A year after coming off of an amazing dual PSAC championship season, the West Chester University men’s and women’s swimming teams are back to their ordinary, winning ways.After a month of action, the men’s and women’s team are a combined 6-1. The only loss came by the men at the hands of Division-I powerhouse Lehigh University.
Although the men suffered their first loss of the year in that match up, there were individual standouts for the team. Adam Vance, one of West Chester’s divers, qualified for Nationals in the 1-meter with a score of 290.10.
Jon Brittain took second in the 1-meter diving competition, as the Rams swept that event. That was not enough to overcome mighty Lehigh though, as they came out on top of the meet 172-121.
Brittain and Vance teamed up again to take the 3-meter dive as well, swapping positions this time with Brittain on top. Other winners for the Golden Ram divers were Tommy Rhoades in the 100 and 50 yard freestyle, and David Smoker in the 200 butterfly. He also took second in the 100 fly.
The women’s team was able to upend the visiting Lehigh squad, as they triumphed over them by a score of 165-132.
The Lady Rams won in dominating fashion, sweeping the diving competition like the men and having four members of the team as double winners in the meet.
Among West Chester’s dual winners were the senior All-American Jackie Borkowski, junior Dani Scott, senior Danielle Ierley, and junior Erin Fischer. Dana DePaul and Michelle Murphy were the winners in the diving competition.
The next week, on Halloween, both teams took action once again in Hollinger field house, this time hosting Bloomsburg University. The women continued their winning ways, and the men got back on top, both swimming past the visitors with ease.
The men won their meet by a score of 146-111. The Golden Ram men had four members of the team win two events on the day.
Tommy Rhoades won two as he was a winner in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle. Kenny McCormick won the 100-breast stroke and 100 free. Calvin Starosta won his first two races of the year, taking the 100 and 200 backstroke. Max Bernardes continued his successes in the pool, victorious both the 50 free and 200 breaststroke.
The team also won the 400-yard medley relay race with a team made up of Calvin Starosta, Tommy Rhoads, Bud McLernan, and Phil Luzny. Jim Mahoney, a first year swimmer, was the winner in the 100 butterfly as well.
The women’s swimming and diving team won their fourth meet of the season, as they topped the Bloomsburg 146-116.
Team leader Jackie Borkowski continued to impress in the pool, as she once again won two of her events, the 100 and 200 butterfly. She, along with Laura Graesser, Dani Scott, and Leah Varvaro, were victorious in the 400 freestyle relay race.
Other contributors with wins in the meet for the Lady Rams were Jill Murphy, Rachel Gale, Kristen Montello, and Erin Fischer.
After a good start to the 2009-10 campaign, the men and women swimmers will be off for the month of November. The next time they see action will be at the Cavalier Invitational during the first week in December. The team hopes repeat as double PSAC champs again this season, as the men’s team aims at their 12th consecutive title.
Ryan Frisco is a third-year student majoring in Communication studies. He can be reached at RF648257@wcupa.edu.