Emory Swimming & Diving to Kick off Competition against UNC Wilmington on Saturday

The Emory University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will kick off their 2010-11 season on Saturday, hosting NCAA Division I institution UNC Wilmington at 1:00 PM at the Woodruff P.E. Center.

This will be the first intercollegiate meet of the season for Emory, after the Eagles participated in the Blue-Gold Intra-squad Meet earlier in the month. 

“Our goal right now is for each individual to get a little bit better every day,” said Emory Head Coach Jon Howell.  “We feel like if we continue to march forward like we have, we’re going to have a really good team at the end of the year.”

The Eagles will have to begin that march toward the NCAA Division III Championships without a number of key swimmers from last year’s squad.  The reigning National Champion Emory women will be without two of the most accomplished swimmers in the program’s illustrious history, Ruth Westby and Lillian Ciardelli, who combined for 12 all-America certificates last season, but graduated in May.  Graduating for the men were Tom DiMarco, John Petroff and Kevin Yamada, who combined for 11 all-America certificates. 

“For us, losing seniors is nothing new,” said Howell.  “We are used to having to fill some big shoes.  It is an amazing group, so I don’t think it is going to be any one individual that is going to step up and fill those shoes.  It is really going to be a team effort.”

In addition to reloading with a fresh crop of talented freshman and transfers, the Eagles will also be returning 17 swimmers with all-America honors on their resume from last season.  For the women, seniors Liz Horvat, Amy Minowitz, Katie Mroz, and April Whitley, juniors Jennifer Aronoff, Anne Culpepper, Claire Pavlak, and Whitley Taylor, and sophomores Theresa Gallagher, Leslie Hackler, Jacqueline Schneider and  Ann Wolber will all be back looking to add on more all-America certificates.  Aiming to do the same for the men are seniors Mark Bernstein, Justin Leemis, Mackenzie Perry and Matt Spooner, and junior Paul Weinstein. 

“Our seniors will play a big role.  They are a really talented and seasoned senior class.  We have some transfers this year that will be immediate impact swimmers for us.  And, obviously, the incoming group too - there will be some swimmers in that group that will be players.”

A few of the incoming swimmers have already shown some of their potential at the Blue-Gold Meet.  Freshman Sadie Nennig swam ‘B’ cut times of 58.31 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke and 2:06.49 in the 200-yard backstroke, while freshman Ross Spock led all men’s swimmers with 21.75 points scored during the meet.

As for this weekend, Coach Howell is looking for a strong start from his team against UNC Wilmington, which has already participated in a number of intercollegiate meets.  The Seahawks men currently stand at 2-2 on the season, while the women have a record of 5-0 in dual meets.

“We have a lot of respect for UNC Wilmington… It’s been a great traditional dual meet for us,” said Howell.  “I think our team is ready to get up and race.  That’s really what we are hoping to get out of this – an opportunity to get up and swim fast, and challenge ourselves in a different way.”

Last season in Wilmington, NC, the Emory men suffered a 170.5-122.5 loss to the Seahawks, while the women lost 164-131.  The Emory men’s team is 1-13 all time against the Division I school, while the women are 4-10.

The meet will also take place during Emory Swimming & Diving Family Weekend, as the Eagles will be welcoming in many of their parents and other family members for the event.  All swimming and diving action will take place at the newly-renovated Madeleine Jude Brown Aquatic Center, inside the Woodruff Physical Education Center.