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2008 MIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Championships Preview
2/8/2008 1:53:40 PM
St. Paul, Minn. -- Eight teams will dive into the 2008 MIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Championships this Thursday in hopes of taking home the conference title. Hosted at the University Minnesota Aquatic Center, the 2008 Championships will run in conjunction with the MIAC Women's Championships this Thursday through Saturday, February 14 -16. The daily meet schedule will feature preliminary events in the morning sessions and final contests during the evening sessions.
St. Olaf enters the 2008 Championships as the team to beat after ousting previous champion Gustavus last year by five points (843.50 to 838.50). The Oles and Gusties will look to be challenged by Carleton and Saint John's. Hamline, St. Thomas, Saint Mary's and Macalester will attempt to break into the top half of the MIAC standings in 2008.
2008 MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships Website
Carleton
Coach: Brooke Larsen (1st season)
2007 Championships Finish: 4th
| Carleton Athletes to Watch |
Brian Kilgour (Fy., Wichita, Kan./East)
John Knapp (Jr., Sturgeon Bay, Wis.)
Ted Marschall (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.)
Andrew Mering (Fy., Baraboo, Wis.)
Jared Plotz (Jr., Hutchinson, Minn.)
Ryan Terrien (Jr., Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy)
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| Carleton Championships Preview |
The Carleton College men’s swimming and diving team enters the 2008 MIAC Championships having recorded 12 successive top-four finishes at the conference meet.
The Knights are once again led by junior Ted Marschall, the defending MIAC champion and meet-record holder in the 400-yard individual medley event. He was an All-America performer in both the 200 IM and 400 IM last season and will be among the leaders in all three events he enters at this year’s competition. Marschall also figures to be a major factor on Carleton’s relay teams.
Diver John Knapp, an All-MIAC performer on both the one- and three-meter boards the last two years, should be battling for a top-three finish in both events again this year. He has recorded NCAA qualifying score on the one-meter board.
Two other juniors, Jared Plotz and Ryan Terrien, have made solid contributions all season long on a deep Carleton squad. Both were all-conference honorees last year as they paired with Marschall to make up three-quarters of Carleton’s winning 400 medley relay a year ago. Plotz has ranked among the conference’s top performers this season in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle. Meanwhile, Terrien adds depth in the backstroke, breaststroke and individual medley races.
This year’s version of the Knights also includes versatile first-year swimmers, Brian Kilgour and Andrew Mering. Kilgour has posted the team’s fastest time this year in the 200-yard butterfly, while ranking among the MIAC’s best in the 100 and 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 1000 freestyle. Mering has made his mark in the 100 and 500 freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke and is a solid contributor on several relays.
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Gustavus
Coach: Jon Carlson (18th season)
2007 Championships Finish: 2nd
| Gustavus Athletes to Watch |
Skylar Davis (So., Palatine, Ill.)
Ben Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.)
Matt Stewart (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.)
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| Gustavus Championships Preview |
The Gustavus Adolphus men’s swimming and diving team looks to regain the MIAC team title after last year’s second-place finish at the conference championships. Coach Jon Carlson’s squad returns a mix of veterans and newcomers to contend for the Gusties’ sixth conference title in seven years.
The Golden Gusties return three MIAC individual champions from last year’s team, including Skylar Davis, Ben Hanson, and Matt Stewart. Davis, one of the premier distance swimmers in the MIAC, will look to defend his 1650 freestyle conference title as he currently holds the top MIAC times in the 500 and 1650 freestyle. Hanson hopes to defend his 200 freestyle title, but will have to contend with teammate Matt Stewart in several events at the championships. Stewart, the reigning MIAC champion in the 200 butterfly and 500 freestyle, holds the top conference time in the 200 freestyle. Stewart earned second-place in the 200 freestyle at last year’s NCAA championships, along with third-place in the 500 freestyle and fifth-place in the 200 butterfly.
One question for this year’s squad will be who will pick up the points lost due to the graduation of sprinters Brian Amundson and Scott Hagemeyer. However, the Gusties’ strengths have been their ability to score points at the distance, freestyle and butterfly events and get consistent finishes in the backstroke and breaststroke events. Relays will also play an integral role towards claiming the team title. Gustavus is ranked 11th in the current CollegeSwimming.com Division III Power Rankings.
