Feb. 27, 2008
The 2008 Swimming and Diving All-Patriot League Teams were unveiled on Wednesday, and it was no surprise that the Patriot League Champion Navy men and Colgate women led the way with 13 and 11 selections, respectively. The Bucknell men also reached double-digits, as they had 10 student-athletes that were selected.
On the men's side, five-time defending champion Navy had 13 student-athletes selected to the All-League squads, including eight on the first team. Leading the way was junior Alex Oldenkamp, who earned individual victories in both the 50yd Free and 100yd Free events. Juniors Billy Vey and Jonathan Galinski also qualified for their wins in the 400 IM and 1m/3m diving events, respectively. Freshman Ryan Ward, who won an individual title in the 200yd Back, also garnered first-team recognition. Also joining the first-team based on individual point totals at the '08 meet were freshmen Andrew Hetzner and Alex Buck, Nathan Leroy, and junior Nathan Durham. Second-team recognition was handed out to freshman diver Olaf Olson for his two second-place diving finishes, as well as to juniors Dan Warner and David Guthmann and freshman J.J. Helms based on point totals.
The Bucknell men, who finished second at the championship meet, placed 10 student-athletes on the first and second team. Sophomore Luke Trafton (1650yd Free, 500yd Free) and junior Mark Kawczenski (100yd Back) each earned individual titles at the meet to earn first-team accolades. The were joined on the first team by senior Brad Bennett and freshman Gonzalo Deleon. The Bucknell team members earning second-team status were seniors Joe Metcalf, Grant Steadman and J.B. Peterman, sophomores Daniel Fletcher and Ben Leboza, as well as freshman Mike Volpe.
Army was next with five student-athletes on the All-Patriot League Teams, led by 2008 Swimmer of the Meet, senior Jake Mentele. Mentele swam to individual titles in the 200yd IM, 200yd Breast and 100yd Breast events. Earning first-team status with Mentele was teammate Kyle Newman, who earned recognition based on individual points at the championship meet. The Black Knights placed three student-athletes on the Second-Team All-Patriot League, including junior Jeff Tolbert and sophomores Chuck Ciliske and James McLaughlin.
Colgate featured four swimmers on the first and second team, led by senior Zack Whitman, who earned First-Team All-Patriot League accolades with his individual victory in the 100yd Fly. The Raiders had three swimmers on the second team, including freshmen Trevor and Devon Healy as well as fellow rookie Tucker Gniewek.
American and Lehigh rounded out the All-Patriot League Teams with three and two representatives, respectively. Lehigh junior Dan Johnson earned first-team recognition after his victory in the 200yd Free, while American seniors Dan Nagelberg and Joe Coronato earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors based on points.
The women's First and Second-Team All-Patriot League squads were as close as the race for the team title at this past weekend's championship meet. The Colgate women, who won the title on Saturday night, placed 11 swimmers on the first and second teams to lead the way. Individual champions that earned first-team status include 2008 Rookie of the Meet Erin McGraw (200yd IM, 100yd Fly), junior Emily Murphy (100yd & 200yd Breast) and junior Beverly Walker (200yd Back). Three other Colgate swimmers made the first team based on points. They were freshman Caren Guyett, junior Lisa Marchi and sophomore Caitie Curran.
The Bucknell women had the second-highest number of student-athletes on the All-Patriot League Teams with nine, led by sophomore Courtney Warren, who earned an individual title in the 100yd Back. Joining Warren on the first team were senior Kristen Skroski and sophomores Meggie Mongan and Lauren Russell. Bison who earned second-team status were sophomore Abby Atkinson, freshman Molly Goebel, sophomore Eliza Massie, sophomore Rebecca Bersani and freshman Sinead O'Dwyer.
The Navy women, who finished second at the championship meet, placed eight student-athletes on the first and second teams. First-Team All-Patriot League members based on individual victories were sophomore Tara Chapmon (200yd Free, 500yd Free, 1650yd Free), sophomore Thuy Mi-Dinh (50yd Free, 100yd Free), senior Katie Griffin (1m & 3m diving) and junior Kelly Zahalka (400yd IM, 200yd Fly). Freshmen Allison Ranzau and Tessa Snow each made the first team based on points. Junior Desiree' Robison and freshman Natalie Albertson made the second-team based on points.
