Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference

Atlantic Coast Conference

For a conference that is mostly known for it’s outstanding basketball programs, the rising level of swimmers and swimming has placed a lot more attention on the ACC in the past few years. Spanning from southern Florida all the way to Maryland, this sprawling conference has marked this past off-season with last minute coaching changes and exceptional performances at both the national and international level. This year the ACC is filled with developing programs that will continue their upward momentum, with the goal of placing the ACC in a position to challenge at the national level.

Boston College ?

Head Coach: Tom Groden (35th Year) ?

ACC Finish: 11th of 11 (Women); 11th of 11 (Men)  ?

NCAA Finish: - Women – Men

Coach Tom Groden enters his thirty fifth year at Boston College, an impressive stay in a sport where many coaches seem to be searching for new homes as often as hot new recruits.  Having won 565 dual meets with the Eagles, Coach Groden is looking forward to another outstanding season, his third in the ever improving and increasingly competitive ACC. Even though his program is far from fully funded, Groden has done well, having built one of the New England’s strongest, most balanced programs.

On the men’s side, the Eagles finished with a 9-5 dual meet record and had big performances from a pair of freshman at conference, but saying good-bye to 11 seniors including outstanding conference performers Chris Wilson-Byrne, David Lin, Andy Faughnan, and Michael Cartwright will hit the program hard in this coming season. The Eagles will turn to sophomores standouts, Tim Jordan (IM/breast) and Michael Hogan (distance), as well as juniors, Robert Swaninger (sprints) and Tommy Chandler (IM/back) to lead the way and make big impacts during the dual meet season.

The ladies finished with a 10-4 record and are lucky enough to return a large amount of talent including junior Caroline Byron, who finished in the top 20 at the ACC championships in three different events, as well as performing well in the free relays. Boston will also return sprinter Elizabeth Snyder, breaststroker Ashley Leprine, Kelly Leahey, and Mari Wunschel. The ladies biggest loss will be Kim Garcia, a distance specialist.

Coach Groden has always respected hard work, both in the pool and in the classroom, and he shows no signs of letting up as the Eagles prepare to take on a very tough ACC.

Clemson University?

Head Coach: Chris Ip (6th Year) ?

ACC Finish: 5th of 11 (Women); 5th of 11 (Men) 

NCAA Finish: - (Women) - (Men)?

Coach Chris Ip moved to the Atlantic seaboard with the task of rebuilding the Clemson swimming program. Five years later the Tigers have shown steady improvement in an increasingly competitive ACC. Clemson faced a tough beginning of the season with the tragedy of Amy Moxie, but the team has used this to come together with a renewed fire. Looking to work of this momentum and continue his teams improvement, Ip has recruited a strong class, graduates very few points, and is ready for his Tigers to make a run at breaking into the top-3 at this years ACC championships, as well as making a splash at the national level.

The Lady Tigers are in great shape as they return all four of their NCAA participants, all of whom were members of their ACC record setting 200 freestyle relay. Leading the way is Junior Michelle Parkhurst a top 20 finisher at last years NCAA championships in the backstroke. Junior Rachel Regone, Sophomore Katrina Obas, junior Lauren Sindall and senior Kallie Deters, all individual scorers at conference in multiple events, will be assisting Parkhurst. Coach Ip has also brought in an impressive freshman class, including senior national qualifier Margaret Mizelle.

The men lose a few more points then the ladies, with the departures of Joel Johnson, one of the Tigers most reliable scorers, relay standout Brian Regone, and the versatile Bryce Harrington. Yet coach Ip does return team MVP Atilla Ruszka (breast/IM), who finished top 3 in three events at conference, as well as senior Mark Vahle (free), who Ip will turn to as a leader in and out of the pool. Also returning are Andy Bergren (IM), Danielle Mengering (free), and Matt Angelini (IM), all of whom should compete for top 8 places at this years championships. Bringing in only four freshmen, Ip will look to his experienced squad to throw in some good performances during the regular season, but to really show up in February.

Duke University?

Head Coach: Dan Colella (3rd Year) ?

ACC Finish: 8th of 11 (Women); 9th of 11 (Men)  ?

NCAA Finish: - (Women) - (Men)

Coach Dan Colella’s Blue Devils spent last season rewriting the Duke record book and made some impressive strides up the ACC ladder. The summer was marked by the acquisition of Drew Johnson, a season diving coach, who coach Colella believes will really help Duke take that next step. This season, coach Colella has plans to keeps his Devils moving up, and possibly even sending a squad to the national championships in March.

