Season Preview: Salisbury ready to make a splash into the 2008-09 season

The 2008-09 Salisbury University men's and women's swimming team is looking to build upon the strong finish it had in last year's Capital Athletic Conference championship meet and apply that to this season.

Last season, both teams made numerous new entries into the program's record book. A total of 16 school records were broke last season, as 10 of those records fell at the CAC championships. The men's team placed third for the second year in a row at the CAC championships, which is the highest finish in program history. The women finished in fourth place and made numerous strides throughout the season. During the regular-season schedule the Sea Gulls swept Catholic University of America for the first-time ever.

MEN'S TEAM
The Salisbury University men's swimming team will look to improve upon last year's second consecutive third-place finish at the CAC championships. SU broke 10 school records at the conference meet in 2008. The Sea Gulls finished the season with 7-4 overall record and were 4-2 in the CAC.

Although the Sea Gulls graduated two All-CAC performers (Cole Magnum and Ross Spangler) SU coach Jill Stephenson expects this seasons men's team to be even better than last year. The maroon and gold will welcome back four All-CAC performers to compliment a core of strong returners and promising newcomers for the 2008-09 season.

"Losing Magnum and Spangler will be a tough hit," said Stephenson, now in her 14th season at the helm for the Sea Gulls. "But, we have plenty of talent to make up for it. We are going to need to keep working hard and keep getting good sleep. That is how we are going to push it to the next level."

The preseason has looked outstanding for the Sea Gull men so far. 

"The practices have been incredible," said Stephenson. "The guys have seen that if you stay in shape during the summer, how much it can prepare them for the season. We have implemented a new weight training program that directly transfers from the weight room to the pool and it really is paying off."

Junior Mike Ferrari (Columbia, Md.) is the top returner for the men's team and is coming off of a record-breaking campaign last season. Ferrari, who swims the breaststroke and freestyle, became the first swimmer in seven years to win a race at the CAC championships. He swam a school record 2:12.37 minutes in the 200-yard breaststroke. He received All-CAC honors in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke.

"We expect big things out of Mike," said Stephenson. "He is pushing for titles in the 100 and 200 as well as the IM. He has been working really hard, day in and day out."

Two members of last year's All-CAC 400 free relay team, seniors Benjamin S. Overholt (Pitman, NJ) and Brad Buckley (Rockville, Md.) will also play a big role in the success of the men's team. The pair, who teamed up with Magnum and Spangler last season, set a new school mark as they finished fourth with a time of 3:14.87.

Sophomore Drew Robichaud (Annapolis, Md.) had an outstanding debut last year as he claimed a fifth-place finish in the 1,650 freestyle at the CAC championships. Robichaud did well in SU's first-ever sweep of Catholic University last season when he took first in the 200 IM (2:11.36) and the 200 backstroke (2:05.76). Last season, Robichaud was named CAC Swimmer of the Week for the week of January 21. The sophomore will be looked upon to be a key member of the 200 free relay team as well.

Other key returners for SU are senior Ian Branigan (Columbia, Md.), junior Sean Snee (Monkton, Md.), sophomores Tim Metcalf (Baltimore, Md.) and Michael Radloff (Madison, Wis.)

The crop of incoming freshman and transfers is rich for this year's men's team. Stephenson expects big things from the entire group but she is looking at junior transfer Kevin Lonergan (Milford, Del.) and freshmen Sean Glover (Abingdon, Md.) and Jason Preston (Pasadena, Md.) to deliver early on. The new additions have a ton of potential and will gain immediate experience in the pool for SU.

WOMEN'S TEAM
The Salisbury University women's swimming team, only graduated two seniors from last year's squad, look to be even stronger this season. The Sea Gulls finished fourth at the CAC championships and ended up with an overall record of 6-5 and 3-3 in the CAC. The Sea Gull women are deeper than any team in years past and will need to work together to accomplish their goals.

"The team is very balanced and it's pretty much 50/50 between upper classmen to freshmen," said Stephenson. "We are going to have to work together as a team this year and that is how we are going to utilize all this talent we have on the women's side."

