FROM THE BLOCKS: The Colgate men will open the 2009-2010 season on the road this Saturday as it travels to face league rival Lehigh, which is 3-0 on the young season. The meet gets underway at 2 p.m. at Jacobs Pool.
EVENTS: 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.
WHAT’S BACK: 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.
LAST TIME OUT: 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.
LAST TIME VERSUS LEHIGH: Colgate fell to the Mountain Hawks 162-136 at Lineberry Natatorium. The Raiders copped six first places on the afternoon. Devon Healy won the 1650 and 500 free events, while Tucker Gniewek and Costas Hadjipateras touched with firsts in the 50 free and 200 fly events respectively. Colgate also won the opening event, the 200 medley relay and three-meter diving.