Making things more difficult will be the departure of Duke’s sole NCAA provisional qualifier, Jackie Rodriguez, who scored in all three of her individual events at the conference championships. Duke also loses two of their go to ladies on the relays in Leslie Hartford and Michelle Aristeo. To fill the gap, coach Colella has recruited a strong class of incoming freshmen. Leading the way will be Jessica Perry (breast), Ashley Twichell, and Spencer Booth, all of whom should make their presence felt during the season and should be factors come conference.

On the men’s side, the Blue Devils lose their only top eight finalist, Kevin Artofer, as well as Jacob McCafferty, a key contributor to all five relays. The men will turn to Ryan Packer, Scott Champagne, Tim McKeever, Nick Campisano, and Eric Winnard to be the key contributors to the Devils come conference time, and to lead Duke’s six incoming freshmen through a very competitive conference. Leading the way for the freshman will be Spencer Booth, who should make an impact immediately in sprint free, fly, back, and on the relays.

Florida State University ?

Head Coach: Neil Harper (10th Year) ?

ACC Finish: 2nd of 11 (Women); 1st of 11 (Men)

NCAA Finish: 17th (Women); 17th (Men)

The Florida State Seminoles have been doing all the right things to stay at the top of a very competitive conference, having both their men and women win a conference title in the past two years. The women won in 2006 and the men took the title in 2007, for the first time is school history. With both the defending male and female ACC swimmer of the meet, Christie Raleigh and Kyle Young, returning for another season, the Seminoles have a very good chance at taking both the men’s and women’s titles, as well as breaking into the top 15 nationally.

Not only does Young return on the men’s side, but the men lose only one individual scorer from last years NCAA championship meet, captain Steve Roof (11th-1650), as well as two swimmers who finished in the top 5 of multiple events at the ACC level, Alex Kennon and Paul Erben. Also returning for the Seminoles is NCAA champion Terry Horner (1-meter), who is looking forward to three more years at Florida State. This season look for ACC champions Ed Denton (sprints) and Jarryd Bothe (back) to make the jump to the NCAA level, as well as big performances from Billy Jamerson (breast) and Robert Padgett. Headlining the incoming freshmen are Olympic Trials qualifier Nick Graves (mile) and Jr. National finalist Mathew Skinner.

The ladies are an early favorite come conference time, with ACC MVP Christie Religh returning for a strong junior season and 4 out of the Seminoles 6 NCAA participants returning for another run. The Seminoles must say goodbye to multiple All-Americans Romy Altman, the ACC champion in the 200 back, and Lauren Brick (breast). But coach Harper has not left the girls at Florida unprepared, bringing in three British Olympic Trials level breaststrokers to fill the gap. With a strong returning team and an influx of young fresh talent, the ladies of Florida State are prepped to take back the ACC championship come February, as well as making a splash come the NCAA championships.

Georgia Tech ?

Head Coach: Stuart Wilson (3rd Year) ?

ACC Finish: 9th of 11 (Women); 6th of 11 (Men)  ?

NCAA Finish: - (Women); 37th (Men)

Freshmen are the name of the game for head coach Stuart Wilson as he brings 23 new faces to the Georgia Tech pool deck, 10 for the ladies and 13 for the men. Diving played a major part for the Ramblin Wreck last year, and all three of those major players will return to compete again this season. Evan Stowers returns for a senior campaign after single handedly taking 37th at last years NCAA championships, while Stephanie England and Hannah Krim return after both taking top 8 in two events at last years conference championships. Coach Wilson’s ultimate goal is to have a few of his swimmers join the team’s divers at the top of the podium come February, as well as at the national championships in March.

The men graduate their only All-Conference selection in Ryan Bishop, but return 3 out of 4 of their major relay swimmers. Rob Miller and Ryan Crete also return, both were NCAA provisional qualifiers and are looking to make the jump to the “A” standard this season. The Ramblin Wreck also return ACC top 16 finishers Noah Copeland, Onur Uras, Jason Burgeois, and Maricio Sousa. When a team doubles in size because of freshmen inexperience is always a factor in the beginning of the season, look for stronger performances as the team learns and gains experience at the college level, with their strongest performances coming at conference time.

On the ladies side, Georgia Tech loses only one scorer from last years conference team, Alison Walker, who finished 15th in the 100 breast. Along with the return of major players England and Krimm, look for Elizabeth Stowe to jump from the “B” to the “A” standard in the mile this year and for big performances from the teams 10 new faces.

Miami University ?

Head Coach: Christie Shefchunas (2nd Year) ?

ACC Finish: 7th of 11 (Women) 10th of 11 (Men) ?

NCAA Finish: 19th (Women); 23rd (Men)

For the past few years, Miami has been known more for its outstanding diving program then for its swimming, but second year coach Christie Schefchunas is about to change all that. After a year to gain her bearings, the tough former Mustang has brought an excitement and passion back to the Miami pool deck that should propel the Hurricanes up the ACC ladder.

