Women's Swimming & Diving 11/3/2009 8:57:21 PM

Colgate Swimmers Travel To BC and BU

Erin McGraw was a four-time winner versus the Terriers last year

FROM THE BLOCKS: After competing in two separate meets on their own, the Colgate men's and women's team take to the road together for a pair of meets this weekend in the City of Boston. Saturday, the Raiders will square off with Boston College. The meet gets underway in Chestnut Hill at noon at the Flynn Recreation Complex Pool. The following day before heading back to Hamilton, Colgate will cruise down Commonwealth Avenue to swim Boston U. The meet starts at 1:30 start at the Competition Pool.

EVENTS BOTH MEETS: 400 Medley Relay, 1000 Free, 200 Free, 100 Back, 100 Breast, 200 Fly, 50 Free, One-Meter Diving, 100 Free, 200 Back, 200 Breast, 500 Free, 100 Fly, Three-Meter Diving, 200 IM, 400 Free Relay.

WOMEN NOTES

LAST TIME OUT: Colgate saw its win streak of 16 wins fall by the wayside at McCoy Natatorium as Penn State and West Virginia both handed the Raiders defeats in a double dual. PSU prevailed 92-21, while WVU topped Colgate 74-39. The Raiders only claimed one event on the day – from the three-meter board as freshman Kim Pilka posted a 244.35.

ALL-TIME ADJUSTMENTS: The 400 medley relay team of Lia Kunnapas, Emma Santoro, Erin McGraw and Caren Guyett posted the sixth fastest time in the program's history with a 3:50.48. Right after the opening event, sophomore Erica Derlath touched with a 17:05.37 in the 1650, which was the third fastest time at Colgate. She also holds the top two best times in the event as well.

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE TERRIERS: Colgate took 13 of 14 swimming events en route to claiming a 190-108 victory at Lineberry Natatorium. The Raiders broke pool records in the 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, 200 free, 1000 free, 1650 free, and 200 back in the win. When all was said and done, a dozen times were ranked among the 10 best all-time at Colgate. Erin McGraw, Emily Peck, Caren Guyett were all quadruple winners, while Emily Murphy was a double winner. The Raiders claimed the top two spots in four events (1650, 100 free, 100 fly, 400 IM) and swept the top three in two more (50 free, 200 back).

2009 PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP: Colgate won its second consecutive Patriot League title by lapping the field in the three-day event at Kinney Natatorium on the campus of Bucknell. The Raiders captured firsts in 14 of 18 swimming events; collected 862 points and won the title by 102.5 points over Navy. The point total was the second highest ever in the three-day event. In all, Colgate achieved school records in every swimming event; broke 14 league and meet records, and erased 11 pool records.

PICKED FIRST IN PRESEASON POLL: Colgate received 14 of 16 first place votes en route to being named as the pre-season favorite in the Patriot League. The Raiders amassed 98 points, while Navy was second with 86.

WHAT'S BACK: Last year, Colgate dominated the all-league teams having 13 student-athletes named to either the first or second team. Nine of these 13 return to the lineup for 2009-2010, including five first teamers and two individual league title winners. Juniors Caren Guyett (400 IM and 200 fly) and Erin McGraw (100 fly and 200 back) headline the returnees. Joining the tandem as returning first team honorees include Emily Kelly, Erica Derlath, and Caitlin Curran. Colgate's four second team honorees – Emily Peck, Courtney Callahan, Jenna Daly and Sarah Button also return.

WHAT LEFT: Four important cogs to the Patriot League title team have graduated. Emily Murphy, Ashley Bottger, Lisa Marchi, and Bev Walker were all first team all-league performers. Murphy became the first-ever swimmer in school history to qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships and competed in the 100 breast. As a senior, she claimed league titles in the 100 and 200 breast events. Bottger was the league champion in the 100 free, while Walker copped the 200 back. Marchi had a few top five finishes to gain first team accolades by points.

MEN'S NOTES

LAST WEEKEND RECAP: Colgate dropped its season opener to Lehigh 190-110, Saturday afternoon at Jacobs Pool in Bethlehem. The Raiders claimed six first place efforts – two each coming from a pair of freshmen. Dan Sweeney copped the 50 (21.76) and 100 free (47.77), while diver Nick Burkus commanded the top spot from the one-meter (233.32) and three-meter (226.19) boards. Sophomore Costas Hadjipateras claimed the 200 free (1:44.02) and then teamed with Sweeney, Nick Pawlush and Tucker Gniewek to win the 400 free relay (3:10.83).

LAST YEAR VERSUS THE TERRIERS: Devon Healy and Costas Hadjipateras were double winners, but it wasn't enough as Boston U posted a 185-105 victory at Lineberry Natatorium. Healy won the 1650 (16:37.30) and 400 IM (4:12.37), while Hadjipateras posted a first in the 200 fly (1:57.04) and then teamed with George Bennitt, Pat White and Tucker Gniewek to win the 400 free relay (3:15.52). Healy was close to being a triple winner. He was out touched in the 500 free by .63 seconds and finished second.

WHAT'S BACK FROM LAST YEAR: Thirteen lettermen, including two all-conference performers, return off last year's 2-8 squad. Tucker Gniewek, a first team all-Patriot League selection in 2008-09, posted three top five finishes (third in the 50 free; 4th in the 100 free; 5th in the 100 back) at the league championships. Junior Devon Healy was a second team all-conference performer after placing sixth in the 400 IM and seventh in the 200 IM. Gniewek (50 and 100 free, 100 back), Healy (200 and 400 IM), as well as sophomores Patrick White (200 free) and Costas Hadjipateras (200 fly) all hold school records.

WHAT'S NEW: Colgate added four newcomers to the roster for the 2009-2010 season. The recruiting class was headlined by Dan Sweeney (New Cannan, Conn.). He was a four-time all-state, all-county, all-FCIAC and all-American at New Cannan High School, where he was a member of three state title teams. Nicholas Pawlush (Hummelstown, Pa.) is the second swimmer of the group. He was a four-time all-conference, all-district and all-state honoree at Hershey High School. The Raiders added two divers to the roster in Nick Burkus (Weston, Mass.) and Tyler Makepeace (Wallingford, Conn.). Burkus placed ninth at the Massachusetts Division II State Championships his junior season, while Makepeace placed first at the 2009 New England Prep School Diving Championships at Choate-Rosemary Hall.

2009 PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP: Colgate finished in fifth place at the 2009 Patriot League Championships, only four points behind Saturday's opponent Lehigh. The Raiders set school records in eight events and narrowly missed erasing the 1650 mark. Seven freshmen school records also fell in the three-day event. Colgate posted nine top-10 efforts and finished second in the final event of competition, the 400 free relay, its best finish ever.

PICKED FOURTH PRESEASON: Colgate was chosen to finish fourth according to league coaches and swimming SID contacts in the Patriot League's preseason poll. The Raiders collected 57 points which was a few points ahead of Lehigh.

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