Oct. 16, 2006
The 2006-07 campaign marks the eighth year for George Mason University's swimming & diving programs. In that time, the Patriots have established themselves as one of the elite programs in the Colonial Athletic Association as Mason has a combined 24 conference award winners, along with a total of 51 CAA Champions. This season, the Patriots will look to continue the success of the programs, including a fifth CAA Championship for the women's program and a first on the men's side.
"Our goals are the same as they have since day one, we want our athletes to have every opportunity to perform at the top of their ability," said head coach Peter Ward. "We have had that objective since we started this program seven years ago and I think that when that happens, they not only have success individually, but also as a team."
The men's squad has placed second at the CAA Championships for the past three years. Returning to this year's roster to help pursue the school's first title are five seniors, including Tom Koucheravy, Joe Houchin, Andrew Ryder, B.J. Dufresne and Matt Elko. Last season, Koucheravy earned All-American status, twice, in the 1,650 and 500 free and also earned the CAA Swimmer of the Year Award for the second-straight time. In addition, Koucheravy won the 200 free, the 500 free and the 1,650 free events at the CAA Championships and was also a part of the 800 free relay team that placed first, along with Matt McGillicuddy, Tim Norton and Houchin.
"Tom continues to make massive improvements," commented Ward. "He has established himself, not only on a national level, but also on an International level. He finished the long course season ranked No. 29 in the world, which is obviously a huge achievement and a tribute to his hard work and willingness to do the things he needs to do to improve. I still think that he has a long way to go to reach his full potential."
In 2006, Houchin was a CAA Champion and a school record holder in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:50.15 and he also placed third in the 400 IM (4:00.02) at the conference championships. Ryder earned a third-place finish in the 200 IM (1:53.27) and placed fourth in the 200 breast (2:05.76).
"All of our seniors are experienced and know how to perform at the big meets," said Ward. "I am looking forward to seeing all of them compete in their last season with the program."
Mason has only two athletes in the junior class this season in Andrew Day and Matt Kane. Last season, Kane placed sixth in the 200 breast at the CAA Championships (2:05.95), while Day set a personal best in the 100 fly at the conference championships (54.90).
"We have seen huge improvements out of Matt and I think that he is just starting to reach his potential," stated Ward. "I will look for big things out of Matt this year."
The Patriots have seven true sophomores on this year's team, including Ellis Domenech, Eric Knight, Nick Langley, Justin Mallette, Ryan Metzker, Ross Redcay and Damian Rodino.
"Ryan is one of the top, if not the top diver in the CAA," said Ward. "Roland (McDonald, the team's head diving coach) has done a phenomenal job through his freshman year and we look at Ryan to really step it up this season.
"Eric is a walk-on for us and made huge strides during his freshman season. At some point, whether this year or in years to follow, I think he will be one of the top sprinters in the conference."
The Patriots will see nine new faces on the team this year in Jason Adler, Jarred Baird, Steven Benecki, Josh Carden, Ryan David, Robert Kreitler, Matt Marquart, Tad Ogren and Mike Wheeler.
"We have a big freshman class coming in this year that I am extremely excited about," commented Ward. "They have come in here with a great attitude and a strong work ethic, both in school and in swimming.
"Ryan has an opportunity to come in and have an immediate impact both on our team and in the conference, while Josh was No. 2 in the state last year, so he will come in here and have an immediate impact on our freestyle events and our relays."
On the women's side, the Patriots have won four of the last five CAA Championships. This season the Patriots have five seniors in Justine Blaho, Brooke Crowther, Colleen Flack, Rebecca Jimenez and Liz Ouzts.
"We have a nice sized senior class with five women who provide leadership to our program both in and out of the water and will look for big things from them," stated Ward.
This past season, Ouzts placed third in both the 100 breast (1:04.47) and the 200 breast (2:20.43) and was a part of the third-place 200 medley relay (1:47.03) along with Jimenez, Morgan Hall and Sarah Bizer.
"Liz really stepped up as a junior and had a great summer in 2006 in both her competing and training and I will look for great things from her in her senior season," said Ward.
Flack earned a second-place finish in the 1-meter diving event (268.40) and placed third in the 3-meter (272.90) at the 2006 CAA Championships.
"Colleen has been a very consistent scorer for us in diving and comes into her senior season well prepared to have her best year ever."
The junior class sees six returners in Bizer, Brittany Cochrane, Amanda Fielding, Erica Locher, Mallory Pucci and Brittany Surkovich.
The junior class is probably one of the hardest working classes we have in our program," commented Ward.
Bizer placed second in the 50 free (23.84) last year at the conference championships, along with a fifth place finish in the 100 free (52.16).
"Sarah made huge strides in sprint freestyles last season as she set school records in both the 50 and 100 free to make the U.S. Open qualifying time for the first time in her career," said Ward. "I think Sarah has every opportunity to be one of the top sprinters in the conference this year, but I would hate to limit her to just that event."
There are five sophomores on the 2006-07 roster and they include: Mary Beth Cheslock, Katie Gordan, Morgan Hall, Katie Kelly and Allie Smith.
Kelly finished third in the 1,650 free (17:14.93) last year at the CAA Championships, while Smith garnered a fifth-place finish in the 500 free (5:06.92).
"Our sophomore class is a strong class," commented Ward. "We had two athletes as freshman last year set school records in Allie Smith and Katie Kelly. Both have worked hard over the summer and are continuing to improve."
There are 12 newcomers for Mason this year and they are Kristin Escobar, Stephanie Evans, Samantha Hatfield, Caitlin Impink, Jessica Jacoby, Lara Shoemaker, Kendall Snyder, Kristina Stone, Sarah Kate Traynham, Millie Wannamaker and Claire Weems.
"I think this is one of the biggest freshman classes that we have ever had here at Mason," stated Ward. "From top to bottom this class is very talented and will have an immediate impact on the team this year."
The Patriots begin the season at the Potomac Relays, which will be hosted by American on Oct. 13 and will then open up CAA competition at Delaware on Oct. 21. One week later the Patriots will then welcome James Madison, Mason's first home competition.
For the second time in three years, one of the CAA Pod Meet's sites is the Aquatic & Fitness Center, which is taking place Nov. 3-4. The schools competing along with Mason are the College of Charleston, Drexel and Davidson.
The annual Patriot Invitational is slated for Nov. 17-19, which historically has included about 11 teams for each gender.
Conference competition resumes on Jan. 13 with a dual meet against Towson in Fairfax and then Mason's final away meet of the season on Jan. 21 against George Washington. The Patriots then host Mary Washington on Jan. 26. The following day, Mason will host American, Old Dominion and Army for the last competition in the month of January.
Howard marks the final regular-season dual meet (Feb. 2) and the next competition for the Patriots is the CAA Championships at the Aquatic & Fitness Center from Feb. 14-17 for the eigthth straight year.
"The capper of our regular season is the CAA Championships," said Mason swimming head coach Peter Ward. "It promises to be a very exciting championship here in Fairfax for the eighth time. It is the highlight of our season and I will look for my teams to be very competitive since we prepare all season long for the conference championships."