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Hamline
Coach: Paul Waas, Jr. (2nd season)
2007 Championships Finish: 5th
| Hamline Athletes to Watch |
Jake Burgess
Jonathan Tapia-Rodriguez
William Khoury-Hanold
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| Hamline Championships Preview |
2007 All-American Jonathan Tapia-Rodriguez (Jr., Quito, Ecuador) returns to lead the Hamline University men’s swimming and diving team after competing in three events in the NCAA Championships last year. (The 200 yard IM, 100 yard butterfly, and the 200 yard butterfly – the event in which his 16th place finish garnered him honorable mention All-American status).
Will Khoury-Hanold (So., Kingsford, Mich.) also returns to the Pipers after making the finals in multiple events in 2007, as does sprinter Jake Burgess (Jr., Oakdale, Minn.). Tapia-Rodriguez, Khoury-Hanold and Burgess also look to add to the Pipers’ point total in relays, teaming up with Patrick Swartzer (Sr., Watertown, Minn.).
The Pipers also look to continue to get points from Aaron Birr (Jr., Spring Lake Park, Minn.) off the diving board.
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Macalester
Coach: Bob Pearson (19th season)
2007 Championships Finish: 8th
| Macalester Athletes to Watch |
Nathan Young (Fy., Denver, Colo.)
Mitch Stepleton (So., Boulder, Colo.)
Jeff Yamashita (Fy., Honolulu, Hi.)
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| Macalester Championships Preview |
The Scots have a small roster number-wise, but are optimistic about moving up from last season’s eighth-place conference finish.
Macalester is looking to get a bulk of its team points from Nathan Young (Fy., Denver, Colo. / Littleton), one of the MIAC’s top frosh this winter. Young is ranked second on the MIAC honor roll in both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke races and is looking for a berth at nationals. An MIAC swimmer of the week earlier in the season, Young could also be a factor in some other events, as well.
Mitch Stepleton (So., Boulder, Colo. / Fairview) is Mac’s top returner from a year ago. He placed sixth last year as a first-year in the 1650 freestyle and was also in the top 11 in the 500 free and 400 IM. Jeff Yamashita (Fy., Honolulu, Hi. / Iolani) and Seth McIntire (Jr., Seattle, Wash. / Garfield) will also be asked to score points for the Scots.
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Saint John's
Coach: Bill Saxton (10th season)
2007 Championships Finish: 3rd
| Saint John's Athletes to Watch |
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- Trent Novotny (Jr., Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska)
Josh Swenson (Sr., Thief River Falls, Minn.)
Pat Stanaway (Sr., Zimmerman, Minn.)
Michael Williams (Fy., Maple Grove, Minn.)
Kevin Kubat (Jr., West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic)
Marcus Rien (Fy., Richmond, Minn./Rocori)
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| Saint John's Championships Preview |
Following a third-place finish at the MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships last year, the Saint John’s University swimming and diving team looks to showcase another strong performance at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center this month.
Junior Trent Novotny (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) intends to surpass his sixth-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke last year, while senior Josh Swenson (Thief River Falls, Minn.) looks to improve his fifth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly. The two, along with senior Pat Stanaway (Zimmerman, Minn.) and freshman Michael Williams (Maple Grove, Minn.), look to place well in the 200-yard medley relay. Individually, Stanaway has posted the sixth- and eighth- best times in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard butterfly, respectively. Junior Kevin Kubat (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic) and Swenson return in attempts to surpass their third-place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay.
Meanwhile, freshman Marcus Rien (Richmond, Minn./Rocori) is currently ranked second in the MIAC in the 1-meter diving competition. Overall, Saint John’s has 10, top-10 individual times in the MIAC. The Johnnies will also look to seniors Torre Ahlberg (Longmont, Colo.) and Darren Lofquist (Burnsville, Minn.), as well as sophomore Brian Klein (St. Joseph, Minn./Sartell-St. Stephen) to improve upon their respective finishes at last year’s championships.
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Saint Mary's
Coach: Eric Lindquist (9th season)
2007 Championships Finish: 7th
| Saint Mary's Athletes to Watch |
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Brian Joyce (Sr., Chicago, Ill.)