The entire women's All-CAC 800 free relay team composed of seniors Laura Kordzikowski (Stormville, N.Y.) and Raienne South (Rockville, Md.), and juniors Angie Hammond (York, Pa.) and Maureen Gillespie (New Market, Md.) are back. The women finished in third place at the CAC championships with a time 8:24.99.

Sophomore Katy Turner (Salisbury, Md.) returns and is prepared for a breakout campaign. The local product was an instrumental part of the 200 free relay team. Last season, Turner joined Hammond and South on the team that placed fourth at the CAC championships. She was also joined by Gillespie and South on the CAC fourth-place 400 medley relay team. In last year's sweep of Catholic, Turner posted impressive finishes in the 100 butterfly (1:03.83) and 200 butterfly (2:19.6). Turner will swim the butterfly and compete in the IM again this season.

The Sea Gull women will go into battle this season without last year's All-CAC performer Becky Ayers who transferred. Ayers broke five school records last season, two of which were in the final day of the CAC championships.

Stephenson is very high on freshman newcomer Jenna Petrella (Marlton, N.J.). Petrella will be swimming in the freestyle and fly events for the Sea Gulls.

"Jenna has been very impressive," said Stephenson. "She's pretty incredible in the water."

Aside from Petrella, the Sea Gulls welcome a promising large crop of newcomers. Stephenson has been impressed with junior transfer Caitlin Henney (Hagerstown, Md.) and freshmen Katie Fitzenreiter (Columbia, Md.) and Robin Stone (Germantown, Md.). All three will be critical assets to the Sea Gulls this season.

SCHEDULE
Salisbury will begin its season with a non-conference match at home against Rowan University on October 28. This will be the first of four home meets for Salisbury. SU will host Washington (Md.) College on November 12 to close out the fall semester. In the New Year, the Sea Gulls will welcome CAC foe St. Mary's (Md.) College on January 24 and Catholic University on January 31.

"St. Mary's is going to be a tough test," said Stephenson.

SU kicks the conference schedule off on November 1 when the Sea Gulls travel to Washington, D.C., for a dual meet against two Gallaudet University and University of Mary Washington. The maroon and gold hit the road again, a week later, to face Marymount (Va.) University on November 8. Salisbury is then scheduled to participate in three consecutive road meets beginning with the Kutztown Invitational on November 21-22. SU travels to York, Pa., to square off against York and Goucher College on December 6.

"Our dual meet against York and Goucher is important," said Stephenson. "It will be the team's first real test of the semester."

In January, the Sea Gulls will go across the bay to Frederick, Md., and face CAC foe Hood College and in-state rival Frostburg State University on January 10.

In addition to their conference and invitational schedule, the Sea Gull will also participate in the "Hour of Power Relay" on November 6 at 4 p.m. This is a nationwide relay that is done to benefit

The "Hour of Power" relay is in honor of Carleton College swimmer Ted Mullin, who died in the fall of 2006 from sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer.  Funds raised through this event support research at the University of Chicago into the causes and treatment of sarcoma in young people. First held on November 7, 2006, the "Hour of Power" Relay included 15 teams, which together raised $11,000 for the Ted Mullin Fund for Sarcoma Research.  Last season, 53 teams participated and raised over $43,000.  The 2008 "Hour of Power" Relay includes 69 teams (an estimated 4,273 swimmers) from across the country participating in their home pools on November 6th.  The event is a dynamic 60-minute relay session that requires all-out efforts from all participating team members. It is a challenging workout that promotes teamwork, team spirit and team energy.  Swimming the event simultaneously across the country on one afternoon adds to the spirit and fun of the relay.

Summary
Under the guidance of Stephenson and Assistant Coach Ryan Kooy the Sea Gulls have made many strides in the right direction and are ready for this season. Whether it is the incorporation of a new workout routine, their hard work put in during the offseason or their confidence stemming from last year's CAC finish the Sea Gulls look fully prepared and ready to embark on a successful 2008-09 campaign.

"I'm really excited about the team this year," said Stephenson. "We are much stronger than last year's squad and we are looking to finish as high if not higher than last year. If we can put everything together I really like our chances."