The Cabrini men’s and women’s swim teams dove into their season with a fresh start. The teams took on a new conference, the Alleghany Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC), and also a new head coach, Diane Green. The team will get to participate in their first conference meet at the end of the season, the AMCC Championships at Grove City College.The Cavs traveled to the Panther Relays on Oct. 23, hosted by University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, which marked the team’s first meet as a new member of the AMCC.
“The team is really excited about becoming an affiliate member of the AMCC for this season. We are all looking forward to swimming fast at our first conference meet at the end of the season,” Emily Yurick, senior finance major, said.
The team recently gained a new coach for the 2010-2011 season. Green took the place of former head coach Mike Kernicky, who helped conduct the first men’s and women’s swim programs at Cabrini.
“Diane has many things to offer this young program. She has many years of swimming under her belt and knows a lot about the sport. I believe with her as coach this is going to be a new era for Cabrini swimming,” Kyle Teliszewski, senior history major, said.
Green was a two-time national champion in the butterfly and also qualified for the 1984 Olympic trials for her 200-meter butterfly time.
“Diane has brought a lot of positive change to the team. She has brought some new practice setups to the program, which the team has responded to very well,” Yurick said.
The men’s team celebrated their first victory on Nov. 5, against King’s College. The men racked up a score of 103-64.
“Since this is my first year with the team, I feel the upper classmen have welcomed us into their swim family,” Stephanie Coleman, freshman exercise science major, said.
Leading the team to victory was senior Bill Boylan who recorded two first-place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Senior Matt McGuriman also recorded two first-place finishes in the 200-yard IM and the 100-yard backstroke. Freshman Rocco Del Monte IV placed first in the 100-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle. Kyle Teliszewski also cruised to a victory in the 200-yard freestyle.
“I think the team is doing very well. All the returning swimmers are shaping up to be great role models and the new freshmen are falling right into the swing of things. Also, we have two new swimmers who have never swam competitively before and they are doing excellent especially with the help of the new head coach Diane Green,” Teliszewski said.
The women’s team hosted their first tri-meet, celebrating a victory over the College of Notre Dame, but suffering a loss to King’s College. Junior Lauren Sliva recorded a first-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke. Lisa Somers, Rachel Schmid, Elysa Phillips and Breaghann Smith celebrated a first-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
“I feel Coach Green and her coaching staff have the ability to take our team to the next level. I look forward to swimming for her over the next four years while I am at Cabrini,” Coleman said.
The men’s and women’s swim team are back in the water Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Dixon Center pool versus Lebanon Valley College and Marywood University.
