profiles in excellence 2009-10

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE:2009-10 College Swimming & Diving Stories

Table of Contents:

Introduction 2

2009-10 Honorees 6 - 23

Extra Items 24 - 27

Welcome to the 2009-10 College Swimming & Diving Honors. This document represents an attempt to collect

and re-tell the great stories of the 2009-10 collegiate swimming and diving season. It was a terrific season to follow from a competitive end. March madness occurred

in the pool on the women’s side as five teams competed for a national championship on day three of the meet.

There was also madness on the men’s side as Norovirus affected every competitor, either indirectly or directly, at the

meet while delaying the University of Texas’ march toward another team title by one day.

Being a first attempt at this independent venture,

please excuse any imperfections or unintentional errors. This document and idea will develop with time.

2009-10 College Swimming Honors

Above; Gal Nevo (TheSwimPictures.com,) Carmen Stellar (Stanford Communications,) Coach Frank Keefe (Roberts)

Front cover; Cincinnati swimmer Josh Schneider wins the 50 Free at 2010 NCAA meet. (TheSwimPictures.com)

Origins, beginnings, starting points.Each year, thousands of student

athletes take on the new collegiate season with effort levels that combined are on par with what is

required to sun the planet earth. Though renewed vigor and intensity

are pre-requisites for a new season, eventually it is the act of competing that validates this extraordinary level

of effort, commitment and time. Competition demands that swimmers

and divers along with staff give more than in previous seasons. Once in season, how often do

we discover that our best was not

enough?Discovering then what truly is a best

effort begins.

Thousands of

swimmers and hundreds of meets.

From these great efforts

mentioned above are scores of great stories. Tales of effort, dedication and

sacrifice leading to outstanding accomplishments are the basis for the

story of college swimming and diving. The idea is simple; to honor great efforts that lead to exceptional

achievement. The task is not simple: it would be nearly impossible to tell

the entire story of a particular season. The purpose for this initial attempt becomes this: to profile and highlight

a sample of the great efforts that went into each season.

Bearing witness to great moments; Friday March 26th 2010.

You may already know that Josh Schneider is the 2010 NCAA champion in the 50 yard freestyle.

However, his story is one that should remain alive. It is a perfect example of

David and Goliath. Goliath in terms of an athletic administration making a decision. David in terms of proving

that their decision will not stop him and his coach. His timely victory in

the 50 free was the athletic story of the year for the University of

Cincinnati. His

was just one of the

memorable stories that made

2009-10 special.

Above and beyond

If you like what you

see or at least agree

with the idea, I am seeking your help

as we enter the 2010-11 season. Please help grow this document into

something that is valuable. You can do so by nominating anyone for one the expanding categories. The task of

turning this into something important for our sport requires your assistance.

Without it, this will be incomplete.I thank you for taking time to view

this publication and look forward to

the chance to promote your athletes and or team. Go Swimming & Diving!

Thank you, Bill Roberts

Introduction: Let us Celebrate!

Tales of effort, dedication and

sacrifice leading to some outstanding

accomplishments are the basis for the story of college swimming

and diving.

Page 2

EL-E-VATION. Coach Tom Johnson and team elevate at Their relay win, pictured here, helped the Cowgirls finish EL-E-VATION. Coach Tom Johnson and team elevate at Their relay win, pictured here, helped the Cowgirls finish

the Mountain West Swimming & Diving Championships.second overall, their highest placement in team history.the Mountain West Swimming & Diving Championships.second overall, their highest placement in team history.


Page 8

Break-Out Swimmer-Female

Meredith Budner, JR, Towson

Lyndsey DePaul JR, USC

Nicole DorvinenSO, UW-Eau Claire

Jen Friedlander, SO, Middlebury

Kenzie HewsonSO, Wyoming

Liv JensenSO, California

Iuliia KuzhilJR, Kansas

Laura LindsaySO, Toledo

“And Your Top Qualifiers.”

Also nominated and very worthy of national recognition, these swimmers made the top 8 for their outstanding achievements in 2009-10.


Page 9

Multiple female swimmers had national level break-out seasons this

year. Lyndsey DePaul of USC along with CAA competitors Meredith Budner of Towson and Ashley Danner

of George Mason had terrific seasons and NCAA meets in 2010. Ultimately,

Danner was most consistent in placing 16th, 6th & 2nd to made the greatest jump from 2009 (2 to 31 points.)

Coach Peter Ward knew he was getting an accomplished swimmer in

the fall of 2008. She has made the most of her two seasons to date;

dominating at the league level and competing in two NCAA championship meets. However, it is at

the NCAA meet where she seems to shine. As remarkable as the points

she earned and placements taken, she managed to put together three impressive time drops in a season

where dropping time from 2009 has been challenging for most. Taking it

from good to great, her time drops were considerably significant, as she averaged over a second per 100

better for each of her three races in 2010.

