Preview: MAC Men

By Chris Wood

The 2011 MAC Swimming and Diving Championship will be held on the campus of Southern Illinois University from March 3–5, 2011.  MAC swimming has seven teams in the conference:  Ball State University, the University of Buffalo, Eastern Michigan University, and Miami University.  The University of Evansville, Missouri State and Southern Illinois joined the MAC last year.  This will be the first year the MAC Championship will be held in Carbondale, IL.

Last years defending champion, Eastern Michigan University, will try and defend their title again this year.  The Eagles have won the MAC the last four years in a row and were named last year’s champions of the Eighth Annual College Swimming/CSCAA Mid-Major Rankings.  

Eastern Michigan is led by Head Coach Peter Linn.  The Eagles have speed and depth and will be the favorite to repeat as MAC Champions this year.  Most Outstanding Swimmer for the Meet, Justin Griggs, returns for his senior season after winning three individual events (50 Free, 100 Free and 100 Fly) in last years championship.  Sophomore Jacob Hansen also returns after an extremely successful freshman year winning last year’s conference title in the 200 and 400 IMs.

Ball State University Head Coach Bob Thomas brings the Cardinals to Carbondale ready for some impressive swims.  Junior Chris Krupa has already swam some fast times this year and is a high seed for several events in 2011.

Head Coach Andy Bashor leads the University of Buffalo Bulls.  The Bulls finished second in last years championship and are again one of the favorites leading into the 2011 championship.  Buffalo should have some fast relays and Matt Hogan, Jared Heine and Matt Schwippert have all recorded some of the fastest individual times in the MAC this year.  Colin Patrican will be one of the favorites in both the one and three meter diving competition.

The University of Evansville Purple Aces always come ready to swim and dive.  Head Coach Rickey Perkins has one of the top divers in the MAC in Andy Balco.  Alex Seward has recorded one of the fastest times in the MAC this year in the 100 Fly.

Miami (Ohio) University has an excellent swimming and diving program.  The Redhawks, led by Head Coach Pete Lindsay return two excellent divers to the MAC championship this year.  Jimmy Beres is back to defend as One Meter Diving Champion.  Chris Hoppler is the top seed in the Three Meter Diving competition and was last years second place diver in the event.  Chris Gunnels should contend for several swimming titles this year.

Missouri State is always one of the best Mid-Major schools in the country.  Head Coach Jack Steck again will have his swimmers and divers ready to compete for many top spots in the MAC.  Daan Jansen will compete for several titles following his very successful freshman season last year.  Dillon Burns is one of the fastest sprinters in the MAC and will be another Bear to watch.  Chris Novak returns for his senior season after an extremely successful summer campaign where he finished very high at the Summer National in the breast stroke events.

Southern Illinois hosts the MAC this year.  Head Coach Rick Walker has the Salukis ready to try and improve on their finish last year in the championship.  Justin Wolfe returns this year after missing last year with an injury.  Justin has several of the fastest times in the MAC this year and should add greatly to the Salukis point total this year.  Matt Kruse will defend his 200 Free title and Matt Parsons will contend for titles in each of his three individual events and relays.

Is there any truth to home pool advantage?  Tune in March 3-5, 2011 to see.  The Mid-American Conference has some of the fastest swimming and best diving in the Division I Mid-Major school category.  It should be a very exciting conference meet.

The meet begins on Thursday, March 3, 2011.  Preliminaries start at 12:00 PM.