Stability looks like it has finally come to Conference USA, as the same teams return to compete in this years February championship. With only three on the men’s side, C-USA is more competitive then it might seem, as last years championship was decided by only 43 points. This season, as several programs have upgraded from fledgling programs into established and able challengers to the reigning conference champs, Southern Methodist University. Houston, Hawaii and Rice, are young, but talented squads with growing confidence, and all have the possibility to pose threats to the Mustangs come championship time. The importance of diving cannot be overlooked in this conference, as more then a few teams relay on the boards to get the job done at the national level. With more then a few squads looking to break into the nations top 20 and SMU making a run at cracking the top 10 on both sides, Conference USA, as young as it is, is developing into a very talented and competitive conference.

 

Southern Methodist

Head Coach: Women- Steve Collins (22nd Season)

Men- Eddie Sinnott (19th)

C-USA Finish:  Women: 1st of 6 Men: 1st of 3

NCAA Finish:  Women: 14th Men: 19th

 

SMU dominates in C-USA, with the women took the conference championship by almost 200 points, winning 14 events, taking 1-2-3 in 4 events and 1-2 in two others. On the men side, though there are only three highly competitive teams, the Mustangs look like they are on their way to another C-USA title in the 2007-2008 season. With both of the SMU coaches being named the 2006/07 C-USA coaches of the year and both the male and female swimmer of the C-USA meet being Mustangs (Petra Klosova and Ian Clark), SMU looks like they are way out ahead, with no one in the conference even in site.

The women return 7 All-Americans including Petra Klosova, Jennifer Blackman, and Anja Carman. Angela San Juan Cisneros also earned an All-American nod, is coming off a strong summer performance, finishing in the top 8 of the 50 fly at the World University Games. Bringing in five freshmen, coach Collins is looking to take his ladies into the top ten in the nation and continue to defend their conference-winning streak. New comers include, Texas state champion freestyler, Gabriela Soza, who will make an immediate impact on relays and South African Elzanne Werth, another sprint free and flyer.

On the men’s side, head coach Eddie Sinott’s men have their work cut out for them as a strong and experienced Hawaiian team prepares to challenge for the conference crown. The Mustangs must find a way to replace Ian Clark, C-USA’s reigning swimmer of the year and multiple conference champion and NCAA qualifier, as well as relay standout Justin Smith. Returning to help the Mustangs defend their title are All-Americans Alex Hetland, Shane Milu, Thomans Fadness, Pontus Renholm, and Luka Vrtovec who should continue to make an impact for SMU on relays.

Look for SMU to shine at the Dallas Morning News Classic in January, as teams from all over the country come to the Hilltop for a trial run before the NCAA championships.

 

East Carolina

Head Coach:  Rick Kobe (25th Season)

C-USA Finish:  Women: 3rd of 5 Men: 3rd of 3

 

Coach Rich Kobe has been hot on the recruiting trail and it shows. The Pirates welcome 25 newcomers to the pool deck, 8 women and 17 men. With 11 NSCA Junior National qualifiers, 5 YMCA national qualifiers, and a transfer from Rutgers, this is one of the deepest and largest classes in school history. With only one All-Conference loss, flyer Kate Gordon, Kobe is not only bringing in a large group, but lose very few points. Returnees include sprinter Rebecca Perry, whose senior leadership should prove invaluable to this young squad as they attempt to chase down SMU.

On the men’s side, an incoming class of 17 can seem like a daunting task for any coach, but Kobe is looking forward to the challenge and will lean heavily on All-Conference selections Kristian Ramkvist, a school record holder in the breaststrokes, and Greg Neville to provide leadership in and out of the pool.  The Pirates will lose eight to graduation, which will strongly affect their relays, but with such a strong influx of depth and talent, look for the pirates to challenge Hawaii come conference, and, with some luck attempt to chase down the Mustangs.

 

Hawai’i

Head Coach:  Victor Wales (3rd Season)

C-USA Finish:  Women: 2nd of 7 (WAC) Men: 2nd of 3

NCAA Finish: Women: 32 Men: 20th

Hawaii actually competes in two conferences.  The men compete in the C-USA meet while the women are took second last season in the Western Athletic Conference champions.  In the year ahead Victor Wales’s Rainbow Wahine take a pretty big hit on their women’s side, losing sole NCAA scorer and All-American diver Megan Farrow, as well as their only NCAA swimming representative, Nicole Mackey, a multiple conference champion and school record holder in the backstrokes. Mike Brown, reigning WAC diving coach of the year returns the very talented reigning WAC 1-meter champion Emma Friesen. Holding up his promise to make recruiting his top priority, Wales brought in 7 newcomers last year, and has brought in another outstandingly deep class featuring 11 incoming freshman. With only two juniors and no seniors on the roster, Wales will look to his young team to develop quickly, gaining experience and confidence along the way, with the teams best performances near the end of the season.

