University of Massachusets Athletics
Zaucha Closes Career in Style
March 25, 2003 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 25, 2003
Ryan Zaucha waited on the pool deck amidst all of his conference rivals, vying for the Atlantic 10 title in Buffalo, N.Y.
There was pressure to perform well, after all, his team needed points in order to overtake St. Bonaventure for the lead in the three-day meet. But stepping up when needed was nothing new for the senior from Auburn, Calif.
A four-year letterwinner at Placer High School, Zaucha opted to continue his swimming career at the University of Massachusetts after his graduation, hoping to continue his successful career.
Little did he know he would graduate from UMass four years later, leaving a permanent mark on the Minuteman swimming and diving program.
As a freshman Zaucha was an asset to the team, but he had not yet reached his full potential. He placed second on the team in the 200-yard IM, ranked third on the team in the 200-yard back and sixth in the 100-yard back. But this wasn't enough for Zaucha. He knew he had to put in a lot of time in order to get his times to where he wanted them to be. According to his coach, Russ Yarworth, Zaucha was ready for this challenge.
"Ryan is mentally tough enough to take on anything and knows how to race and pace...always finishing each race strong," said Yarworth.
He continued swimming his sophomore year and began making his mark. Using his improved speed he set a new UMass record in the 200-yard medley relay. Proving that Yarworth was right about Zaucha's ability to pull ahead of his competition, he also placed third in the 200-yard IM, third in the 200-yard back, and fourth in the 100-yard back at the A-10 Championships.
As a junior Zaucha continued to raise the bar at UMass swimming meets.
"Ryan had really developed from his early stages of his college career in the sense that he was now less reluctant to give his all," said Yarworth.
Yarworth knew that Ryan had talent and this was obvious through his achievements during his junior year. Zaucha's list of accolades during the 2001-02 season included placing first at the Atlantic 10 Championships in the 200-yard IM, second in both the 200-yard back and the 400-yard relay and third in the 200-yard free relay. He also ranked first on the UMass team in the 200-yard IM and second in both the 100- and 200-yard back.
Following the conclusion to his junior year Zaucha continued to push himself in the off-season, training hard so that he would be able to leave his mark during his senior year.
Picking up where he left off as a junior, Zaucha found success during his senior campaign, with all of his efforts culminating at the Atlantic 10 Championships. He was named the most Outstanding Performer of the Meet and the Most Outstanding Performer of the Year in the A-10 after he won both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke races.
Zaucha also placed second in the IM, finishing right behind teammate Justin Houck.
"Justin and I are always battling for first place.... it keeps things exciting, and helps us train harder," said Zaucha.
Arriving at the Atlantic 10 Championships, Zaucha realized he would be facing a field that included many of his strongest rivals whom were already turning in results approaching their top times. He also knew this was the time to step up his efforts because UMass was trailing St. Bonaventure heading into the last day of competition.
"Zaucha did everything I asked him to do and with energy and enthusiasm finishing each of his races strong, no matter how tired he was, he gave 100 percent," said Yarworth, who has led the Minutemen to three consecutive A-10 titles and six in the past eight seasons.
Zaucha gave it his all and to the surprise of even himself, touched the wall first to win the 100-yard backstroke.
"I was in total shock, because in the morning swims I wasn't that fast and I wasn't seeded to win, but I was pumped when I realized I did," said Zaucha.
As Zaucha's senior year of swimming comes to a close it is evident that he has left his mark on the UMass swimming program. After all, you can't go far into the school's record books without seeing Zaucha's name. He finishes his Minuteman career ranked third in the school charts in the 200-yard IM (1:51.44 set in 2001-02), fourth in the 200-yard back (1:50.29 set in 2002-03), fifth in the 100-yard back (51.36, 2000-01) and sixth in the 400-yard IM (4:05.42, 2002-03).
Zaucha's swimming career may end with him filling up the records page at Massachusetts, but he will leave the Joseph R. Rogers, Jr. Pool with no regrets.
"I'm retiring the Speedo, but I left my races feeling satisfied, especially at the 2003 A-10. I will never forget these past four years," said Zaucha.
He now only hopes that the future UMass swimmers can keep the team where he left it on that final day of competition at the 2003 Atlantic 10 Championships in Buffalo, N.Y.-on top.