Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving
2006-07 WOMEN’S AND MEN’S SWIM AND DIVE RECAP
Led by fourth-year head coach Paul E. Phillips, both the Clark University women’s and men’s swim and dive programs posted its second consecutive winning season. In addition to their in the pool exploits, the Cougars broadcasted their first-ever live CougarCast. Betty-Jean (Grazulis) Jaskoviak ’83, a member of Clark’s Athletic Hall Of Fame, and Doug Denny-Brown ’87, one of the team’s most supportive alums, provided the commentary.
Finishing seventh at the NEWMAC Championships, the Cougar women moved up three places and posted its highest finish since 2001-02. Additionally, Clark upped its point total from last year’s mark by 62 points and finished with a pair of new school marks, 71 season-best performances and 41 career records. Meet highlights included first-year Dana Akerfelds fastest finish in the 500-yard freestyle in 25 years and a 100-yard backstroke showing just tenth of a second short of a new school mark. The 200-yard freestyle relay team also posted the highest relay finish in three years and the fastest time since 1997.
The women swam their way to a 7-5 dual-meet mark this winter. Winners of three-straight before the Puerto Rico training trip, Clark returned to take second at the Worcester City Championship. Named the Cathy Desrosiers ’82 Women’s Swimmer of the Meet runner-up, Akerfelds set a new meet mark in the 500-yard free.
The Clark men’s squad (6-5) also had its share of notable accomplishments this season. Although the Cougars placed sixth for the second consecutive year at the NEWMAC Meet, they were within striking distance of the number five slot. In team scoring, the men finished with 272 points just 26 behind fifth. Sophomore Drew Jackson led the way with two record-breaking performances in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke, where he shattered a seven-year old school mark held by former conference backstroke champion Doug Shea ’00. Clark also packed on the points by placing in five of six relay events.
Prior to NEWMAC’s, Clark won three out of four dual-meets to start the season, and returned from their winter break trip to tack on another dual-meet victory.
Men's Swimming & Diving Outlook
After a comeback year for the Clark University Men’s Swim and Dive program, the team looks only to improve upon last season’s success. Led by a strong 2005 recruiting class that had 18 out of 21 top performances, the Cougars upped their overall record (7-5) and garnered a sixth place finish at the NEWMAC Championship Meet last year. The club’s ascending record marked their best campaign since the 2001 season.
“Two years ago, we only had five guys on the team” said head coach Paul E. Phillips, entering his fourth season with the program. “Last year we had 13 freshmen alone. We established our first winning record in five years, and did it against legitimate teams. The men’s team at Clark is back.”
The up-and-coming squad had its share of notable accomplishments during the 2005-06 season. In addition to their markedly improved record, the Cougars set a pair of new school marks, posted the third-best 800-freestyle relay time in Clark history, and placed five first-years on the all-time top-five list in their respective individual events.
The 2006 edition of Clark men’s swim and dive hopes to continue that trend. While the Cougars will miss graduating seniors Jesse Bausell, a NEWMAC Academic All-Conference swimmer, and Mike Viotti, a member of Clark’s coaching staff this season, Coach Phillips is confident that the team’s line-up will be submerged with depth and experience this season.
“We have a core group of swimmers and divers returning this winter,” Phillips said. “The guys who were here last year are much improved from where they were at the beginning of last season.”
“I expect we’ll still battle for the same positions in the conference, but now we’ll be doing it with more experience, and an eye towards moving up as we continue to build” he added.
Leading the list of returnees are Cougar backstroke record-holders Drew Jackson and Dave Critchlow. Jackson posted a new school mark in the 50-back (26.41) and placed third in the 200 (2:00.42) at the NEWMAC Championship last season, the highest individual finish for a Clark swimmer since 2002, while Critchlow broke the record in the 100 (56.38). Joshua Chartier and top recruit Timmy French will also be in the backstroke mix. Sophomore Mike Smith, who just missed the NEWMAC finals in both the 100 and 200-breastroke last winter, will look to improve his times this season, while Jon Penney is also expected to make a contribution. Second-year swimmers Tim O’Keefe and Brian Walsh will lead the Cougars in the distance freestyle events. With the transfer of Steven Ratner to the University of Connecticut, Sal Pezzella and Dave Carnevale will step up to give Clark a strong diving tandem. Pezella placed fifth in both the 1-meter (350.95) and 3-meter (363.10) diving events at NEWMAC’s last season.