Her ability to swim her best when it mattered the most represents a combination

of factors all of which have

earned her the honor of 2010 Break-

Out Swimmer of the Year.

Break-Out Swimmer-Female

Ashley Danner

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Page 10

Break-Out Swimmer-Male

Andrew ElliotSO, Ohio State

Michael FlachFR, South Carolina

Chad La TouretteSO, Stanford

Daniel MurataSO, Incarnate Word

Tom ShieldsFR, California

Scott SpannJR, Texas

Jonathan PoppeleSO, UW-Eau Claire

Austin WitherowFR, George Mason


Also nominated and very worthy of national recognition, these swimmers made the top 8 for their outstanding achievements in 2009-10.


Page 11

Author Jim Collins created a best-selling book in 2003 using the phrase

Good to Great. The book, sub-titled Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t, detailed that a

culture of discipline was a common denominator in the profiled

companies. Though Collins leaves his readers without a doubt regarding the process and definition of going from

good to great, his phrase was re-defined in the pool this year.

In March of 2009, when the best swimmers in the land gathered to compete at the NCAA Championship

meet, Conor Dwyer, then a sophomore at the University of Iowa, was not at

that meet. An accomplished swimmer and 2008 Olympic Trials participant, he had impressive credentials as a Big

Ten swimmer. However, he had not earned a trip to the national meet in

his first two seasons. Dwyer then transferred out of the University of Iowa.

His meteoric rise to NCAA supremacy is difficult to contain in

words. A terrific racer, training at the University of Florida under the leadership of Coach Gregg Troy

proved to be the perfection combination as Dwyer established

himself as a household name in 2010. His SEC accomplishments alone were enough to earn him the honor of

break-out swimmer. To do the same thing at the NCAA level is awesome.

In going from non-participant to multiple NCAA champion in one

season,

Jim Collins

would have to agree, is

worthy of a new

chapter in the Good to Great.


Conor Dwyer

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Page 12

There is not much more John Dillon of Middlebury College could

have achieved during his junior season. Conference champion, Check. National qualifier, check,

National Swimmer of the Week, check. Multiple event winner while dropping a

ton of time at the NCAA meet, check. All American and new national record holder, check.!

His achievements are superlative. His time drops

are jaw-dropping. His record time in

the 200 fly (1:45.01) not

only would have qualified for the Division

I men’s meet, he would have placed 19th at the 2010 meet. He broke the

oldest men’s Division III record in the books dating back to 1997. In his third event, the 200 back and an event he

swam just once during the dual meet season, he placed second overall at

the 2010 NCAA meet. Additionally, John’s winning time in the 100 fly (47.58) and

freestyle split in the 400 free relay (44.80) in the

same meet make him one of the most versatile swimmers in Division III

history thanks to his ability to break fifty seconds for

100 yards in three out of the four competitive strokes.

What makes his break-out season even more remarkable is the fact that

he was out of competition during the previous season due to academic and personal reasons. With a renewed

focus and established priorities, John entered the season set on winning an

event at the 2010 national meet. Though many share that goal, only one

earns the title of “NCAA Champion.” That ability

to achieve what you believe in your mind has earned John Dillon

the honor of break out swimmer.""


John Dillon

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Page 13

In most cases, a transfer from

Division I to II is going to experience some initial success. The story of Logan Pearsall, who transferred from

Rhode Island to Clarion University is unlike most cases. He did in fact

experience early success as a member of his new team along with longtime coach Dave Hrovat.

However, his level of competitiveness went through the roof as he put on a

record setting display of aerial prowess in 2009-10.

As a freshman diver for URI in

2007-08, Pearsall was a mid-level diver in the Atlantic-10 conference.

Though he placed sixth on the 1-meter and was the top scorer for Rhode Island, he was just the third top

performing freshman

within the Atlantic-10. In 3-meter

diving, he did not place in

the top eight. It would be Pearsall’s

final collegiate

competition for Rhode Island as the school discontinued it’s men’s program.

His impact at Clarion was immediate. In his first national

competition at the collegiate level, he took first place on the same event he did not even final in a year earlier at

the 2008 A-10 meet. He backed up his 3-meter with a second place finish

on 1-meter to complete his first season with Clarion.

It may not seem possible for a

person to break out from the 2008-09 season which Pearsall put together.

However, by sweeping both boards and earning NCAA diver of the meet while breaking a 16-year division

record on 3-meter,

Pearsall again proves

that he is more than

just ordinary.

