Middle Atlantic Conference Swimming In Full Swing

MAC Season Opener

By Allison Peters, Swimming World College Intern

READING – October and November marked the season opener for collegiate swim teams across the country. The Middle Atlantic Conference swimming teams of Albright, Arcadia, Misericordia, Farleigh Dickinson, Hood, Kings, Lebanon Valley, Lycoming, Messiah, Stevenson, Widener and Wilkes, each had some strong showings from individual swimmers over their first few meets.

Albright

The strongest showing from the 10-time conference championship team comes from senior Amanda Osterlind who is undefeated in both the 1000 (10:58.75) and 500 freestyles (5:27.15) in her conference races this season. Gwen Stefan also went undefeated in her conference swims in the 200 freestyle, her best time at a 2:02.46. Junior Matt Runtas proved to be the strongest sprinter for Albright, recording his best in season time of his career in the 100 freestyle (49.48), which is also the fastest the team has shown. Runtas also posted the team’s top 50 freestyle time so far this season, 22.13, the second-fastest of his in season career. Ricky Sutton, a seven-time individual champion at the MAC championships, holds the second-fastest time in the conference in the 1000 freestyle (10:20.83), and the top time in the 500 freestyle (4:58.91). Be on the look out for Ken Richardson, who has posted some of the top times in the conference in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke so far this season.

Kings

Gabrielle Corpuz leads her team this season after she showed impressive times in the 400 individual medley (5:07.45), 200 backstroke (2:21.55), and 200 individual medley (2:22.38). Don’t underestimate Caroline Fitch, who is the lead 500 freestyler for her team so far this season, her best time at a 5:47.55. Brigid Wynn showed promise this season to being a key player after she touched first in the 200 individual medley against Misericordia in a 2:26.25. Josh Shoemaker posted a best in season time in his 100 butterfly (59.44). Shoemaker also showed promise in the 50 freestyle (23.94). Keep an eye out for Christopher Lukashewski in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle this season.

Hood

For the Blazers, Lauren Fogarty proved to be the dominant female swimmer in the 100 butterfly (1:02.60), 200 butterfly (2:19) and 1000 freestyle (11:25.72). In their meet against Arcadia, Anne Lessard posted top times in the 100 and 50 freestyles, 58.81 and 26.93, which proved her to be the team’s top sprinter. Cameron Rogers posted the conference’s top time in the 1000 freestyle (10:16:16) and the second-fastest conference time in the 500 freestyle (5:01.02). Rogers set a pool record his first 1000 freestyle of the season. Alex Bodine also set two records his first meet of the season in the 100 backstroke (55.11) and 100 butterfly (54.83).

Fairleigh Dickinson

Sarah Bennett leads her team this season as she has recorded multiple wins in the 100 butterfly with a best time of 1:05.20. Bennett also showed to be a threat in the 50 freestyle for the Devils when she won the event at a meet versus William Patterson in 27.36. For the males, freshmen Connor Zero leads his team in the 100 butterfly. Zero managed to post a second-place finish against Scranton and also his best in season time in the 100 butterfly (1:00.15).

Misericordia

The fastest breaststrokers in the MAC conference came from a team of Cougars, Dani Blass and Thomas Scott. Blass posted the top 100 and 200 breaststroke times this season of 1:09.53 and 2:31.68. Scott set the top 100 breaststroke time this season in 1:01.19 against Widener. Kerri Ciriello held her place as being the top distance swimmer for the Cougars in the 500 freestyle when she posted a 5:43.52 in a meet against Widener. Key swims have come from Matt Cullen who set the top 50 freestyle time (22.80) for Misericordia so far this season.

Arcadia

Whitney Boeckel has proven to be the number one backstroker in the MAC conference so far this season when she set the fastest times in both the 100 and 200 backstroke, 1:03.36 and 2:18.55. Matthew Morano showed his strength in both the 100 and 200 freestyle after he swam the top times for the Knights of 50.37 and 1:51.52. Thomas Graham held the top time in the conference for the 200 fly (2:02.76) which he swam in a meet against Hood.

