Plenty of Invitationals On Tap for Atlantic 10 Conference Swimming

By Kelsey Lynch, Swimming World College Intern

KINGSTON – Some speedy swims this past week have set high standards for this upcoming weekend for Atlantic 10 Conference swimming. The A-10 Athletes of the Week have been named, and these athlete’s performances have their teams excited for what they can do this February. But the awarded swimmers aren’t the only stand-outs this week, as several other athletes have performed some hasty times.

It’s already mid-season for the A-10, and swimmers know what this means: taper and fast racing. Most A-10 schools are participating in weekend-long invitational meets from Thursday, Nov. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 23. They’re hoping to reveal that the training put into the past couple months is worth sporting fast-suits to shave their times (and maybe even their legs). But first, here’s a look back at the week for the A-10.

A Glance Back

UMass swimmers dominated most of the A-10 weekly awards. Senior Alessandro Bomprezzi, and sophomore Meriza Werenski earned Performers of the Week, while freshman backstroker Oliver Wyeth from Wellington, New Zealand earned Men’s Rookie of the Week. Richmond’s Annie Lane was awarded Women’s Rookie of the Week.

New to the A-10 Conference this year are the Davidson Wildcats. They’ve already earned a fast reputation in the league, and are sure to raise the level of competition this February in Geneva, Ohio. Both Davidson’s men and women won a home dual meet against Queens University of Charlotte on Nov. 7. It’s no surprise that Elise Lankiewicz, a sophomore from Willmington, Del., led Davidson’s women to their victory. Lankiewicz won all three events she swam that meet, giving her seven straight victories. She currently holds the fastest 500-yd and 1000-yd freestyles in the A-10, and the second fastest 200-yd fly, with Fordham’s Megan Polaha first.

The same day, both St. Bonaventure’s teams came out on top, hosting a home meet against Cleveland State, with the women especially dominating with a score of 147 to Cleveland’s 83 points. The men out-touched Cleveland, 123.5-113.5, led by junior Viacheslav Shchukin and sophomore Alex Szakelyhidi.

On Saturday Nov. 8, Duquesne won their fourth-straight meet at Youngstown State, winning six races. Sophomore Laura Murphy stood out with two wins in both the breaststroke events.

The Fordham Rams’ men fell to Boston University, but the women out-touched the Terriers with a 153.5-146.5 win. The meet was heated as it came down the last event, when Fordham took first and third in the 400-yd freestyle relay; the first place and second place finishes between Fordham and BU were a difference of just 1.51 seconds. Flyer and IMer Megan Polaha led the women in three events.

La Salle swam in a tri-meet against Delaware and Rider in Newark on Nov. 8, and the men swept—led by freshman backstroker Fabian Bergman who won all three events he swam. Bergman currently holds the fastest times so far in the A-10 for the 100-yd backstroke, 200-yd backstroke and the 200-yd IM. The Rams’ women beat out Rider but fell to Delaware, with junior Kelsey Jenkinson and senior Sarah Finn as top scorers.

Then on Nov. 15, La Salle’s men handled George Mason to win their fourth-straight dual meet this season. The Explorers were led once again by Bergman. Mattias Glenesk won the 500-yd and 1000-yd freestyles. Glenesk has been awarded multiple weekly honors by the A-10. He is a top-seed in the conference, as Glenesk currently sits just below UMass’ Bomprezzi in the distance freestyle events.

A Glimpse Forward

Mid-season min-taper meets are important for teams to get an idea at what they can do when they’re slightly rested, and to offer the swimmers confidence in the hours of work they’ve put into their season.

So this weekend, A-10 schools are participating in several invites including the Cleveland State Invitational (Cleveland, Ohio), Bucknell Invitational (Lewisburg, Pa.), Patriot Invitational (Fairfax, Va.), Harold Anderson Invitational (Kingston, R.I.), Pittsburgh Invitational (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Northwestern Invitational (Evanston, Ill.). For some teams, this means racing schools in the A-10—ideal for a hint of the competition to come this February in Ohio.

The results of these invitational meets can be a more accurate foreshadowing of the Ohio performances, as these meets act almost as “mock” final conference meets for the teams. But nothing is defined until all 11 Atlantic 10 teams meet together at the Spire Institute in a few shorts months. Take a look at this week’s upcoming schedule, and check for some fast results after the weekend.

DAVIDSON

The Wildcats have a few weeks off from meets, as they won’t race again until after Thanksgiving at the Total Performance Invitational at Kenyon on Dec. 4-6. Lankiewicz and Meredith Nakano will be big point-scorers for the women this weekend, as they have been dependable scorers this season. For the men, Cameron Bard has been a consistent leader in the 50-yd freestyle and 100-yd fly.

DUQUESNE

The Dukes, along with the other A-10 teams swim their mid-season meet before Thanksgiving. They’ll swim in the Cleveland State Invitational on Nov. 21-23 in Cleveland, Ohio. Some good competition is ahead between the Dukes and Youngstown State again (they dueled on Nov. 8, Duquesne won by 10 points). The Dukes won six races, with stand-out Laura Murphy winning two of the events. This weekend is a chance for the two to clash for a second time.