Break-Out Diver-MaleLogan Pearsall

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Page 14

At the end of any season, how many swimmers can actually state

that they had career best times in every event swum at championships? From that select group, how many

then can say the same thing for each of their four years of collegiate

swimming? One who can affirmatively answer

yes to both questions is Jackie

Borkowski of West Chester University (PA.) Her outstanding consistency to

improve led to numerous and significant high honors throughout her career. She earned both conference

(PSAC) and Division II Swimmer of the Year awards. She earned multiple All

Americans (22 total including 11 individual) earned during her time representing West Chester. In addition,

she is a finalist for the Honda Award for Division II athlete of the year.

As a team member, she helped West Chester win four straight conference meets which is a first for

the women’s program. At the national level, West Chester placed fourth on

two occasions while never finishing below 7th during her career. (2010 & 2007:4th, 2009:5th, 2008:7th)

Career Improvement-Female

Jackie Borkowski

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Page 15

If you look at the career progression of Annie Chandler, you

will have a difficult time finding an event within a season in which she did not improve. Her drops were steady

and consistent across her primary events as Chandler made what is

difficult appear smooth. To do this while operating at the

highest level available annually makes

her progression that much more remarkable. Additionally, she coupled

dropping time with improving her individual finishes. From 2009 to 2010, Chandler moved up the NCAA

ladder from seventh and fourth to third and first in the 200 and 100

breaststroke events respectively. In dropping over a full second, it was her victory in the 100 that was one of the

stand out swims of the meet in 2010.

In a year when it was awfully challenging to drop time and establish

new records, Chandler was exceptional in setting what turned out to be the lone NCAA & NCAA meet

record. Hailing from one of the elite programs of this century in college

athletics, Chandler’s career development is a special example of the Arizona program.

Career Improvement-FemaleAnnie CHaNdler

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Page 16

Carmen Stellar did what most collegiate swimmers and divers hope

to do upon arrival to their new program as a freshman competitor: improve enough to become a

competitor at the NCAA Championship meet. Only a handful

of competitors across the country are at the NCAA level prior to arrival. And only a few will grow into NCAA

competitors during their time with their respective program.

Stellar demonstrated a near perfect linear progression from 2007 to 2010. During her first season, she

was a top-16 competitor on both boards at the PAC-10 Conference

meet. The next year, she placed third at the conference level and placed in the top-16 in Zone competition. As a

junior in 2009, Stellar established herself as a household name in

Pac-10 diving. At the 2009 Zone competition, she placed fourth, third then second in 3-meter, 1-meter and

platform competition respectively. Stellar had earned her way to her first

NCAA Championship.In 2010, Stellar helped her

Stanford win the team title at the

Pac-10 meet while placing top eight in three events for the second

consecutive seasonThough she did not make it back

to the 2010 NCAA meet, she earns

this recognition since she started out as a walk

on member of the Stanford

program.

Career Improvement-Diver

Carmen Stellar

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Page 17

The highest placing Eric Knight achieved at the state high school level

was fourth place as part of a 200 medley relay. Coming out of Westfield High School and in the backyard of

George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, Knight was reluctantly offered a

chance to swim on Coach Peter Ward’s team. That was all he needed as once he made the roster, it did not

take long for him

to establish himself

both within

the team and then CAA. By

the end of his freshman year, he has dropped

enough time to raise the eyebrows of his teammates By the end of his sophomore year he went from a 1:00

to a :55 100 breaststroker as he became a bonafide star within the

league. According to his coach, “Eric

Knight’s college swimming career has

been nothing short of amazing. When he came out

of Westfield HS he could barely make our team or swim breaststroke legally. Then

after making huge improvements he suffered a

shoulder injury his senior year but was able to recover from surgery and come back better

then ever. It is a great story.”Of significant

note and for good measure, he won the 2010 Colonial

Athletic Association’s

Winter Scholar Athlete Award.

Career Improvement-Male

Eric Knight

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Page 18

The collegiate career of Arizona’s Bryan O’Connor is a great story about

the development of an athlete. Prior to his arrival on campus at Tucson in the fall of 2006, the highest standard

in yards he had achieved were US Open cuts in the 200 backstroke

(note; he was a more accomplished LCM swimmer.) In viewing his career

improvement grid, he is nearly perfect in dropping time across each line.

Despite experiencing big time drops in 2006-07 as a freshman, he did not make the NCAA meet in

Minnesota. However, he had a break out season in 2008, the same year

Arizona won it all, and made it to his first collegiate national championship meet. After 2008, he went on a quest

to further help his team in scoring individually. Despite another big

season in 2009, he would have to put in one more season of work before scoring individually.

