University of Connecticut Athletics
2007-08 Men's Swimming and Diving Season Preview
10/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
2007-08 Men's Swimming and Diving Season Preview
Team hosts the Husky Invitational this Saturday
STORRS, Conn. (October 11, 2007) – The University of Connecticut Swimming and Diving program will open their season this Saturday, October 13th at noon with the Husky Invitational in the Wolff-Zackin Natatorium.
Men’s Season Preview
The 2007-08 Men's Swimming and Diving season is shaping up to be promising. Although the squad has graduated three impact swimmers from 2007, Head Coach Bob Goldberg is looking for others to step up and fill their roles. Nick Acquavito, Tim Wong and Tristan Jones were three of the strongest leaders in the pool for the Huskies. Jones was one of the most decorated swimmers in UConn history.
The 2007-08 team possesses six seniors looking to maintain the UConn tradition.
Led by New York State Champion freestyler and captain Michael Brocki (Westchester, N.Y.), the team's success will hinge on his abilities to score in the 200 free. Another senior captain, Tod Pesses (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), looks to continue producing personal best times this season while competing at the conference level. The third senior captain Ryan Thompson (Branford, Conn.) emerged from a back-up role to a shining performance at the BIG EAST Championships in the breaststroke last year. Diving captain Michael Clifford (West Islip, N.Y.) is a true leader and worker on the boards looking to return to the NCAA Zone Championships.
Other members of the senior class are also expected to carry a huge load for the Huskies this season. Chris Ferreira (Madison, Conn.) will be UConn's primary sprinter and anchor for the relays. Sean Hannan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) has consistently impressed many with his hard work and will be a factor in the conference meet swimming the butterfly and individual medley.
This season's impressive junior class is led by the 200 butterfly record holder Adrian Astiz (Bethesda, Md.). Astiz is a leader in the pool and the classroom and will drive the Huskies in the butterfly. Another rising swimmer in the junior class is John Henry Dasinger (Madison, Miss.). Dasinger is a rapidly improving southern influence to the program. He possesses the best underwater work on the team and is pushing hard to be fast. Jules Alexandre (Wallingford, Conn.) is also looking to break out this season in the large group of butterfliers. Ben Levine (North Granby, Conn.) and Nick Conrad (Olney, Md.) are training to add strength to the basktroke and freestyle. Rounding out the juniors are distance swimmers Tyler Bradshaw (Salem, Va.) and Frisk Driscoll (Westport, Conn.). Bradshaw is working hard to eclipse his personal best times. Driscoll is trying to become a force at the conference meet this year after swimming his best 1650 freestyle and 200 backstroke in back-to-back events last season at the mid-season meet.
There are four sophomore swimmers who are very good swimmers in the sophomore class. Last year, the surprise of the group was John Hogan (Walkersville, Md.). Hogan performed well at the BIG EAST Championships and had a great summer. He is well on his way to being a team leader. Another swimmer who had a great year was Jon Wong (Toronto, Ontario). Wong swam in the Pan American Games this summer representing Jamaica. He has the range to swim the 50 through 500 freestyle with the 200 free being his best event. Stephen Ferreira (Madison, Conn.) is one of the most exciting divers to watch and will be looking to get to the BIG EAST Championships again this season. Stephen Kustra (North Huntington, Pa.) is one of the most versatile swimmers on the team and is outstanding in the individual medley. Bill Magin (Brookfield, Conn.) is looking to come into his own and become another strong freestyler for the Huskies.
Although small in number, the freshman class packs a big punch. Tomasz Sobek (Siemianowice Slaskie, Poland) is another international swimmer joining the UConn program. He is expected to impact the breaststroke events immediately at the conference level and beyond. Alex Davidson (Pointe-Claire, Quebec) is looking to contribute to the backstroke events , coming off of a summer that saw him qualify for the finals in the Canadian Nationals in long course backstroke. Also looking to contribute are swimmers Tim Krompinger (New Fairfield, Conn.) and Jon Palmer (Randolph, Mass.). New divers Andew Culmo (West Islip, N.Y.) and Adam Genuario (Norwalk, Conn.) come to UConn with high expectations. Culmo was a New York State Consolation Finalist and Genuario is a U.S. Diving and Connecticut State Open competitor.
The 2007-08 version of the Huskies appears to be up to the challenges set for them this season.