The men compete in Conference USA and are always a tough challenge fro reigning champs SMU. Coming off a second place finish, the Wahine men feature a more experienced team then the ladies, with 5 seniors and 6 juniors returning to take Hawaii back into the nations top 15. Mike Brown takes center stage again as he returns two of the nations top divers, and Hawaii’s only NCAA scorers, Magnus Frick, a top 3 finisher on both the 1 and 3-meter boards at last years NCAA championships, and Mats Wiktorsson, a top 16 performer in both the 3-meter and platform competitions. On the swimming side, the men return Grzegorz Mroz, a multiple time conference champion, conference champions Greg Wilson and Nicola Xella. The men bring in another 5 freshman, which look to help coach Wales with his goals of catching SMU and breaking into the nations top 15.

 

Houston
Head Coach:  Mark Taylor (6th Season)

C-USA Finish:  Women: 4th of 5

NCAA Finish:  Women: 23rd 

The University of Huston continued their run as one of the top 25 programs in the nation, extending it to seven straight seasons as the Cougars placed 23rd at last years NCAA championships. At the national level, it is impossible to mention Huston without acknowledging their diving program. Jane Figueiredo has built one of the nation’s best programs and has recruited two more of the nations top recruits, who will ease the pain of losing C-USA champion Rachel Gitelson. Anastasia Pozdniakova, the Cougar’s highest point scorer, returns after two top 5 finishes at last years NCAAs (2nd-3m and 5th-1m), as does Ginni van Katwijk, after a 10th place finish on platform. Success at conference and at NCAA will depend on Huston’s divers ability to dominate the boards.

On the swimming side, head coach Mark Taylor has recruited a pair of sprint fresstylers, in Paige Bissett and Brittany Copeland, as well as Andrea Kells, all of whom will aid the Cougar in the relays and sprints. The Cougs lose former C-USA champion Szintia Szanto, but will return Andrea Pa’lmai, who has narrowly missed the meet for the past two years, achieving multiple provisional cuts in the past two years. With their dominance on the boards, an influx of new speed, and strong senior leadership, Coach Taylor is looking for a breakthrough season by sending a squad that includes swimmers to the big dance this season.

 

Rice

Head Coach:  Seth Huston (5th Season)

C-USA Finish:  Women: 2nd of 5

The Rice Owls have had a continuous stream of improvement since they entered C-USA, and with strong performances from the predominantly young team at last years conference championships, Coach Seth Huston looks to continue this upward momentum by challenging perennial powerhouse and conference rival, SMU, as well as sending a squad to compete in the national arena this season.

With 15 of their 18 conference meet swimmers returning, including C-USA champion Erin Mattson (200 fly), who is only a sophomore. Former NCAA qualifiers Brittany Massengale and Diane Gu return to lead a developing team as they continue to gain the competition experience that will come in handy at conference time. Massengale, a senior, and Caitlin Warner, a junior, will compete in Oct. at the FINA Open Water World Championship Trials before returning to the college format.

Ashten Ackerman and Hannah Chura, a pair of Junior National finalist, lead another large, deep freshman class. Coach Huston will look to his freshman to improve quickly, making an impact during the dual meet season, with their best performances to come when they challenge SMU at the conference championships.

This young team returns several swimmers possible of big time performances. Coach Huston has set his goals high saying, “What we want to do is put it all together this season as a total team. We have some great team leaders and a cohesive team mixed with some challenging training and a demanding schedule has the ingredients for a fantastic season”

 

Marshall

Head Coach:  Leonard Kraus (7th Season)

C-USA Finish:  Women: 5th of 5

The Thundering Herd of Marshall University returns for their seventh season of tough competition, as head coach Leonard Kraus brings in another five freshman and returns several key players as he attempts to climb the conference ladder. Leaning heavily on his senior and sophomore classes to act as leaders, Kraus will also be looking for big performances from incoming freshman Susan Velte (back/fly), Jenae Moreno (free), and Lauren Fairbanks (free/fly) as they gain experience through the season.

Top returnees include last years team high point scorer, senior Michaela Sceli, a top conference breaststroker, and Lauren Ford, the teams top conference placer, who took 3rd in the 400 IM. A strong sophomore class returns, including multiple conference top-16 finishers Kristen Wheatley, Ally Melinsky, and Erin Kennedy. Divers Siobhan Schuurman and Rachel Hannum, both top 8 finishers on the boards, return to make a splash come conference time. With the increased depth in the freestyles, look for an improvement in relays, which will help coach Kraus and the Herd make an impact at conference time.