In 2010, he not only scored but placed in the top eight in both

backstroke events. He just missed placing in his third event by .16 in the 200 IM. Additionally, O’Conner

dropped time from 2009 in his 100 back while leading off the Cat’s 200

medley relay with a scorching 21.52. His lead-off time was fourth best in the field!

In a recent story about O’Connor, his coach, Frank Busch, puts it best in

saying, “It’s a story about grit and determination. There’s nothing fancy about it; it’s perseverance.”

Career Improvement-Male

Bryan O’Connor

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Page 19

Break-Out Teams

California-MENCoach Dave Durden

Incarnate Word-MENCoach Phillip Davis

Louisville-MENCoach Arthur Albiero

Emory-WOMENCoach Jon Howell

Stanford-WOMENCoach Lea Maurer

Susquehanna-WCoach Jerry Foley

West Virginia-WCoach Vic Riggs

Virginia-MENMark Bernardino


Also nominated and very worthy of national recognition, these teams made the top 8 for their overall outstanding achievements in 2009-10.


Page 20

You could say that the new era for The Ohio State University men’s

swimming & diving team arrived in 2007. It was at that time that they achieved third place in the Big Ten, a

12th place NCAA finish and their highest national placing since 1983.

However, it also was the start of a climb toward conference supremacy and an elite status nationally.

Looking back, the conditions were ripe for what transpired leading up to

their achievements in 2010. You have an athletic department that offers and

supports a broad based program for student-athletes while additionally

creating the way for a state of the art facility that opened in 2005. You have an experienced coach, passionate and

active within the sport with proven success prior to the opening of the

McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. A school that is a member of the Big Ten, located in a strong swimming state

with about as complete of a roster that a coach could ask for with athletes

from 19 states in addition to seven different countries. Combine these factors with the traditional ingredients

of a successful season including time, effort and commitment and you may

achieve something special. After winning the Big Ten

Championship in February, Coach Bill

Wadley accurately summed it up in stating, “Everybody just have a seat

and relax for a moment. Take a deep breath. Something has just happened on the campus of Ohio State

University that will make believers out of anyone who doesn't believe that

dreams do come true.”2010 does not mark the end of a

climb for Coach Bill Wadley’s

program. Rather, the year will serve

as a beginning point for a new era of prosperity

as Ohio State is here to compete

at the top level for many year’s to follow.

Break-Out Team-Male

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Page 21

They did not win their conference meet in 2010. They ranked sixth in the

final CSCAA poll in February 2010 despite a record of 10-2. Following a seventh place finish in 2009, other

programs were expected to compete for the team title at the national

championship meet. However, it was the University of Florida that made it to the top after event number twenty-

one was complete at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center on the campus of Purdue University.

In 2006, Georgia scored 1094 points to Auburn’s 1075 to win the SEC Championship. Auburn went on

to win the NCAA championship that year by three points. Since then, each

team to win a national championship has won their respective conference meet in that same year. Enter 2010

and going in with the recent trend that your NCAA team champion will

originate from the pool of conference champions, your likely teams would have been Texas A&M, Stanford and

Georgia. In what turned out to be one of the most exciting national

championship meets ever, Florida defied the odds to win the team title by 2.5 points. In an interview soon

after the meet was complete, Coach Gregg Troy accurately summed it up

to the media by saying, “It was a true team effort.”

If the close meet in 2006 was a

predictor for 2010 for women’s swimming & diving at the NCAA level,

get your tickets now for the meet in 2014 as it will be another one to remember!

Break-Out Team-Female

TheSwimPictures.com


Page 22

Anatomy of an exciting meet.With hundreds of competitions

throughout the season, it is difficult to capture and decide which few make

the publication. Some factors that make a meet special include; a close final score. A meet with multiple lead

changes. A meet that is decided in the final event. A meet with multiple

close races for all scoring places. Was there a comeback? The level of rivalry between the schools along with

their current ranking make

the meet special. Add in the emotion and

meet atmosphere to

create amazing stories. And last, perhaps

schedule a meet on January

23rd!

California (4) vs. Stanford (2)February 20, 2010. Stanford, CA.

In one of the greatest rivalries in the history of collegiate swimming and athletics, the 2010 version of the Big

Swim did not disappoint. An early disqualification required even greater

efforts from the Bears which they got in several events including Tommy Shields (200 Free), the IM’ers and

relays. However, Stanford possessed terrific performances as well including

diving, distance freestyles, and the 200 strokes. While competing in the classic thirteen event format, the

Cardinal made it five in a row in the rivalry to win the meet 123.5-119.5.

Tennessee (11) vs. Georgia (12)January 23, 2010. Athens, Georgia.

