at the OAC Relay Meet at Mount Union College
BEREA, OHIO— The Baldwin-Wallace College men’s and women’s swimming and diving team will begin the 2005-2006 season at the Annual Ohio Athletic Conference Relay Meet this Saturday (October 22) in Alliance, Ohio and at Mount Union College. The meet will begin at 1:00 p.m.
The Yellow Jackets will return 30 letter winners from last season. In addition there are 18 newcomers that will contribute to the success of this year’s team.
The defending OAC-champion Yellow Jacket women will be led by senior three-year letter winners Emily Wood (Carrollton), Mary Dye (Twinsburg/ Senior) and Stephanie Zurca (Aurora). Wood was a finalist in the 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, and 200-breaststroke events at the 2005 OAC Championships. Dye was a finalist in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events. Zurca was a finalist in the 100-yard breaststroke. All three seniors have established themselves on the Yellow Jacket all-time Top-10 fastest times list in numerous events.
Also returning from last season are juniors Sara Gombash (Perrysburg/ Notre Dame Academy), Sarah Anders (North Ridgeville), Katie Klaus (Huron/ Senior), and Katie Krzywicki (Brook Park/ Midpark). Gombash was an OAC champion for two consecutive years in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly events. She also holds the school record and OAC records in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly events. Anders was an OAC finalist in the 100-yard backstroke and consolation finalist in the 50-yard and 200-yard backstroke events. Klaus was a consolation finalist in the 100-yard, 200-yard and 1650-yard freestyle events. Krzywicki was All-OAC in the one-meter and three meter diving events.
For the Yellow Jacket men, senior Bill Lampe (Fairview Park/ Fairview) will return as a three-year letterman. Last season, Lampe was a consolation finalist in the 400-yard individual medley event and in the 200-yard breaststroke events at the OAC Championships.
Juniors Alex de la Pena (Elyria/ Catholic), Luke Grilli (Londonderry, N.H./ Londonderry) and Mark Harris (Manasquan, N.J./ Wall Township) will also bring strength to this season’s squad. de la Pena was All-OAC in the 200-yard IM, 200-yard freestyle, and 200-yard backstroke events. In addition, he holds school records in the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard and 400-yard IM events. Grilli was an OAC finalist in the 200-yard freestyle and was the OAC champion in the 100-yard backstroke events. Harris competed in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 100-yard breaststroke events at the OAC championships.
“We are looking forward to another great year of academic and athletic success by our swimmers and divers," said seventh-year Head Coach Mike Gallagher. "We have been working hard for the past five weeks and are ready to begin the competitive season.
“The coaching staff and I expect for our seniors to be great leaders and a positive, motivating influence on the team and especially our younger team members," continued Gallagher. "Our returning and new student-athletes are a terrific group to work with and I envision them achieving great things.”
Following the OAC Relay Meet, the Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Oct. 29 when they return to Alliance to swim in an OAC dual meet against Mount Union at 1:00 p.m.
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail atkruple@bw.edu. To contact Yellow Jacket Head Coach Mike Gallagher, please call him at 440-826-2387, FAX him at 440-826-2192 or e-mail him atmgallagh@bw.edu.
275 Eastland Rd.