FORDHAM

The Rams are participating in the three-day trials/finals Bucknell Invitational Nov. 21-13 in Lewisburg, Pa. Fordham will race in-conference La Salle for the first time this season. There is a distance freestyle battle up ahead for the men between Fordham’s Steve Sholdra (9:36.59) and La Salle’s Glenesk (9:37.17). The 200-yd breaststroke may be a close race for the women, with Fordham’s Victoria McGovern (2:22.58) and La Salle’s Ingrid Dankler Jenkinson (2:21.52) about one second apart.

GEORGE MASON

The Patriots will host their invitational this weekend, with A-10 competitors GW and Richmond also racing in this meet; it’s a chance to test the water for some in-conference racing. The men’s 200-yd freestyle relay will be a close victory for the top spot between GM (1:23.50) and UNC Wilmington (1:23.53), headed into the meet with seed times just .03 second apart. GM is looking to dominate the 400-yd IM with three of the top five seeds, and two of the top five 500-yd freestyle seeds.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

The Colonials join GM and Richmond this weekend at the Patriot Invitational. A close women’s 400-yd IM race between Richmond’s Allison Titley (4:40.40), GM’s Gentry Anderson (4:40.50), and GW’s Lauren Law (4:40.53) is in advance.

LA SALLE

The Explorers will swim in the three-day Bucknell Invitational this weekend in Pennsylvania. Distance freestyle has been strong scoring for them this year, and men Fabian Bergman and Glenesk will be bringing in big points. The 200-yd fly will be a close race between La Salle’s Jakub Bartosiewicz (1:52.83) and Fordam’s Sholdra (1:51.09).

MASSACHUSETTS

The Minutemen will swim in Boston at the Terrier Invitational this weekend. Both men’s and women’s teams fell to BU in a dual meet on Oct. 25, but there will be close races between Umass’ Oliver Wyeth (50.42) and BU’s Connor Stuewe (50.49) in the 100-yd backstroke. For the women, Boston dominates the distance freestyle, but a tight race will come between Umass’ Jocelyn Yuen (2:08.30) and BU’s Katie Kenney (2:08.28) for the top spot in the 200-yd fly.

RHODE ISLAND

The Rams will host the two-day Harold Anderson Invite Nov. 21-22. Participating teams are Assumption, Providence, Holy Cross, Bryant, and Maine. They have defeated Maine in a dual meet already this year, and they typically win this meet. But in-state Bryant is always a tough team to compete against for the Rams. Freestyler Chaya Zabuludoff has dominated the majority of her events this year, and will be earning big points in the freestyle events.

RICHMOND

The women’s-only Spiders team will join GM and GW in the Patriot Invite this weekend in Virginia. Freshman Lane is a stand-out, and has won multiple A-10 awards. She has the third-fastest time so far in the conference for the 500-yd freestyle (5:03.17). Lane is seeded well for this meet, and will bring in major points for Richmond. Erin Barry is also a leader in both breaststroke events, seeded in top three for both the 100 and 200 for the invitational.

ST. BONAVENTURE

The Bonnies will swim at the Pittsburgh Invite on Nov. 21-23. There may be a fight for the top spots in both the men’s and women’s 200-yd fly. For the men, St. Bonaventure’s Michael White (1:52.78) and Pittsburgh’s Jake Tovey (1:52.83) are seeded with times just .05 second apart. For the women, St. Bonaventure’s Malone (2:07.81) and two of Pittsburgh’s women, Athena Summa (2:07.33) and Emily Bolek (2:07.81) entered with times within .5 second of each other.

ST. LOUIS

The Bilikins race in the Northwestern Invite in Evanston, Ill. this weekend. The men have a tough, fast meet ahead. Performing exceptionally well this year, SLU’s swimmers have been consistently earing performance awards from the A-10. Men’s Brendan Hulseman has already set a school record in the 100-yd fly (50.21), and is a top seed for this upcoming weekend along with MSU Alex Trompke (49.32) and NU’s Snarski (49.71) seeded just ahead of him. Freshman McCoy has been consistently delivering fast swims, and is seeded in the top five this weekend in the 500-yd freestyle. Ryan McCoy has already earned two Rookie awards from the A-10. Both Hulseman and McCoy can be top finishers in the 200-yd freestyle this weekend.

This Week’s Schedule

Nov. 20-22
Patriot Invitational, Fairfax, Va.

Nov. 21-22
Harold Anderson Invitational, Kingston, R.I.

Nov. 21-23
Cleveland State Invitational, Cleveland, Ohio
Bucknell Invitational, Lewisburg, Pa.
Terrier Invitational, Boston, Mass.
Pittsburgh Invitational, Pittsburgh, Pa.

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Kathleen Power

9 years ago

Comprehensive article, cant wait to read more!

Vicki Gauthier

9 years ago

Very informative!

Kate Wilson

9 years ago

Nicely written and very comprehensive.

Elaine Aubin

9 years ago

Great information! Looking forward to A10s !!

Tom

9 years ago

Good read, thorough!