" In a January battle between SEC foes, this meet was highlighted by a back and forth of strong events for each

program. Thirteen points or more were scored in eight of fourteen individual

events. Matt Bartlett’s close win in the 100 Free along with three late sweeps (500 FR, 100FL & 200 IM) were the

difference makers in this extremely close contest. Tennessee, winner of both

relays, was able to make it close at the

very end. Upon winning

by a score of 152-148, Coach

Bauerle stated, “Today

was a lot of fun....I am really proud of

the guys.”

Arizona (3) vs California (4)

January 23, 2010. Berkeley, CA. " The number four-ranked Cal Bears hosted Pac-10 rival and third-

ranked Arizona Wildcats in a thriller. After eight events, Cal was in total control

leading 89-60. Nathan Adrian’s win in the 100, which capped the individual hat-trick for him, put Cal up by 38 after nine.

Arizona then powers its way to close out the meet by winning six of the final seven

events. Of the six event victories, the ‘Cats swept three while taking first & second in another to clinch the win by a

score of 157-141. Do yourself a favor and check out the results. This was a

meet highlighted by several close races.

Most Exciting Meet-Male

“...Arizona then powers their way to close out the meet by winning 6 of the final 7 events. Of the 6 event victories, the ‘Cats swept three while taking 1-2 in another to clinch the win by a score of 157-141.”


Page 23

January 29, 2010. Dallas, TexasWhen two storied swimming &

programs, both nationally ranked and from the same state, get together late in the season, it eventually develops

into more than just a dual meet. The Texas A&M Aggies, led by Coach Jay

Holmes, and the SMU Mustangs, led by Coach Eddie Sinnott have a rivalry that has become an event. !

This year’s meeting had met all of the criteria to be recognized alone in

studying the results. However, what makes it even more impressive is the number 240; a number which

represents the point total of each team over the past two seasons in head to

head competition. In 2009, SMU took the final relay to win the meet by a score of 122-121. In 2010, Texas

A&M did exactly what they needed to do in event thirteen by placing first

and while hanging on to a close third in the 400 free relay to win 119-118.

Six lead changes took place over

the course of 13 events with the excitement beginning in the first race.

Down at the 200, A&M’s Boris Loncaric created a defining swim which put the Aggies in a position to

win the 400 medley relay. The other defining sequence of the meet

appeared to take place just after Ed Downes of SMU came from behind in the 200 fly to win and put his team in

front by six. Next in the 100 free, with his teammate leading the field, Casey

Strange moved from third at the 50 to second at the 100 by .01 to just touch out the SMU sprinter and earn a point

that turned out to be a

difference maker.

Look for

another event at College

Station this December!

Most Exciting Meet-Men

Texas A&m(19) @ SMU (23)


Page 24

Tennessee vs. LouisvilleOctober 15, 2009, Louisville, KY

An early season non-conference meet up is an excellent method to lead to some fast swimming. This is

exactly was took place as Louisville hosted the Lady Vols in their season

opener. Four consecutive key events in the

middle of the meet, 50 FR, Diving, 100

FR and the 200 Back, proved to be significant as the closest contests of

the meet’s first 14 events came during this

stretch. The final two events

were climatic with Louisville’s Leslie Van

Winkle taking a very close 200

IM to keep her team in position to win. The

Cards followed suit with another come-from-behind to

take the 400 free relay. In a meet that featured six lead

changes with none more important

than the final one, it was Louisville who upset Tennessee by a score of

152 to 148.

Indiana (14) vs. Louisville (13)January 20, 2010, Louisville, KY

Each team was competing in the final dual meet of the season. The two

teams were eventual Big East runners-up versus Big Ten champs. Though the difference in score was not in the

single digits, there were enough close races that either team could have won

this meet. A three-way battle for first

in the 200 free ignited the meet for both teams as they went on to trade

punches in the 100 back, 100 breast, 50 free, and 200 back. Kate Fesenko provided those in attendance with not

a little, but rather a lot of foreshadow in sweeping both backstrokes.

Perhaps the best race of the meet came in the 400 free relay as both teams posted NCAA B cut times.

Indiana held off a hard charging Cardinal relay to take the relay by the

closest of margins.

California (5)

vs. USC (9)Jan 29, 2010,

Los Angeles, CA One can expect

nothing less than a close

meet when two Pac-10 teams get

together in late January. This was an interesting meet

in that the score was close despite just a few close races between the teams for first place. However, after

three events it appeared that every race was going to be down to the final

stroke. In this case, the battle took place event-by-event as the teams went back and forth with the strength

of their front-line competitors. California won a close opening relay

and completely owned the last relay. Katka Hosszu narrow victory in the 200 free along with a strong run

between 1m and 3m diving proved to be the difference for USC as they

upset the Bears by a score of 153-147

Most Exciting Meet-Female

“ I could not be prouder of how we fought for that win,” said U of L head

coach Arthur Albiero. “It is another step in our

evolution as a program. All credit goes to the

incredible leadership we got from our seniors.”


