaghan Gritzenbach (Evergreen Park) and
Leigh Anne Lane (St. Louis Kirkwood).
“The best of the new swimmers, at least based on high school
performance, is Leigh Anne Lane, who will help us in the butterfly,
IM, maybe the backstroke and certainly the relays,” said Crawford.
“Heather Plum has also been a pleasant surprise. I think she might
make some significant contributions by the end of the year.”
Crawford said he was “excited” about both teams and has been pleased
by the leadership and dedication shown by the upperclassmen, “which
is something we just haven’t had before. It’s been much more
enjoyable to coach this group. Everyone’s at practice and working
hard.”
Crawford will be assisted by veteran coach Dave Yez and by student
assistants Erin Jole and Laura Miller.
Men's Swimming |
Women's Swimming
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