WARRIOR SWIM TEAMS COMPETE AT CLARION FALL CLASSIC

CLARION, Pa. – The Lycoming College women’s and men’s swimming teams traveled to Clarion University, Saturday afternoon, to open their season by competing in the Clarion Fall Classic. Both teams turned in strong performances. The Warrior women placed fifth out of seven teams, while the men placed fourth out of five teams.

Lycoming’s women were led by a third place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke by Rebecca Fox (Sr./Middletown, N.J.; Middletown South); and a fourth place finish in the 200 butterfly by Jen Konecni (So./Highland Mills, N.Y.; Monroe Woodbury). Michelle Tracey (Fr./Maplewood, N.J.; Mt. St. Mary Acad.) and Steph Kudrick (Fr./Coudersport, Pa.; Coudersport) each added sixth place finishes in the 400 IM and 100 breaststroke; respectively.

The Warrior women also placed in three relays. The team of Kelly Sykes (Jr./Willimantic, Conn.; Windham), Kudrick, Konecni, and Erin Patrick (Sr./Media, Pa.; Penncrest) came in fifth in the 400 medley relay. Fox, Kudrick, Konecni, and Patrick teamed up for a fourth place in the 200 medley relay. Finally, Sykes, Fox, Jessica Gough (So./Berwick, Pa.; Berwick), and Patrick combined for a fifth place finish in the 200 free relay.

For the men, Josh Hogan (Sr./Waverly, N.Y.; Waverly) led the way with three individual top-six finishes. Hogan was runner-up in the 100 butterfly, fifth in the 200 backstroke, and sixth in the 100 backstroke. Chris Dempsey (So./Newtown, Pa.; Notre Dame) and Jeffrey Swatkins (Jr./Guilford, Conn.; Xavier) each placed in two events. Dempsey was second in the 1650 freestyle and third in the 400 IM. Swatkins finished third in the 200 butterfly and fifth in the 100 butterfly.

Other individual place winners, included: Steve Hawley (Jr./New Cumberland, Pa.; Trinity) – 2^nd in the 50 free; Jeff Field (Sr./Shamong, N.Y.; Shawnee) – 5^th in the 1650 free; Stuart Olsen (Jr./Evanston, Ill.; Evanston) – 6^th in the 500 free; Brian Smith (Jr./Waterbury, Conn.; Holy Cross) – 6^th in the 1650 free; and Brett Bausinger (Jr./Berwick, Pa.; Berwick) – 6^th in the 400 IM.

Lycoming’s men also had five relay teams claim top-six finishes. The team of Hogan, Seth Urffer (Fr./Allentown, Pa.; Parkland), Swatkins, and Hawley placed third in the 200 medley relay. Hawley, Chris Mungo (Jr./Boonton, N.J.; Montville Twp.), Swatkins, and Olsen placed fourth in the 400 medley relay. Hawley, Hogan, Olsen, and Swatkins also claimed a fourth place in the 200 free relay. Two Warrior teams placed in the 400 free relay. Hawley, Olsen, Hogan, and Swatkins came in fifth, and Mark Ross (Jr./Laurens, N.Y.; Oneonta), Andrew Shurer (So./Clearfield, Pa.; Clearfield), Mungo, and Daniel Buchanan (So./Spring City, Pa.; Owen J. Roberts) came in sixth.

"This meet gives us a good indication of where we are at this point in the season,” said head coach Jerry Hammaker. “It also gives us an opportunity to establish some baseline times for many different events. Our women did a great job posting some nice swims against some very tough competition. Our men's team had a nice meet even though we were missing some key individuals due to medical problems and a few team suspensions for academic reasons. It's always a good thing for us to go up against some top Division II teams and it gives us a head start to our season."