Set to defend two titles.
It has been a busy couple of weeks for head swim coach Scott Felix, his assistant,
Shannon Felix, and diving coach Dan Kameny. Last week the trio took the women's swim to Syracuse for the annual New York State Championship meet (where the Dutchwomen finished sixth of 15 teams) and this weekend they take the men's squad to Rochester (to Webster High School) for the annual state championships.
“We are heading out with a solid team,” said Felix, who is hoping his Dutchmen can improve their fourth-place finish of a year ago. “I believe that we have worked extremely hard the past 20 weeks and we are ready for a solid championship performance. We are running up against strong opposition from Alfred, Lemoyne, Hartwick, RPI and Ithaca, which has won the championship the last four years.”
Senior captain Ridgley Harrison (Hackettstown, NJ/Morristown) is looking to defend the 100 and 200 freestyle championships he won last year, while sophomore
Elliot Sequin (E. Lansing, MI/Cranbrook-Kingswood) is determined to defend his 50 freestyle title. Senior
John Vandervoort (Centerville, MA/Barnstable) has a solid shot at the 200 IM after taking second last year.
Won last year's 50 Freestyle crown.
Senior diver, captain Aaron D'Addario (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville- Manlius), had a solid dual meet season and wants to improve upon his sixth place finish in the one meter board and fifth place finish in the three meter board from a year ago. Junior
Adam Bekiaris (Central Valley, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) is also hoping to be among the top eight.
Sophomores Drew Rand (Falmouth, ME/Cheverus) and Alex Shevchenko (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) are the top returnees for the IM races while the distance crew of junior
Steve LaPlante (Easthampton, MA/Williston), sophomore Grant Vanderbeken (Bedford, NH/Manchester), senior
Amos Sheldon (Bloomington, MN/Blake) and sophomore Andrew Sparkes (West Hartford, CT/Conard) have been training well, according to Felix, and are ready for a big meet.
Felix is also expecting great things from freshmen DJ Hogenkamp (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora),
Aaron Phillips (West Hartford, CT/Conard), Pat Canniff (Latham, NY/Shaker), and
Matt Acciani (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East).
The Dutchmen's 800 and 400 freestyle relay teams captured state championship last year while the 200 free and the 200 medley relay teams were both fifth. Union placed sixth in the 400 medley relay.
“This is the most exciting time of the year,” said Felix, “And I believe that our men will step up for the competition.”
Complete results can be found daily at:
http://www.naz.edu/dept/athletics/swimming/unyscsa/index.html