Alex Berger
The Wittenberg men's and women's swimming and diving teams put thefinishing touches on another solid season on Feb. 2 at Case Western Reserve. Heading into the North Coast Athletic Conference championship meet Feb.14-16 at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio, the Tiger men were 6-4 and the women were 4-5-1 against a very challenging 2001-02 dual meet schedule.
While those records were good, the team may well be peaking heading into the toughest conference swim meet
in NCAA Division III, one that includes perennial national title contenders Kenyon, Denison, Wooster and Wabash. The Tiger men appear to be in the mix to finish anywhere from third to fifth in the NCAC, while the women appear to be poised to defend their fourth-place spot. Both teams were fourth in the conference last year with school-record point totals.
On the men's side, the Tigers are led by a trio of athletes who have already produced strong times. Senior Jeremy Lazarus (Moens, France/Ferney-Voltaire)figures to lead the way this year as he attempts to win his second straight 100-yard breaststroke title. He is very close to qualifying for the NCAA meet in the event after making Honorable Mention All-America in 2001.
Another Honorable Mention All-American hoping for a return trip to the national meet is sophomore Steve Rader (Painesville, Ohio/St. Ignatius),who has once again been very consistent in the butterfly events. Also swimming well in a quest for a first NCAA berth is sophomore Alex Berger (Findlay,Ohio/Findlay), who's best time in the 100 breaststroke was just three seconds away from the NCAA "B" cut.
Rounding things out for the men is sophomore Kyle Dunaway (Warren,Ohio/Howland), who is considered an NCAC contender in the 400 Individual Medley as he approaches the school record of 4:15.0. And the sprint freestylers, including sophomores Matt Werbach (Painesville, Ohio/Hawken) andScott Olmsted (Castle Rock, Colo./Cherry Creek) and senior Bob Rafferty (Mt. Vernon, Ohio/Mt. Vernon) have put up some strong times and are threatening several school records posted just a year ago.
On the women's side, things start with a trio of returning 2001 NCAA meet participants, seniors Rachel Juergens (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central), Paula Hauser (Mason, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) and Melissa Beck (Williamsville, N.Y./Carmel (Ind.)). Juergens has been outstanding again this year after finishing fifth in the nation in the 1650 freestyle last year. One of the most versatile swimmers in school history and holder of no less than nine school records, Juergens has already posted times that figure to qualify her for the national event.
Hauser was an Honorable Mention All-America selection a year ago for her strong finish in the 200 breaststroke, and she is once again approaching the time to qualify for the national meet. Beck, despite spending the first semester abroad, has come on strong in recent weeks and will again be a factor on relays, at the very least.
Other swimmers hope to break through at the NCAC meet are sophomoreNicole Kinzeler (Centerville, Ohio/Kettering Alter), who has performed well in several short freestyle events; sophomoreCourtney
Galliger (Eagan, Minn./Eagan), who took first place by a full three seconds in the 100 backstroke at Case Western; sophomore Jessica Forsberg (Wickliffe, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin), who has made significant improvements this year; and senior Elizabeth Bradley (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), who recently posted her career-best in the 1650 free.
Next: 2/14-16 @ NCAC Championships