Page 25

January 9th, 2010. Austin, Texas ! This meet lived up to the

anticipation and hype that the swimming community expected. Going into one of the first meets of the

new calendar year, Coach Jack Bauerle was quoted as saying, “The

meets with Texas‘ women are always challenging.” And after one event, one can see just how correct he was

in his preview comments. Each leg of the opening 200 medley relay was a

battle. The swimmers were never separated by more than .17 which came at the end as Texas‘ Karly Bispo

split a 22.24 to secure a victory. Georgia’s line-up depth along with

key victories in the individual events kept them in contention to win the meet. Lady Bulldog diver Hannah

Moore picked up critical points on both boards in two of the closest

contested events of the day. One could argue that with three Texas divers not far behind, without these

two wins, the meet is over long before the final event of the meet.

For those on the side of Texas, it is difficult to single out whose points were more important than another in

their quest to take down the number one team in the land. They had terrific

efforts and performances all over the place to set the team up for the win in the final relay. However, Longhorn

swimmer Jess Guro’s win in the 100 back has to be an event you look back

on as a difference maker. The score going into event

number fifteen, the 400 IM, was 135 to

130 in favor of Georgia making it the other must-win event for either team.

Longhorn teammates Leah Gingrich and Laura Sogar promptly placed first and third to make the score 142-141,

Texas.Each team left nothing on the

table as they turned the meet into a thriller with their efforts in the final relay. Two Olympians, Kathleen

Hersey of Texas along with Georgia’s Allison Schmitt, went head to head on

the anchor leg. Hersey held off Schmitt as both swimmers were in the :48 range to secure the win in the

relay for the Longhorns that gave Texas the points it needed to exceed

the 150 mark to take the meet, 153-147.

Most Exciting Meet-Women

Georgia(1) @ Texas(4)


Page 26

NOTE: Originally published in Collegeswimming.com 3/25/10

THE HOPES OF A PROGRAMTwo years ago the University of Cincinnati decided to eliminate scholarships for men's swimming.# The blow was a crippling one for the Bearcats, but that hasn't held Josh Schneider back.#

Tonight the UC sprinter will head into the 50 freestyle with scores of supporters in the stands and the hopes of a program riding his kick.# Being here, in a position to help his program in ways outside of just points motivates the excitable Schneider.#

"This means everything," he explained poolside, "they're even considering bringing back scholarships."

That later point is one that has UC head coach Monty Hopkins excited.He hopes that the UC Administration can see that guys like Schneider deserve to compete on the national stage and that, "Given the opportunity more schools like ours can do that."His words are more than hopeful optimism as UC makes progress towards returning its program to full funding.# "I think we may be the team that turns the trend," explains Hopkins.# To that end, the UC administration has turned up the support of Bearcat swimming.# This week assistant athletic director Mike Waddell made arrangements to attend the meet and provide tickets and dinner for a host of supporters and influence makers.#

"You don't often have an Assistant Athletic director going to those lengths to help your program," explained Hopkins.# "I think Mike Waddell and Mike Thomas can be famous for saying, 'you know what? Its easy to find a way to cut a program - we found a way to make one better."

Hopefully Schneider can help stimulate that interest, but either way he's not ruffled.# For Schneider, he's more concerned about his mom who had chartered a bus and made reservations at three hotels to house upwards of eighty supporters.# The postponement of the meet has understandably made the event a challenge.

Again though Schneider remains nonplussed.# "This is just a hiccup.# I spoke with my mom this morning and she's happy, so I'm happy and everyone's happy."If that comfort zone is one of Schneider's strengths, so too is swimming in one of his favorite pools.# "Every time I've swum here, I've swum really well.# I'm at my peak, in a pool I like.# I have no excuses so I'm going to get out there and let it ride."

The hopes of a program ride with him.

