Oct. 26, 2006

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University swim team will open their 2006-07 season at Baruch College on Thursday, October 26. The Panthers are coming off of one of the most successful seasons in recent memory, with the men posting a dual meet record of 5-4, while the women were 4-4-1.

In addition to dual meet success Adelphi set nine individual school records and six relay records. The Panthers also had six individuals qualify for the ECAC Championship meet and three relays, with the men placing 13th overall and the women taking 17th.

Adelphi is looking to build on the success of the 2005-06 season after losing just one swimmer to graduation. The Panthers have nine new swimmers on the team, including three divers. With an expanded program and a growing team Adelphi is hoping to improve on last season's Metropolitan Conference Championship showing (the men placed 8th, with the women 11th).

The men return Benjamin Dellagiovanna, Matt Jordan, Charlie Castillo, Brendan Berry and Timmy Mueller, who all qualified for the ECAC Championship meet as individuals. Jordan, Berry and Dellagiovanna accounted for eight of the nine individual records that were set last season.

The women have a solid core of returning swimmers, led by Jerri Lester, who made it through the dual meet schedule without a loss. Lester also qualified for the ECAC Championship meet in four events and was part of two record-breaking relays. Kathy Dodd also swam well a year ago, setting an individual school record in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.72) and was a member of Adelphi's two record-breaking relays.

The Panthers dual meet schedule includes meets with Queens, Montclair State, William Paterson and Northeast-10 schools Bryant and St. Rose. Adelphi will also compete in the Metropolitan Conference Championship meet and are looking to qualify swimmers for the ECAC Championships for the fourth year in a row.