David Ballard (So., Ramsey, Minn.)
Jon Fox (So., Winona, Minn.)
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| Saint Mary's Championships Preview |
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The Saint Mary’s University men’s swimming and diving team has enjoyed a solid 2007-08 season — capped off by a season-record four dual-meet victories.
“It’s been a great season in terms of dual-meet performances and we are looking forward to make some noise at the conference championships,” said SMU coach Eric Lindquist, whose Cardinals have been led by senior Brian Joyce (Chicago, Ill.), and sophomores David Ballard (Ramsey, Minn.) and Jon Fox (Winona, Minn.). “We had steadily improved our times as the season has progressed and I think we are in pretty good shape (heading into the MIAC Championships).”
Joyce, who led the Cardinals to their final dual-meet win of the season — a 126-80 win over UW-River Falls on Feb. 2 — has enjoyed his best season to date, and according to Lindquist, a solid conference showing would be the frosting on the cake.
“Brian’s having a great year — as are a lot of our athletes,” Lindquist said. “Hopefully they have saved their best for last.”
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St. Olaf
Coach: Dave Hauck (34th season) and Bob Hauck (19th season)
2007 Championships Finish: 1st
| St. Olaf Athletes to Watch |
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Nelson Westby
Adam Meyer
Jake Koch
Nate Bentley
David Manley
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| St. Olaf Championships Preview |
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St. Olaf will look to repeat as team champions behind defending NCAA Division III 200 IM Champion Nelson Wesby and a host of returning All-MIAC swimmers.
The Oles have won 24 MIAC titles, including 20 in a row from 1980-1999, since 1977.
Westby has the country's top time in the 200 IM and also has top ten times in the 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 100 Fly and 50 Free. Westby enters as the league's defending Swimmer of the Meet after he won the 100 Breast, 100 Fly and 200 IM at last winter's event.
Adam Meyer joins Westby on the 400 Medley Relay squad. Meyer has the league's top times in the 100 and 200 Back.
Jake Koch, also on the relay team, has the top conference time in the 100 Free and should be a contender in each of the sprint free events.
Nate Bentley ranks in the top five in the MIAC in the 200 and 400 IM, the 100 and 200 Breast and the 200 Free.
The Oles could also get a substantial point contribution from David Manley, who has the third-best times in the 100 and 200 Breast.
St. Olaf, which held off Gustavus by a mere five points last February, have the league's top time in four of the five relays. First year Luke Murrell joined Westby, Koch and Meyer on each of the relays.
The Oles will lean on first year Ryan Trostrud in the diving events. Trostrud has the thrid and seventh-best scores on the 1- and 3-meter boards.
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St. Thomas
Coach: Tom Hodgson (29th season)
2007 Championships Finish: 6th
| St. Thomas Athletes to Watch |
T.J. Hardy (Sr.)
Mitchell Johnson (Sr.)
Tim Mullee (Sr.)
Kevin Mullee (Sr.)
Matthew Moore (Fy.)
Jeremy Anderson (Jr.)
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| St. Thomas Championships Preview |
The St. Thomas men finished a mere one point out of fifth place at last year's MIAC Championships. This year, the Tommies will look to post their best team finish in a decade, as they look to battle Carleton and St. John's for third place.
The Tommies broke three school records at the 2007 championship meet and hope to have a similar breakthrough this season, led by seniors T.J. Hardy, Kevin and Tim Mullee and Mitchell Johnson.
Through January meets, St. Thomas had 12 top-10 individual performances and three top-three relays on the MIAC season performance list. Hardy ranks fourth in the 100 free (47.77); is seventh in the 50 free (22.10); and seventh in the 100 back (55.25). Freshman Matthew Moore is seeded eighth in the 400 IM (4:24.56) and eighth in the 200 back (2:01.77).Kevin Mullee is sixth in the 50 free (21.96), ninth in the 100 free (48.95), seventh in the 100 fly (52.89). Nick Frost is eighth in the 200 breaststroke (2:20.96). Andrew Spratt is eighth in the 1000 free (10:29.43). Jeremy Anderson is seeded seventh in one-meter diving (199.95) and eighth in three-meter diving (171.25).
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