NOTE: Originally published in Collegeswimming.com 3/26/10

ONE SWIMMER & THOUSANDS OF FANS

Nobody's talking about who's sick now.# At the first night of the NCAA

Championships, the storyline turned to a tight team race and a storybook

performance from a local kid.# Other highlights on the night included a

Wolverine with a broken hand taking to the water for valuable team points, a small Gator squad going to the

blocks time and time again for great swims, and a Longhorn freshman

finding his way to the wall first.#

Well you’ve all heard of the SI curse, well apparently the opposite is true for Collegeswimming.com. This morning we featured a story on Cincinnati Bearcat Josh Schneider who finished third in this morning’s preliminaries. Tonight the Bearcats’ lone entrant in the meet jumped out to a 9.27 first 25 split just behind favorite Nathan Adrian’s 9.20 and even with Texas’ Jimmy Feigen, but Schneider absolutely jumped off the bulkhead and out split Adrian by .16 to win on the final length. After the race Schneider let us all know how he felt “I feel complete. Complete! I can’t finish the season any better than that. I can’t finish my senior year any better than that. The race was perfect.” Hopefully the Cincinnati Athletic Department will reward the Bearcat program with a restoration of some well deserved scholarship dollars. Adam Brown from Auburn took third, followed by Feigen, Auburn’s Gideon Louw, surprise finalist Josh Daniels from Cal in sixth and the two Cardinal Dunford and Colville followed in seventh and eighth. Graeme Moore of Cal powered to a 19.29 to win the consol heat just ahead of Minnesota’s Michael Richards. Just one final note on Schneider, the Bearcat has not lost the 50 all year…..all year.

Profiles in Excellence: Josh Schneider


Page 27

Bob Schaller: I know more about Cincinnati’s outstanding academics than I do about any sport other than football and maybe basketball – is the swim program on the rise? Josh Schneider: UC swimming has gotten more attention in the last couple of months than I have experienced collectively in my career here. But that’s what it takes in swimming – having success – because swimming is not a fan-driven sport here. It doesn’t get a lot of recognition here because it doesn’t get a lot of attention. But now, people are starting to care about our swim team here. But I understand that: It’s all about earning your stripes. No one would care about supporting the football team if they didn’t win, and they won back-to-back Big East championships. We can’t ask for support, we have to earn it. 20 Question Tuesday, The Swim Network, Bob Schaller with Josh Schneider

Well said in 2009-10

“Bryan came out of nowhere," Busch said. "It's a story about grit and determination. There's nothing fancy about it; it's perseverance. I'll tell you this: When a senior gets a chance to blossom and then does the work necessary to peak at just the right time, it makes coaching worth it. It's so rewarding. That's why you coach; to get a young man like Bryan O'Connor and watch him grow." Coach Frank Busch on Bryan O’Connor in recent story, Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Tuesday, April 6, 2010

“Everybody just have a seat and relax for a moment. Take a deep breath. Something has just happened on the campus of Ohio State University that will make believers out of anyone who doesn't believe that dreams do come true.” Coach Bill Wadley, Opening paragraph of the OSU release on winning the Big Ten Championship in February. Release: 2/28/2010 Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com

“Peter Daland. Always structured, always formal, always with a historical sense and sensitivity to build a structure that will last, and always a mentor to other coaches, Peter has spent most of his years since his retirement in major leadership roles within our sport, both nationally and internationally.

Nort Thornton. If Peter is East coast formal, Nort is California cool. Brightly colored shorts and all.... I almost said “casual” for Nort, but there is nothing “casual” about the focus and the intensity Nort brings to his coaching on deck. Nort, like Peter, is a competitor.” Coach Tim Welsh, University of Notre Dame, 2010 CSCAA Convention, Baltimore Segment of his spectacular introduction for the Speedo Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Coach Peter Daland and Coach Nort Thornton.


Page 28

CHANDLER: HIGH SCHOOL PR 2005-06

2006-07 Freshman

2007-08 Sophomore

2008-09 Junior

2009-10

Senior

50 Freestyle 23.78 23.36 23.43 22.83 22.97

200 IM 2:05.32 2:00.25 (24th) 1:58.87 (16th) 1:57.02 (16th) 1:58.44 (19th place)

100 Breaststroke 1:00.94 1:00.03 (2nd) 59.98 (3rd) 59.18 (4th) 58.06 (1st place)

200 Breaststroke 2:14.48 2:12.50 (14th) 2:10.64 (8th) 2:08.94 (7th) 2:07.68 (3rd place)

BORKOWSKI: HIGH SCHOOL PR 2005-06

2006-07 Freshman

2007-08

Sophomore

2008-09

Junior

2009-10

Senior

50 Freestyle 23.94 23.77 23.50 (6th) 22.89 (3rd) 22.87 (1st place)

100 Freestyle 54.20 51.90 51.08 (4th) 49.84 (2nd) 49.77 (1st place)

100 Backstroke 58.39 56.91 (4th) 56.02 (3rd) 55.55 (3rd) not listed

200 Freestyle 2:00.9 not listed not listed 1:50.11 1:49.31(1st place)

Career Improvement grids

ERIC KNIGHT:

HS PR 2004-05

2005-06 (Freshman)

2006-07 (Sophomore) 2007-08 (Junior) 2009-10 (Senior)

