The Lycoming College women’s and men’s swimming teams have both established themselves as top contenders in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Over the past six years, head coach Jerry Hammaker has led the men and women to records of 44-19 and 47-17 respectively. With a young roster slated in 2007-2008, Hammaker expects last year’s freshmen and sophomores to step up and lead the way.

After opening at the Clarion Invite, Lycoming hosts three home meets in a ten day span. Hammaker’s squads then travel to his alma mater for the three-day Wooster Invitational. Early in 2008, Lycoming visits Misericordia, Arcadia and then a double-dual meet with Middle Atlantic foes King’s and FDU-Florham.

Finally, on January 19, the Warriors and Lady Warriors will recognize Senior Day at their final home meet against Lebanon Valley. The Flying Dutchmen will be the sixth MAC opponent that Lycoming sees in 2007-2008, before advancing to the MAC Tournament on February 8-10.

Here is a look at the swimmers who expect to have a big impact for Lycoming this season:

The Lady Warriors compiled a record of 6-4 last year and, despite losing six seniors to graduation, they boast a promising crop of young swimmers.

Junior Milvana Ban is an all around swimmer who excels at the backstroke. She looks to compete for tops in the conference in 200-yard category after placing third at the MAC Championships last year. Her time (2:13.70) at the MACs just missed eclipsing All-American Denise Zimmerman’s 1982 school record. Ban also grabbed second in the 400-yard individual medley and ninth in the 500-yard freestyle at the conference finals.

Ban will be one of three captains for this year’s Lady Warrior squad, along with senior Holly Miller and junior Kirsten Snyder. Miller is a sprinter who placed 16th in the 200-yard freestyle at the MACs. Snyder took 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke and 16th in the 200-yard breaststroke, and also competes in the individual medley. Both will bring crucial experience to this year’s Lycoming team.

Lycoming also looks to junior Nichole Zoller and sophomore Caroline LeHota. They placed fourth and fifth respectively in the 100-yard backstroke at last year’s championships. LeHota also took sixth in the 50-yard freestyle sprint, while both women finished in the top fifteen in the 200-yard backstroke.

Junior Jessie Gallagher took sixth in the 100-yard butterfly at the finals and seventh in the 200. She and LeHota were also members of several strong relay teams. Additionally, sophomore Chelsey Jeremiah brings championship experience into this season, after placing 10th in the MAC final 100-yard breaststroke..

Hammaker knows he has a solid core on his women’s team and looks to Ban to raise the bar for everyone. On the men’s side, record-setting Chris Dempsey graduated from last year’s squad, so Hammaker expects junior captains Brian Fausel and Brandon Good to take over leadership of the team. 

The men compiled a record of 5-5 last season, and boast a sophomore and junior centered roster that added eight freshmen for 2007-2008.

Fausel should stand out in the butterfly, after placing fifth in the 200 at last year’s MAC Championships, and sixth in the 100-yard race. He also competed in several relay events, including the 200-yard medley and the 400-yard freestyle, both of which were anchored by Good. The men captured sixth place at the MACs in both races. Good then led off the 200-yard free relay, which also nabbed sixth. Individually, he placed 16th in the 50-yard freestyle sprint.

Sophomore Sean Houser will be an essential element of this year’s individual talent. Houser took fourth in the 100-yard backstroke at the championships, leading sophomore Austin Johnstone, who took 13th, and junior Sean Berrier at 15th. Houser also claimed sixth in the 50-yard freestyle sprint and 12th in the 100-yard free.

Johnstone hopes to take over where Dempsey left off in the grueling 1650-yard freestyle. At the 2007 MAC Championships, Dempsey set a school record (17:24.25) in the event, while Johnstone placed a respectable 10th in the finals.

The Warriors will also look to Johnstone in the backstrokes and fellow sophomore Mike Zaiser in the breaststroke events. Zaiser gained valuable experience last season and should be a strong contributor for the Warriors this year. Likewise, expect sophomore John Dougherty to excel in the 100-yard freestyle, where he claimed sixth at the MACs.

Look for both the men and women to blossom this year with the help of solid recruiting classes. Hammaker has his work cut out for him, facing powerhouse Albright in the opening home meet. But it’s a long road to the conference finals and if his leaders bring along the newcomers, Lycoming will again be a force to be reckoned with in the MAC.