2008-09

Strong Core Returns for Men’s Swimming

The Kutztown University men’s swimming team enters the 2008-09 season with a strong base of experienced swimmers and a refurbished pool.

The Golden Bears return 11 swimmers from last year’s team, which finished fourth out of seven teams at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet.

“We’ve got a good foundation,” KU head coach Tim Flannery said. “We’ve got a few places that we need to work on, but we have a strong core.”

The Golden Bears will be led by John Pandish (sr. Milford/Delaware Valley), Derek Orr (sr. Easton/Easton), Nelson Martinez (sr. Allentown/Dieruff) and Scott Thomas (sr. Schuylkill Haven/Blue Mountain).

Pandish was a PSAC qualifier in four events last season and an All-PSAC swimmer in the 800 freestyle relay, along with Orr. The two teammates, along with two former Golden Bears, finished third with a time of 7:08.64.

Orr, who was a PSAC qualifier in three events, placed 10th in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

“Orr is our most versatile freestyle swimmer and Pandish is our most versatile all-around swimmer,” Flannery said. “We’re going to be counting on these two.”

The Golden Bears also will count on Thomas and Martinez. Thomas, who will compete in the backstroke, was a qualifier in five events and placed in three: 200 back (11th), 1,000 free (13th) and 500 free (14th). Martinez, who will be No. 2 in the breaststroke, placed in both the 100 breast (13th) and 200 breast (12th).

David Shedleski (fr. Mechanicsburg/Trinity) will be the Golden Bears’ top swimmer in the breaststroke, joining KU as a PIAA qualifier with Trinity High School.

“We’re going to be counting on him heavily in the breaststroke,” Flannery said.

Another newcomer who will help the Golden Bears is Jack Crellin (fr. Pittsburgh/North Allegheny). Considered the team’s top recruit, Crellin already threatens to break KU’s 200 backstroke record without having competed in a collegiate event.

“He comes from a very strong swimming program at Allegheny,” Flannery said. “He’ll be our go-to guy.”

Gabriel Recio (so. Lancaster/Hempfield) also will compete in the backstroke, as well as in the freestyle events.

Joining him in the freestyle events will be Chris Howie (sr. Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek), Stephen Krater (jr. Port Carbon/Pottsville Area), Shawn Santo (jr. Allentown/Parkland) and John Nicklous (sr. Philadelphia/Father Judge).

Newcomers Joe Lahovski (fr. Allentown/Emmaus), Matt Moates (fr. South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), Jeff Travor (so. Quakertown/Quakertown Community) and Dan Troy (fr. Aldan/Upper Darby) also will compete in freestyle events.

Lahovski will compete in the distance freestyle events, while Moates will swim in the sprint events.

Travor, a Albright College transfer, also will compete in the individual medley and breaststroke.

A.J. Guarino (so. Royersford/Downingtown) returns to compete in the butterfly events and the IM. Newcomer and younger brother of Scott Thomas, Eric Thomas (fr. Schuylkill Haven/Blue Mountain), also will swim in the butterfly.

“Eric is going to be a good flier for us,” Flannery said.

The Golden Bears open the season with a home dual meet against West Chester in a PSAC contest at Keystone Pool, which had new lights, bleachers and air handlers installed.

“It really brightens the place up,” Flannery said. “We’ve got a great facility for a dual meet. The new bleachers create a nice atmosphere.”

The Golden Bears will look to duplicate their performance at the PSAC Championships last season when they travel to Cumberland Valley High School on Feb. 19-22 for the meet.

“We’re going to have to step up to stay where we were last year,” Flannery said. “It will be a free-for-all, especially with Gannon, a very strong team, joining the conference. We can finish anywhere from fourth through seventh. That’s how close it is.”

Excitement Surrounds 2008-09 Women’s Swim Team

The 2008-09 Kutztown University women’s swimming team has head coach Tim Flannery excited.

How excited?

“We’ve got an awesome team,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve lost a step.”

KU returns six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference qualifiers, including All-PSAC swimmer Stephanie Jeppesen (jr. Bethlehem/Liberty).

Jeppesen finished in the top three in two events at the 2008 PSAC meet. In both events, she set school records. She was second in the 200 breaststroke (2:24.36) and third in the 100 breast (1:06.47).

“She’s going to be battling for both titles at the PSAC meet this year,” Flannery said. “She has a strong chance to qualify for nationals this season.”

Jeppesen, who also finished fourth in the IM at the PSAC meet, set the school record in the 800 free relay with two graduated seniors and returner Kerry Choplin (so. Thorofare, N.J./West Deptford).

Laura Heebner (sr. Easton/Easton) — the Golden Bears’ top swimmer in the 400 IM — swims a very strong 200 fly, and is ranked in the top 10 in the 200 breast at KU.

“She definitely has a good chance of setting record in 400 IM this season,” Flannery said.

Also competing in the IM events for KU will be Choplin, Christine Paski (jr. Wilmington, Del./Concord). Paski also swims in the distance events.

Paski, who came on strong at the end of last season, placed in two events — 200 fly (14th) and 1,650 free (15th).

Joining Jeppesen in the breaststroke events will be Heather Wolkom (jr. Rumson, N.J./Rumson Fair-Haven) and Lindsay Currie (jr. Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon). Wolkom also is a top distance swimmer for KU.

Allison Sheely (so. Enola/Trinity), who fought off injuries last season and came on very strong late, is expected to be the Golden Bears’ top swimmer in the 50 free and 100 back.

Nina Chiavaroli (jr. Pennsburg/Upper Perkiomen)¸ Katie Kelly (so. Downingtown/Downingtown) and Shelly Lawn (so. Hatboro/Gwynedd-Mercy Academy) also return for KU.

The Golden Bears will enter the season without Ashley Singer, who graduated last season as one of the most successful swimmers in KU history, posting six individual school records.

Despite her departure, Flannery believes the Golden Bears have the recruits to step up and lead KU into the future.

Alex Crigler (so. West Lawn/Wilson High School), a transfer from Division I Michigan State, will be a vital distance swimmer for KU.

“She’s got outstanding potential for us,” Flannery said. “I think the change of scenery will help her greatly.”

KU’s top all-around recruit Jordan Shapiro (fr. Trenton N.J./Princeton) will be strong in 50, 100 and 200 free.

“She carries the water,” Flannery said. “She’s going to be a good one for us.”

KU also welcomes Nicole Hinsdale (fr. Glen Mills/Bayard Rustin), who will compete in the free, back and fly. Flannery believes that she too, like Crigler and Shapiro, has a lot of potential.

“Those three newcomers will make an immediate impact for us,” he said.

Monica Fisher (fr. Séance/Upper Darby), Kristin Hagaman (fr. Pompton Plains N.J./Pequannock), Helena Hewitt (fr. West Chester/West Chester East), Stephanie Kearns (fr. West Chester/West Chester East), Rachel Lokken (fr. Reading/Reading) and Samantha Trythall (so. Palmyra/Palmyra) also will join the Golden Bears this season.

Kearns will compete in the 50, 100 and 200 and Helena will help out in several spots, including the freestyle.

The Golden Bears season opens on Oct. 11 with a home meet against West Chester. KU will look to move up a few places at the PSAC Championships, bettering its seventh-place finish in 2008.

“We’ve had a hold onto the middle ground,” Flannery said. “We’d like to move up to fourth or fifth, but the PSAC is tough. It's a very competitive meet. That’s why I think we have the most exciting conference meet in the nation.”

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