50 Freestyle Not listed 21.19 20.87 20.00 19.84

100 Freestyle Not listed 46.80 45.54 44.45 44.06

100 Breaststroke 1:04.69 1:00.35 55.20 54.93 56.95

200 Breaststroke Not listed 2:12.21 2:02.14 2:00.00 Swam 200 Free (1:35.85)

BRYAN O’CONNOR:

HS PR 2005-06

2006-07 (Freshman)

2007-08 (Sophomore) 2008-09 (Junior) 2009-10 (Senior)

50 Backstroke 24.53 23.15 not listed 23.02 21.52

100 Backstroke 51.82 48.94 47.60 (25th) 46.88 (18th) 46.31 (7th place)

200 Backstroke 1:50.69 1:45.23 1:43.92 (20th) 1:41.48 (19th) 1:43.94 (7th place)

200 IM 1:54.44 1:50.08 1:47.18 (40th) 1:43.96 (29th) 1:44.91 (17th place)


Page 29

The followings programs were nominated for at least one category

California-Berkeley-MenCalifornia-Berkeley-WomenCincinnati University-Men

Clarion University-MenColumbia University-Men

Drury University-MenEmory University-WomenFlorida Gulf Coast-Women

George Mason University-M&WIncarnate Word-Men

Indiana University-WomenLouisiana State University-MenMarist College-Women

Middlebury College-M&WOhio State University-Men

Ohio State University-WomenPenn State University-MenRipon College-M&W

Southern Methodist University-MStanford University-Men

Stanford University-WomenSusquehanna University-M&WTexas A&M University-Men

Texas Christian University-M&WTowson University-Women

University of Alabama-M&WUniversity of Arizona-M&WUniversity of Florida-M&W

University of Georgia-M&WUniversity of Kansas-Women

University of Louisville-M&WUniversity of Mary Washington-W University of Michigan-Women

University of North Carolina-MenUniversity of South Carolina-M&W

University Southern California-WUniversity Southern California-MUniversity of Tennessee-Men

University of Tennessee-WomenUniversity of Texas-Men

University of Texas-Women

University of Toledo-WomenUniversity of Virginia-Men

University of Wyoming-M&WWest Chester University-WomenWest Virginia University-Women

Williams College-WomenWisconsin-Eau Claire-M&W

Dedicated to the members of the following programs:

Butler University, Men, 2007

California-Irvine, 2009California-Los Angeles-Men, 1994

California-Northridge, 2010Duquesne University-Men, 2010James Madison Univ.-Men, 2007

Kutztown University-Men, 2009Miami (swimming)-Men, 2000

Nebraska-Men, 2002Ohio University-Men, 2007Richmond-Men

Rutgers University-Men, 2006Slippery Rock University, 2006

University of Illinois-Men, 1993University of Kansas-Men 2001U. of Rhode Island-Men, 2008

U. of New Hampshire, Men, 2006University of Toledo-Men, 2003

University of Vermont-MenUniversity of Washington, 2009

Also dedicated to members of the

following programs in their battle to preserve their program.

California-Davis, M&WClemson University, M&WNJIT, M&W

Syracuse University, M&W

Publications notes

Within the sport of collegiate swimming & diving, people and teams continue to will themselves to a higher

level through all of the tenets of over-achievement and excellence. Each

season, many stories take place which may or may not be properly

documented and recognized. The idea behind the college swimming and diving honors is to share the stories,

to tell the story of the 2009-10 collegiate swimming and diving

season. A few categories that were in the

original nomination form were left out

of this publication. There were two primary reasons for their exclusion;

lack of additional nominations, and that the categories need to be better defined. For the upcoming season,

the left-out categories will remain on the nomination form with the

expectation that they will be published in future documents. If you nominated a person or team who did not appear

in this publication, thank you for taking that time to do so.

In 2010-11, a notification by email will be sent out to all collegiate head coaches in the fall announcing the

nomination process. Visit the following site to learn more,

www.collegeswimmingawards.com

Special thank you to the following

for their support and guidance. Naill Adler, Stanford University

Tim Binning,TheSwimPictures.com Alex Dawson, Texas A&M University

Blake Grimsley, University of Arizona Rich Herman, Clarion University Quinn Hunter, University of Wyoming

Justin Kischefsky, Naval Academy Mark Leddy Naval Academy

Jonathan Lee, Texas A&M University Walt Middleton Photography Kyle Niblett, University of Florida

Dan Reisig, George Mason University

Noteworthy

http://www.collegeswimmingawards.com

http://www.collegeswimmingawards.com

PROFILES IN EXCELLENCE:2009-10 College Swimming & Diving Stories