Ephs in search of 6th straight NESCAC title this weekend

HADLEY, Mass. – Steve Kuster's Ephs head north to Middlebury [VT] College this weekend in search of a record sixth straight NESCAC Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship. The three-day event begins on Friday, Feb. 29 with preliminary heats in the morning and championship races in the evening at the Middlebury College Natatorium. The Championships conclude on Sunday, March 2.

Last winter the Ephs broke the 2,000-point barrier for the second year in a row, winning the championship by 711.5 points over runner-up Amherst - the largest margin of victory in meet history. Last year the Ephs were dominant in the relay events, setting a new record in the 800-yard Freestyle Relay and claiming all five championship relays for the third consecutive year.

"We have a strong team," said Kuster. "We don't have the talent at the top end in our freestyle events that we have had in the past years, which will make it difficult to make another run at winning all the relays, but I do believe we have a very strong team of 24 -- no real weaknesses."

"I look for our breast, fly and IM events to produce finishes at or near the top of the meet," said Kuster. Our depth should play a huge role in the success of this weekend. I hope for many events where we are putting a bunch of guys in the top 16, if not top 8."

Junior Tyler Bonewell had a strong showing in the breaststroke in 2007, winning the 100-yard and 200-yard events and tying for second in the 50. Challenging Bonewell’s title defense in the 100 and 200 will be senior teammate Henry Felker.

Junior Norman Scott, who won the 50-yard Butterfly last winter, currently holds the top times in all three fly races. Other contenders include Eph senior Alex Wentworth-Ping.

In the 500, watch for the Ephs’ tandem of rookie Gary Roberson (Tigard, Ore.) and senior Chris Millen (Richboro, Pa.) to have strong showings, as they currently hold the top two times in the NESCAC, respectively. Roberson is a prohibitive favorite in the 1,650 as well.

Millen leads large contingents of Ephs who have posted top eight times thus far in the season in the 200 IM, 200 Backstroke and the 200 IM. Thatcher Heumann, Henry Felker and Ben Bullitt are ranked in the 200 IM and Bullitt is also ranked in the 200 Back and the 400 IM. Heumann is also ranked in the 400 IM

Joining Millen and Bullitt in the Back are Worth MacDonald, Jordan Hollander and Sam Blum.

Connecticut College sophomore Grant Moryan took last year’s 50-yard Freestyle, the lone freestyle race the Ephs didn’t claim, but he will be tested by Williams rookie Ben Wampler, who currently holds the fastest time this season in the 50.

"The success of this weekend for the team will be how well they function together as a unit of 24, can they step up their game from the regular season (where they performed very well all year) and will they defend their title with pride," stated Kuster. "If they do, it should be a great weekend for the Ephmen."

Competition will get underway each day with preliminary heats at 10:00 a.m. Finals will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 5:50 p.m. Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $5 per session or $25 for a weekend pass for adults and $2 per session or $10 for a weekend pass for children and students. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for heats and 75 minutes prior to finals. A complete championship schedule along with real-time results will be available at www.nescac.com.

Order of Events (Tentative)

Friday, February 29
Trials -- 10:00 A.M.
200 yard Freestyle Relay
50 yard Breaststroke
50 yard Butterfly
500 yard Freestyle
50 yard Backstroke
200 yard Individual Medley
50 yard Freestyle
400 yard Medley Relay

Diving Prelims:  2:00 P.M.

Finals -- 6:00 P.M.
200 yard Freestyle Relay
50 yard Breaststroke
50 yard Butterfly
500 yard Freestyle
50 yard Backstroke
200 Individual Medley
50 yard Freestyle
1-meter Diving (Top 8 Qualifiers)
400 yard Medley Relay
    
Saturday, March 1
Trials -- 10:00 A.M.
200 yard Medley Relay
400 yard Individual Medley
100 yard Butterfly
200 yard Freestyle
100 yard Breaststroke
100 yard Backstroke
1000 Freestyle (Timed Finals)

Diving Prelims:  2:00 P.M.

Finals -- 6:00 P.M.
Senior Ceremony
200 yard Medley Relay
1000 yard Freestyle
(Last Heat of Timed Finals)
400 Individual Medley
100 yard Butterfly
200 yard Freestyle
100 yard Breaststroke
100 yard Backstroke
800 yard Freestyle Relay
    
Sunday, March 2
Trials -- 10:00 A.M.
200 yard Backstroke
100 yard Freestyle
200 yard Breaststroke
200 yard Butterfly
400 yard Freestyle Relay
1650 Freestyle (Timed Finals)

Diving Prelims: 2:00 P.M.

Finals -- 5:30 P.M.
1650 yard Freestyle
(Last Heat of Timed Finals)
200 yard Backstroke
100 yard Freestyle
200 yard Breaststroke
200 yard Butterfly
3-meter Diving (Top 8 Qualifiers)
400 yard Freestyle Relay

NESCAC Awards & Team Awards