University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Ready to Dive into 2005-06 Season
10/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
STORRS, Conn. (October 12, 2005) - The men's and women's swim team will open the 2005-06 season on Saturday when it hosts Central Connecticut, Southern Connecticut, UMass and Stony Brook at the UConn Husky Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Wolff-Zackin Natatorium.
This season's swimming and diving team presents a new appearance from the last couple of years. Graduated is a large and successful class of swimmers who have been strong athletes in the pool and successful leaders outside the pool. This year the team seems to be about as young as it can be. That youth movement presents Coach Bob Goldberg with an exciting challenge as they move into the season.
There are four seniors on the squad.
Leading the way is Mike McNulty (Hartland, Wis.) who has been a steadying force on the team his entire career. He is an accomplished backstroker and IM’er, but certainly his freestyle will be called on this year more than ever, and McNulty is ready. In the BIG EAST Conference meet last year he split an impressive 1:40+, 200 freestyle leg of the all-conference record setting 800-freestyle relay. McNulty also has the ability to move into the sprints events.
Jon Kunces (Naugatuck, Conn.) had a great mid-season meet and looks to improve on his freestyle and IM times in the conference meet this year.
Tim Jones (Jacksonville, Fla.) is a three-year conference qualifier in both fly events. The school record of 1:50.88 in the 200 fly is within his sights.
Tim Mahar (Moreno Valley, Calif.) qualified for the conference meet in the backstroke events last year and looks to repeat.
“It is great to have the entire senior class at or better than the conference standard. It certainly sets a tone for the team,” says Goldberg.
The junior class is an even smaller group in ’05, but what this groups lacks in size they make up for in talent and performance.
Tristan Jones (Wanniassa, Australia) is an Academic All-District swimmer. The Australia native is both talented in and out of the pool. His 4.0 grade-point average both semesters is as impressive as his 55.50 school record in the 100-yard breaststroke. That time was within an eyelash of making the NCAA meet last year. Tristan is also an accomplished IM’er and freestyler and is a part of all UConn relays.
Nick Acquavito (Freeport, N.Y.) is equally impressive as a breaststroker with his best event being the 200. He is capable of challenging the current record of 2:01 held by conference champion Sean Tedesco.
Rounding out this class is Tim Wong (Kingston, Jamaica), the Jamaican champion flier who struggled medically last season, but has returned to strength this year and is back into regular training.
“Like the seniors, this group is made up of conference qualifiers who lead in the pool,” says Goldberg.
The majority of the team is found in the sophomore and freshman classes. Fourteen of the 21 swimmers are listed here. Goldberg is enjoying this group every minute.
“Youth and talent are a great combination,” says Goldberg. There are no walls too high for these guys.”
The sophomores are led by New York high school champion in the 200 freestyle Mike Brocki (Westhampton, N.Y.).
“Michael has so much ability that we have only scratched the surface of last year,” says Goldberg. “He is a leader in and out of the pool and a sprint and mid-distance force.”
Chris Ferreira (Madison, Conn.) is emerging as another freestyle force.
“He has the ability to be our best sprinter and showed some of that last season” says Goldberg. “This year, he is stronger and more experienced and should emerge as a terrific sprinter.”
Two others that are quickly emerging are Sean Hannan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Ryan Thompson (Branford, Conn.).
“Sean had great time drops in his fly as did Ryan in the breaststroke,” says Goldberg. “With their continued emergence, we will only become a better team.”
“We do have so much potential in our freshman class,” says Goldberg. “Like all freshmen they must prove themselves in the college ranks.
"Swimming in college is so much different than U.S. Swimming, it often takes time to adjust. However, these kids will adjust,” smiles Goldberg.
There are three products of Connecticut in this group.
Ben Levine (N. Granby, Conn.) continues the name at UConn, following in his cousin Dan’s footsteps as well as his dad, Jon, who is coach of the Aquabears in Hartford.
Continuing the UConn and Cheshire connection is Jared Goodman (Cheshire, Conn.) who comes from the Rams and Jules Alexandre (Wallingford, Conn.) who comes from Sunoco. All are contributing swimmers.
There is a strong southern flavor to this team such as multitalented Adrian Astiz (Bethesda, Md.) who will be strong in many events for the Huskies. Virginian Tyler Bradshaw (Salem, Va.) will hold down the distance lane, John Henry Dasinger (Madison, Miss.) will swim backstroke and fly, and Nick Conrad (Olney, Md.) will be looked at for help in the sprints.
Transfer Tod Pesses (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) in the backstroke, freshmen Schuylar Rockey (Bangkok, Thailand) in the IM and Mike Mergard (Bensalem, Pa.) in the strokes complete this incredible class.
The divers will continue their tradition of excellence.
T.J. Ferguson (Plainville, Conn.) is on track to become one of the best divers in UConn history and Mike Clifford (West Islip, N.Y.) is not far behind. Add in the talent of Kevin Thompson (Stamford, Conn.), Seth Darley (Bristol, Conn.) and freshman Corey Cook (Uncasville, Conn.) and this team imposes quite an influence on the Huskies program.
Goldberg is looking long range with this team.
“We can be very good by the end of this year and for several years to come with this team,” says Goldberg. “ We are training so many great swimmers, with many of them being underclassmen, that our focus is very long range. Our goals are clear and I am so excited about the growth and potential that I can see. This group can continue to elevate the performance, visibility of the program and recognition of our program and university."
