Nov. 9, 2009

Garden City, N.Y. - This season, the Adelphi University men and women's swim program looks to improve on an excellent 2008-2009 campaign, which included 12 school records, five ECAC Qualifiers, and one NCAA All American. The women's squad placed 10th at the Metropolitan championships, and the men placed 6th, the program's highest ever finish.

The Panthers, who spent 2008-2009 on the road while their home pool was being renovated, will have several home meets, and look forward to practicing and racing in a pool they call their own.

The women are led by sophomore Charlotte Davies, a three-time school record holder in the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyles. She was the lone finalist on the women's side at the 2009 Metropolitan Championships, where she placed fifth in the 1650 freestyle. She will hold down the distances for Adelphi, and continue to contribute in relays.

"Davies will look to turn in big points at meets, especially in the distances," says veteran Assistant Coach John Conciatori. "She is a leader on the team, both at meets, and her work ethic at practice is great. She will be a key component of relays."

Also leading the team will be seniors Kelly Mark and Jackie Birkel. Mark, a versatile swimmer for the Panthers, will be assuming the role of swim butterfly and almost every freestyle event, while Birkel, a 2009-2010 captain, will look to continue her improvement in the Breastroke and Freestyle. "Expect Mark and Birkel to step up and use their experience to unify the tem and be a main source of motivation for the team both in and out of practice. Both work extremely hard, and will be positive role models for their younger teammates, Conciatori said."

A talented cast of underclassmen highlights the Panthers' lineup, including freshmen Jessica Callia, Jaclyn Dodenhoff, and Samantha Spaccone and sophomores Sarah Bove and Kimberly DeVivo. All of these swimmers will contribute valuable points to the program, along with junior Kristie Hirten and senior Allison Megherian, who will earn points on relays and in sprint freestyle events. "The sophomores and freshmen have been showing promise in our early season workouts," Conciatori explained. "They will contribute to relays and, hopefully earn some individual points in dual meets as well."

On the men's side, the squad looks to build off of a sixth place finish at Metropolitan Championships. The team will be led by sophomore Corey McKee and junior Zachary Terzano, both of whom were NCAA Qualifiers.

McKee was Adelphi's first All-American in several decades with his 16th place in the 200 Butterfly at the 2009 NCAA Division II Championships in Houston, Texas. He will swim butterfly and backstroke for the Panthers, and have an important place in most, if not all, of the Panthers' relays. Terzano, a six-time school record holder, has recorded three NCAA "B" cuts during his tenure at Adelphi, and hopes to earn his first "A" cut this year. He will compete in sprint and mid-distance freestyle.

"McKee hopes to again attend NCAA Championships, and hopefully make the `A' Final to earn First Team All America. Terzano has had several excellent workouts, and leads by example in the pool," Conciatori said.

McKee and Terzano will be aided by juniors Tory Cozzi and Tom Eickelberg, and sophomore Steven Gromling. These five swimmers combined for 11 of 19 Adelphi records, and broke nine records in 2008-2009 alone. Cozzi, a member of all four of last year's record breaking relays, will again play a large part in the Panthers' success. He will swim sprint and mid-distance freestyle for the squad, but is versatile enough to make the jump to the distances if needed.

Eickelberg, the school record holder in the 1650 freestyle, is a versatile swimmer who will compete in mid-distance and distance freestyle, as well as the individual medleys and butterfly races. Gromling, who had an excellent freshman campaign, swimming breastroke in both of the Panthers' record breaking medley relays, will also swim sprint freestyle and butterfly in addition to his duties as breastroker.

"We will look to Cozzi, Gromling, and Eickelberg to step up and help us qualify for NCAA's. We will use them in relays, and hope that their individual swim can reach the caliber of their relay performances. Last year, we did have access to the same swimsuit technology tha most teams did. Now, with those suits being banned, we will be on a level playing field, and hopefully can more easily earn a berth to nationals. "

Senior captain Brad Meaney had an excellent 2008-2009 campaign, despite several injuries, and will again swim the individual medleys and breastrokes for the Panthers. He will be supported by freshman Anthony Passarella, who has shown promise in early season individual medley workouts.

"Meaney will draw from his experience to draw the team together. His work ethic is excellent, and he has had shown his grit in swimming through injury. He will be a weapon at full health."

Sophomore Daniel Sparnroft, who placed 10th in the 1650 Freestyle at last year's Metropolitan Championships, is a hard worker and will again be called upon in the distance races. Freshmen Karim Harris, Tom Valenti, and Kevin Rohle have shown excellent preseason form, and will earn points for Adelphi in a variety of events. Junior Matt Daly, when not diving for the panthers, will swim backstroke and freestyle events.

"Sparnroft is a workhorse, and will continue to swim the distances for us. Valenti and Harris will swim shorter freestyle events, and score valuable points at dual meets and in relays."

The Panthers opened their season this past Saturday, November 7, with a loss Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. They take the pool next on November 10, against the Lehman College Lightening in the Bronx, NY.