Last years ACC’s were marked by an impressive sweep of the 1 and 3-meter boards by Jenna Dreyer, who returns for a senior campaign to defend her ACC diver of the year title. Assisting Dreyer will be the ACC freshman diver of the year, Brittany Viola, an All-American platform specialist. On the men’s side, even without a swim team to support them, the Hurricane divers made a splash at the NCAA’s with the ACC’s male most valuable diver, Reuben Ross taking two top 10 finishes, to singularly finish in the nations top 25 teams. Look for Ross to return next year and garner some help from senior Derek Stark.

Aside from a world-class diving program, the Hurricanes are moving towards their goal of a conference topping swimming program. It may take a few years to build, but Schefchunas is well on her way to making that goal a reality. Losing only one ACC scorer, Tara Ewing (13th-mile), the Hurricanes return three top 8 conference finishers in Freshman Kristen Pomerleau (sprints/fly), Magda Waszkiewicz (breast), and Britta Boesing (back/IM). These ladies will lead a strong incoming freshman class highlighted by Ryann Labreche, Elisabeth Torres, Annika Saarnak, Deidre Novotny and Tiffany Petzold.

University of Maryland ?

Head Coach: ?

ACC Finish: 6th of 11 (Women); 8th of 11 (Men)  ?

NCAA Finish: - (Women) - (Men)

With a pair Auburn alums as a schools assistant coaches, who needs a head coach? As Maryland heads into the second month of school, the abrupt departure of former head coach Dave Durden to California, has left the terrapins searching for a new leader, and with the season lurking ever closer, the school better get a move on.

Even with the uncertainty of the coaching situation, Maryland was still able to bring in, and keep, 22 incoming freshman, 10 for the ladies and 12 for the men. Many of whom should make immediate impacts during the season, as well as help move the Terrapins closer to their goal of moving up towards the top of the ACC ladder.

The large influx of fresh talent should ease the pain of losing top scorer Danny Gray, who was Marylands top finisher with two appearances in the finals at the ACC championships in the sprints. Maryland returns top 10 ACC performers Dong Kim and Alex Damjanic, who are both coming off of strong summer performance. Coaches will look to a young team to come through, step up, and perform at a higher level as this developing program continues taking steps in the right direction.

The ladies will have an easier time of things returning a strong sophomore class that scored about 75% of their points at conference. Look for Jen Vogel, Nina Rossi, Patty DeScenza and transfer Lauren Wright to be top performers in several events and, though young, to lead the Terrapins through conference. Maryland will lose their only ACC champion, Sasha Malanina (400IM), as well as Gigi DeToll, Natalie Ferdinand, Kat Csomova, and Kaleena Laputka. Maryland’s 10 incoming freshmen will be headlined by Blair Cross, Annie Fittin, Erin Holmes, and Stephanie Parker all of whom have posted best times that would have scored at last years ACC championships.

University of North Carolina ?

Head Coach: Rich DeSelm (1st Year) ?

ACC Finish: 1st of 11 (Women); 3rd of 11 (Men) 

NCAA Finish: 30th (Women); 27th (Men)

First year coach Rich DeSelm joins one of the ACC’s top programs coming off a banner year where the athletes of North Carolina sent off former head coach Frank Comfort with a bang, as the women took the ACC championships and both teams finished in the top 30 of the nation, the ladies with an 11 place jump from last year and a 14 place jump for the men. This year, DeSelm is well on his way to making the Tarheels his own, bringing in 24 freshmen, with almost half of the men’s team in their first year at North Carolina. Counting on strong senior leaders and a massive amount of depth, DeSelm looks to make the jump from the top of the conference to the top of the nation in his freshman season.

Leading the ladies will by the teams top NCAA finisher and sole scorer, Whitney Sprague, whose third place finish ties her for the highest placing of a Tarheel swimmer. Also returning for North Carolina are ACC standouts Aubrette Biegel, Eliza Butts, Alison Clemens, Ashley Howard, Lindsey Marck, and Megan Steeves. Look for incoming freshmen Allison Barnes, Rebecca Kane, and transfer Erica Schiffler to shake things up and try to make up for the loss of a very deep graduating class, as the Tarheels lose 6 to graduation. With the addition of several new assistant coaches, a boost in confidence from an ACC championship, and the energy and excitement of a new coach, look for the Tarheels to defend their title against tough teams from Florida State and Virginia.

The men are looking to Chip Peterson to continue an already outstanding college campaign, as well as an outstanding summer representing the US at the Pan American games. The Tarheels lose nine, including stand out diver Jon Fox. Looking to make up for those losses are returning diver Ryan Funderburk, Hank Browning, Jeff James, and Zach Swarts, all of whom have stepped up big for North Carolina in the past. Possibly the most exciting thing this season will be the influx of 13 new faces. The coaching staff is looking forward to watching these guys develop, gain experience, and put North Carolina back on the national radar.

