University of Massachusets Athletics
Yarworth, Newcomb Build For Future
March 07, 2007 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 7, 2007
The nature of collegiate sports dictates that athletes must one day leave the program to pursue the rest of their lives. To maintain success and build a program, great coaches must attract talented athletes annually to compensate for the departure of their seniors. Russ Yarworth and Bob Newcomb are great coaches and because of this, the departure of the class of 2007 will not paralyze the University of Massachusetts's swimming and diving program.
Senior Evan Swisher headlines a class of Minutemen that became one of the most successful in school history after securing the program's ninth Atlantic 10 Men's Swimming and Diving Championship this past February in Buffalo, N.Y. Not only did this class win races, but they provided the team with depth in every event.
While it's something of an impossibility to replace these swimmers, the roles they played on the team will need to be filled by current members of the team if UMass plans to repeat as A-10 Champions.
Freshman Trevor Ziegler looks to fill Swisher's role as the team's top backstroker and individual medley specialist. Ziegler had an outstanding freshman campaign for the Minutemen and, with the guidance of Yarworth and next year's upperclassmen, should continue his progress. Freshman Andrew Willbrant fits into the came category, but will need to use his less-than-stellar showing at the A-10 Championships as motivation for his increased role next season.
Senior Jake Hogue carried the Minutemen's breaststroke unit for the last two seasons, but got help from junior John Weaver. He actually outperformed Hogue at the A-10 finals in the 200-yard breaststroke finishing fourth to Hogue's fifth. However, Hogue's presence in the locker room may prove the most difficult aspect to replace. He was the first two-time captain for the Minutemen since the late 1980s.
While none of this year's freshmen are particularly strong in the breaststroke, Yarworth added Patrick Kuehne, the reigning New Jersey State YMCA Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard IM as part of his early recruiting class for the 2007-08 season.
The rest of this year's seniors - Greg Chartier, Mike Cordes, Mike Herald and Gordon Leonard - stabilized the Minutemen with their ability to post strong times in different events. Chartier leaves UMass as one of the best 400-yard individual medley performers in school history. Freshman Justin Brooks performed well in the event this season, but this is probably the weakest event for the Minutemen heading into next season.
The freestyle sprinting unit projects as the strongest unit for the Minutemen heading into next season. Freshman Juan Moliere won the 100-yard freestyle at the A-10 finals and third in the 50-yard freestyle. Ziegler stepped in for freestyle sprints as well this season. Junior A.J. Vozella won the 100-yard freestyle at the A-10 finals as a freshman and performed well this year while battling mononucleosis.
For next season, the Maroon and White sit in great shape but will need continued contribution and development from their entire roster if they are to carry on the legacy of UMass swimming.
Like Swisher on the men's side, senior captain Liz Lovejoy should prove the most difficult to replace in the pool for the Minutewomen. She willed the Minutewomen to a second-place finish at the A-10 Championships, the best for the program since winning the title in 2001. However, she could also be compared to Hogue for the role she played as a leader on the team. At the moment it's difficult to suggest who could replace Lovejoy as the team's anchor in relays and vocal leader.
Freshmen Elizabeth Walsh and Kathryne Chalikis distinguished themselves as upcoming stars on the team, so it isn't absurd to think either of them could become Newcomb's go-to swimmer. But to suggest that they rise to the level of Lovejoy in just their second year at UMass, while not entirely unlikely, may be a little impractical.
The Minutewomen boast a solid core of juniors who can take over for Lovejoy as a captain on paper. But to replace the enthusiasm and grit Lovejoy brought to UMass will prove quite the chore. Junior Allison Volpe improved down the stretch and if pushed could take over for Lovejoy in both capacities.
Considering their finish at A-10s, it is shocking how paltry the Minutewomen's crew in the breaststroke was. At the A-10 finals, the only final heats devoid of a swimmer from UMass were the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Sophomore Jackie Porter's 11th-place finish was the best anyone from UMass could muster.
Newcomb addressed that need in recruiting. Jessica Starosielec comes to UMass from the Jersey Gators Aquatic Club where she became a nationally regarded performer in the breaststroke.
The Minutewomen's diving unit took the biggest hit with the graduation of Melissa Pond and fellow senior Mary Jenkins. But diving also turned out to be the most fruitful aspect of recruiting for the Minutewomen.
Annie Fogerty, one of the nation's top gymnasts, nearly signed with California but turned it down to dive for UMass diving coach Mandy Hixon.
Replacing their departing seniors will not be an easy task. But Newcomb and Yarworth have proved that, where good programs fall short, they're just great.