2007-2008 Men's Swimming and Diving Season Outlook
Coming off a 4th place finish at the NCAA National meet, head coach Steve Kuster enters his 8th season at the helm of the Williams College men’s swimming and diving team. In 2006-07, the Ephs highlights included a seven-meet win streak to end the regular season, a fifth straight NESCAC title, and an individual national championship in the 100 butterfly.
The biggest storylines going into this season is the strong senior class, and the title defense of junior Norman Scott, whose national season-best time of 49.05 in last year’s NCAA meet earned him the aforementioned 100 butterfly crown.
The senior class is led by captains Ben Bullitt and Matthew Neuber, along with Michael Daub, Jeremy Doernberger, Andrew Douglas, Henry Felker, Michael Kirwan, Yevengiy Korunskiy, Daniel Meyer, Chris Millen, and Alex Wentworth-Ping. All are expected to make big contributions in 2007-08.
“We have a big, deep, strong senior class that will be a big part of our success this season,” said Kuster. “They are great in all aspects including leadership, swimming ability, and depth.”
The feel good story in 2006-07 for the Ephs was Scott. Seeded 18th at NCAAs, Scott finished fourth in the preliminaries to earn a spot in the championship race, and then shocked the field by finishing first for the Ephs only individual title. He returns in 2007-08 with a chance to defend his title and continue to score points for this impressive Eph squad.
As for challenges entering the season, the Ephs will have to replace last year’s NESCAC swimmer of the meet and 16-time All-American Steve Spinelli, along with All-Americans Dave McManic and Todd Gallucci. The Ephs will also need swimmers to step up and counter key losses in the sprint events.
“Our biggest challenge will be the sprint events, especially sprint freestyle and sprint backstroke,” said Kuster. “I think there are guys that can fill these holes but there’s also going to be guys in those events that haven’t been there in the past.”
In order to have a successful season, the Ephs will also need strong performances from a junior class led by Scott, Tim Ryan, Dave Lebowitz, Thatcher Heumann and Tyler Bonewell, and receive key contributions from the incoming freshman class.
“We need guys who have been role players in the past to step up and fill some of the holes left from last year,” said Kuster. “As for the first years, they’re a small class with six guys, but I think they’ll be very effective and have an immediate impact.”
The Ephs open the season on November 18 at home with a meet against NESCAC rival Conn. College.