Joe Page, the team’s lone senior and only member left from Coach Phillips’ inaugural class, returns after a one-year hiatus. Page will add depth to the butterfly and freestyle events.
“Our sophomore class makes up the majority of the team,” said Phillips. “Their talent and dedication is impressive, but that’s a lot on their shoulders in terms of carrying the team at a young stage.”
“They need to remember that it’s bigger than what happens now; it’s the foundation they lay for their future and the future of the program.”
Competing in a schedule that includes a tough non-conference slate, Clark will head to Puerto Rico in January for a week of training to prepare for the NEWMAC Championships. The training session is vital to the team’s success, providing both intensive skill practice and team unity. “That trip is really when it all comes together,” said Phillips.
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Women's Swimming & Diving Outlook
After completing its most successful season in four years, the Clark University women’s swim and dive team does not intend to rest on its laurels. With 19 returnees, including seven seniors, and several talented newcomers, the Cougars hope to build on last season’s 7-6 dual meet mark and battle for a higher finish at the highly-competitive New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship meet.
Last year’s team placed 10th at the conference championship on the way to their highest point total since the 2002-03 season. Not only did the Cougars’ 400-medley relay team finish with the second-best time in Clark history, but four first-years placed among the school’s all-time top five in their respective individual events. With experience and leadership abound, fourth year head coach Paul E. Phillips feels the squad is ready to make its move.
“Last year we reached the point where we were on the cusp of moving up in the conference,” said Phillips. “We had four women reach the finals which put us in the competitive mix. In each of the previous three years we might have had one swimmer competing individually at night, so you take the relay points but it is tough to feel like you are part of things. We hope to continue the upward trend this year, but most importantly my hope is that our team continues to develop a solid foundation of togetherness and support for each other both in and out of the pool. This is vital to the success of any program at the college level.”
Although freshmen combined for 15 top performances out of 21 events last winter, Coach Phillips will look to his veterans to lead the way. “The seniors are my first four-year class,” he said. “Their dedication, work ethic, and enthusiasm have provided the continuity that has been so important to the growth of this program. They’ve made a four-year commitment that has created the foundation to allow Clark to compete at a higher level. I can’t say enough about how proud I am of them and how lucky we are to have them leading our group this year.”
Sophomore Jessica Cullen returns to anchor an already imposing backstroke group that includes junior Caitlin Hanson and top recruit Dana Akerfelds, who will also have an immediate impact in the middle-distance and distance freestyle events. Cullen earned the Cougars’ highest individual finish in the 100-back (7th), while Hanson, a transfer from UMass-Amherst, scored points in both the 100 and 200 at last year’s conference championships. Newcomer Corri Stewart is also expected to contribute. Phillips will look to sophomore butterflyer Kayleigh Lagasse to build on a fine freshman campaign, where she became the first Cougar swimmer since 2003 to score points in three individual events at the conference meet, including a ninth place finish in the 200 butterfly, just .55 off the school mark. Junior Jessica Moise and first-year Alicia Roman will also be looked upon to score points in the event.
Returnee Lindsey Stone will be the Cougars’ top sprinter this season, while Cassie Crawford will add another speedy stroke to the squad. Tri-captains Mackenzie Kamm (mid-distance), Jessica Clements (distance freestyle), and Sara Stephenson (individual medley), and senior Kate Lied (breaststroke) will also shine in their respective events.
The trio of Jessica Baker, Lauren Gesner, and Hannah Perlmutter will lead Clark’s diving contingent. Baker and Gesner, both former gymnasts, achieved top-five status on the 3-meter board at the NEWMAC Championships last season.
While the schedule remains the same, Phillips believes the goal has certainly changed. “Last year, we turned the tables on some teams that had beaten us in the past,” he said. “If we can duplicate what we did in our dual meet schedule last year that would be great. But our efforts are more towards the end of the year and the conference championships.”
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For more information about Clark University Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving, please contact head coach Paul E. Phillips
at (508) 793-7170 or by email at pephillips@clarku.edu
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