University of Massachusets Athletics
1997-98 Season Outlook
July 30, 1999 | Men's Swimming & Diving
With two Atlantic 10 championships under its belt, the
University of Massachusetts men's swimming and diving team has the
core of returnees and the addition of quality newcomers to make the
Minutemen a strong contender for a third straight league title.
Under the direction of Head Coach Russ Yarworth, who begins his 19th
year with UMass, will attempt to become the first team in conference
history to win three consecutive A-10 titles since Penn State won
four in a row from 1984-87.
This should be an area of strength for the Minutemen, with
three of the top four finishers in the Atlantic 10 back for another
year. Led by senior captains Sean Anderson and Matt Davey, the
Minutemen should be able to score a lot of points in these events.
Anderson, who enters his second full-season with the Maroon and White
after transferring from Penn State, hopes to continue his winning
ways. Last year he won eight individual events in dual-meets and was
a member of five first-place relay teams. Davey is the defending
conference champion in the 200 and has posted top 10 times in the
school's record books in the 50, 100 and 200 free events. Senior
Kerry Hueston and sophomore Henry Turner will also be able to make an
impact in the sprint events. Hueston is a member of the school
record 400 free relay team. Turner had an outstanding season as a
freshman, posting top 10 times in the 50 and 100 free events.
Freshman Diego Alcala could also place in the top 10 at the
conference championship meet.
The Minutemen boast three returnees in the distance events.
Holding three top 10 times in the 500, 1000 and 1650 free, junior
B.J. Brannan looks to lead the way for the Minutemen this season.
Junior Simon Flynn finished in the top 10 in the 500 and 1650 free
last year at the conference championships. Sophomore Bryan Grimes
should also score points for UMass this season, as he holds top 10
times in the 1000 and 1650 free. In addition to seeing time at the
distance events, freshman Matt Andrews will also swim in the
butterfly events. Sophomore Billy Getty will provide depth for the
Minutemen in this category. Also contributing will be senior Dan
Peck and freshmen Joe Martin and Leo Ramirez.
Yarworth will look to a young group to win points in the
breaststroke events. Sophomore Billy Hunter won seven individual
events during his rookie year with the Minutemen and finished in
sixth place in the 100 breast and in seventh in the 200 breast at the
Atlantic 10 meet. Freshman Billy Brown could also make an impact
this year for UMass. The highly-touted freshman was one of the best
in the country in his age group last year in the 200. Freshman Mike
Sabina could also earn points for the Minutemen this season.
The Minutemen appear to be solid in the backstroke events, as
they return the top two backstrokers in school history. Junior Brian
Wisniewski finished second in the 100 and third in the 200 last year
at the Atlantic 10 meet and holds the fastest times in school history
in both events. Junior David Koritkoski, who also placed at the
A-10 championships, won five times in dual-meets and and a member of
six victorious relay squads. Freshman Chris Arsenault should also
challenge the best of the conference. Seniors Matt Turner and Sean
Anderson round out the backstroke corps.
Another group that will be young this year will be those in the
butterfly events. Freshman Matt Andrews, named Maryland
Swimmer-of-the-Year three times in high school, will swim in both the
100 and 200. Junior Geoff Gear is looking to recover from a shoulder
injury suffered last year and score some points this season.
Sophomore Rich Slingluff will see time in these events after
participating in only water polo last year. Diego Alcala and Henry
Turner will also have the chance to earn points for the Minutemen in
the fly events.
Brian Wisniewski, who finished fourth at the 1997 Atlantic 10
meet returns and will be looked to lead the Minutemen in the
individual medley. Wisniewski recorded the fourth-fastest time in
the 200 IM last season. Yarworth expects sophomore Billy Hunter and
freshman Chris Arsenault to improve as the season goes along.
An experienced group of divers return for the this season.
Sophomore Ed Hefferon is back after a solid freshman season where he
won seven times last season. Hefferon recorded the third and fifth
highest totals in UMass history on the one and three-meter
competitions, respectively. Junior Tim Church and sophomore Derrick
DeMaio each finished in the top 10 at the Atlantic 10 meet last year
in both diving events. A fourth diver who will be seeing double
duty, as both a diver and swimmer is senior Matt Turner, who finished
12th at the A-10 championship on the one-meter competition.SPRINT FREESTYLE
DISTANCE FREESTYLE
BREASTSTROKE
BACKSTROKE
BUTTERFLY
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
DIVING