North Carolina State?

Head Coach: Brooks Teal (8th Year) ?

ACC Finish: 10th of 11 (Women); 7th of 11 (Men)

NCAA Finish: - (Women) - (Men)  ?

Known perhaps more for their post-grads then for their current swimmers, NC State has a few names worth mentioning that will compete for the pack this coming year. NC State returns backstroke record-holder Stephen Mellor. Mellor should make a huge impact with both his strength and versatility. Jack Roney should get the job done in the breaststroke and on the freestyle relays, while Andrew Lester takes care of the distance events. The pack’s only major loss should be standout sprinter Steve Cowling, while they return divers Austin Hampton, an All-ACC selection, and Alex Dambly, who were major scorers on the boards last year. With 7 incoming freshman and an outstanding new diving coach in, Ted Hautau, look for the Pack to shock a few people come conference.

On the ladies side, the pack is forced to say goodbye to former team MVP Lyndsey Barwegen, a distance and butterfly specialist, as well as All-ACC performer Kerry Whitson. The team will turn to conference finalist Lucy Lindsey (200/400 free) and Kristen Davies and Chelsea Ale on the boards to hold together a young team including 12 sophomores and 5 freshmen. Look for Hautau to give a boost to the ladies as well, as this young team continues to develop and gain experience throughout a tough season.

University of Virginia ?

Head Coach: Mark Bernardino (31st Year) ?

ACC Finish: 3rd of 11 (Women); 2nd of 11 (Men) ?

NCAA Finish: 16th (Women); 39th (Men)

There are a lot of new faces in Charlottesville this fall as the Lady Cavaliers add 12 freshman to their roster, while the men turn to a smaller, versatile class in an attempt to retake the conference title.

Looking to build off of a strong 16th place finish at last years NCAA Championships, the Lady Cavaliers will look to sprinter Jess Lewis and the very versatile pair of Stephanie Glover and Megan Evo to lead a very young, very talented group of women into the championship season. Coming off of a great long course season, breaststroker Ellie Freeman and distance specialist Claire Crippen look to make an immediate impact. With strong leadership and such a large, talented group of new comers, Virginia looks to be making great strides towards re-establishing themselves as one of the premiere programs in the nation.

The men will also rely on strong senior leadership to steer a very talented class of incoming freshman. The Cavaliers will turn to returnees Pat Mellors, coming off of a very strong, gold medal performance at this summer’s World University Games, Pat Reams, Lee Robinson, Bryan Stahl, and PJ Sullivan to overcome the loss of major players, Stefan Hirniak, Rich Hutton, John Millen, and Vanja Rogulj. Adding the versatile newcomers, Matt McLean, Ian Vogt, and Tim Hayes, will help Virginia as they rebuild their program and challenge for the title conference once again.

Virginia Tech ?

Head Coach: Ned Skinner (9th Year) ?

ACC Finish: 4th of 11 (Women); 4th of 11 (Men)  ?

NCAA Finish: - 22nd (Women);  - (Men)

Now entering his ninth year at the helm of both the men and women of the Virginia Tech swimming program, Ned Skinner has a lot to look forward to in 2008. With a new pool under construction, which will be finished in the summer of ’08, but before that comes this years swimming season. Skinner returns all but one of his high impact players and brings in another talented class as the Hookies make a run at breaking into the nations top 20.

The ladies return multiple All-Americans Jessica Botzum and Sara Smith, who finished lead Virginia Tech to a 22nd finish in the nation last season, while losing no significant points. Botzum is the defending ACC swimmer of the year and has earned multiple All-American in the breaststrokes and individual medleys is looking to continue her dominance of the conference, while Smith is getting the job done in the butterflies and sprints. With several key returnees, 10 incoming freshman, and no points lost, the Hookies are looking to challenge for the conference crown as well as making the jump into the nations top 20 programs.

On the men’s side, the Hookies are looking to reestablish a nationally ranked program and leading the way will be ACC record holder and multiple time ACC champion Scott Beard (free/back/fly), who is entering his senior season with Virginia Tech. Joining Beard are four other ACC champions, Zac Czaplicki (free/IM), Kaan Tayla (sprints/fly), Jake Bova (sprints), and Ian deToll (Fly/IM). With four seniors out of those five, coach Skinner is depending on the leadership these guy can give to a small, but talented class of newcomers, including Trey Stewart, Rich Ulatowski, Zach Holmes, and Stephen Hawkins. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be the loss of All-American Gus Calado in the butterfly, but with a strong group of returnees, some talented freshman, and the excitement of a new pool, the Hookies are looking for a breakthrough season and a run at the ACC championship.