Lebanon Valley

Ian Lloyd showed to be a strong incoming swimmer this year, breaking a school record in the 100 butterfly at a home meet versus Albright with a time of 1:00.77. Clay Heeber, the former 100 butterfly record holder, also broke the record but was out touched by Lloyd. Chris Kurtz is another strong freshman swimmer for the Dutchman, who has posted an impressive 200 individual medley time (2:21.00). Kyra Valent is the dominant 100 (1:05.45) and 200 (2:22.75) freestyle swimmer for her team. Valent recorded wins for these events in a duel meet against Arcadia. Be on the lookout for Laura Skorupski who has shown to be the top breaststroker for the Dutchman.

Lycoming

Danielle Loiseau won her first career 1000 freestyle at 11:32.40 against Hood. Loiseau also posted a win in the 500 freestyle (5:42.59) and a second-place finish in the 200 individual medley (2:21.45) against Hood. Brigid Clark recorded multiple wins for the sprinting events for the Warriors with times of 58.46 in the 100 freestyle and 26.86 in the 50 freestyle. Freshman Isaac Thomas kicked off his colligate career with two individual wins in his first meet against Albright. Thomas swam the 200 freestyle (1:50.58), in which he goes undefeated in so far this season, and the 100 backstroke (57.99). Dan Woods is also someone to keep and eye on after he swam one of the top times in the conference in the 50 freestyle (22.54) against Hood.

Widener

Ian Gaynor took the 50 freestyle in 20.72 and the 100 freestyle in 45.79 against Albright, which are the two fastest times the conference has seen this season. Michael Grajek was also apart of the Pride’s effort against Albright. Grajek won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:49.14, getting him the top time in the conference for the event. Junior Erin Nuegebauer won all three of her events against Albright, which included the100 breaststroke in 1:09.97, the 200 breaststroke in 2:33.40 and the 200 individual medley in 2:20.07. Freshmen Christine Kunzler won both of her individual events of the 50 freestyle (25.66) and the 100 freestyle (55.94).

Stevenson

Stevenson University competed in their first swim meet of their newly instated program at Frostburg State against Hood, Goucher, and Frostburg. The women’s first medley relay placed second under Hood with a time of 2:22.03. Alison Smith took fourth place in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:49.35. Zac Cather was the sole competitor for the men after he swam the 100 freestyle and placed fourth with a time of 59.4. Devan Bateman had the highest place in an individual event on the women’s side when she touched third in the 100 back with a time of 1:15.98.

Messiah

Freshman Emily Reale won the 200 freestyle against Wilkes with a time of 2:03.74. Tara Freeman also won an event against Wilkes, the 50 freestyle in 25.09, which is the fastest time for the MAC conference this season. Nate Brown posted the second-fastest time the conference has seen in the 50 freestyle this season, touching first in 22.05 against Wilkes. Dakota Schmalz proved off to a strong start with a first-place finish in a time of 2:04.64 in the 200 individual medley.

Wilkes

In the first meet of the Wilkes team career, Beth Chmil proved to be a strong asset for the Colonels after she had multiple wins in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:27.81, and the 200 breaststroke in 2:42.36. Keep an eye out for Sarah Cole, who took first in the 100 backstroke with a 1:08.91.

Coming Up

November 13: Arcadia at Albright
November 14: Kings at Lebanon Valley
November 15: Elizabethtown at Farleigh Dickinson
November 15: Messiah at Gettysburg
November 16: Misericordia at Lycoming
November 21-23: Widener at F&M Invitational
November 22-23: Wilkes at Diamond Invitational
November 22-23: Stephenson at Diamond Invitational
November 22-23: Hood at Diamond Invitational

Allison Peters is a junior distance specialist at Albright College. Previously, she trained at The Atlantic Club, and the New Jersey Race Club as well as swam for the Point Pleasant Borough High School team. 

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x