Army and Lafayette each had three student-athletes earn All-Patriot League recognition, all six of which earned second-team honors. Army's honorees include sophomore Lindsey Adao, senior Coriebeth Freeman and freshman Corrie Payne, while Lafayette's honorees include seniors Liz Geary and Katherine Kaczka along with sophomore Kristen Tyler.
American and Lehigh rounded out the All-Patriot League teams with two student-athletes apiece. The Eagles placed two swimmers on the first team, led by freshman Dorothy Isaacs and senior Meghan Thiel. Lehigh placed two on the second team, led by junior Melanie Rolish and freshman Lauren Kindrick.
Each of the Swimming and Diving All-Patriot League Teams consists of 18 student-athletes. First-team status is automatically awarded to anyone who earns a first-place finish at the championship meet. The remaining first-team slots are filled by the student-athletes with the highest remaining individual point totals from the meet. Second-team status is automatically awarded to anyone who earns a second-place finish, but does not have enough individual points to make the first team. The remaining second-team slots are filled by the student-athletes with the highest remaining individual point totals from the meet.
2008 All-Patriot League Teams
MEN
First-Team All-Patriot League
Luke Trafton, Bucknell *
Jake Mentele, Army *
Alex Oldenkamp, Navy *
Billy Vey, Navy *
Zack Whitman, Colgate *
Dan Johnson, Lehigh *
Mark Kawczenski, Bucknell *
Jonathan Galinski, Navy *
Ryan Ward, Navy *
Andrew Hetzner, Navy *
Alex Buck, Navy ^
Dan Nagelberg, American ^
Kyle Newman, Army ^
Brad Bennett, Bucknell ^
Nathan Leroy, Navy ^
Gonzalo Deleon, Bucknell ^
Nathan Durham, Navy ^
Joe Coronato, American ^
Second-Team All-Patriot League
Trevor Healy, Colgate **
Joe Metcalf, Bucknell **
Matt Pelletier, American **
Olaf Olson, Navy **
Jonathan Kearney, Lehigh **
J.J. Helms, Navy ^
Jeff Tolbert, Army ^^
Dan Warner, Navy ^^
Grant Steadman, Bucknell ^^
Daniel Fletcher, Bucknell ^^
Tucker Gniewek, Colgate ^^
Mike Volpe, Bucknell ^^
J.B. Peterman, Bucknell ^^
David Guthmann, Navy ^^
Ben Leboza, Bucknell ^^
Adam Niekras, Navy ^^
Devon Healy, Colgate ^^
Chuck Ciliske, Army ^^
James McLaughlin, Army ^^
(Note - There are 19 members on the second team due to ties)
WOMEN
First-Team All-Patriot League
Tara Chapmon, Navy *
Erin McGraw, Colgate *
Thuy Mi-Dinh, Navy *
Katie Griffin, Navy *
Kelly Zahalka, Navy *
Emily Murphy, Colgate *
Courtney Warren, Bucknell *
Beverly Walker, Colgate *
Allison Ranzau, Navy ^
Dorothy Isaacs, American ^
Caren Guyett, Colgate ^
Meghan Thiel, American ^
Lauren Russell, Bucknell ^
Lisa Marchi, Colgate ^
Meggie Mongan, Bucknell ^
Kristen Skroski, Bucknell ^
Caitie Curran, Colgate ^
Tessa Snow, Navy ^
Second-Team All-Patriot League
Lindsey Adao, Army **
Melanie Rolish, Lehigh **
Kacy Reams, Colgate ^^
Abby Atkinson, Bucknell ^^
Emily Kelly, Colgate ^^
Ashley Bottger, Colgate ^^
Molly Goebel, Bucknell ^^
Liz Geary, Lafayette ^^
Kate Murphy, Colgate ^^
Coriebeth Freeman, Army ^^
Katherine Kaczka, Lafayette ^^
Eliza Massie, Bucknell ^^
Rebecca Bersani, Bucknell ^^
Natalie Albertson, Navy ^^
Sinead O'Dwyer, Bucknell ^^
Corrie Payne, Army ^^
Desiree Robison, Navy ^^
Lauren Kindrick, Lehigh ^^
Alaina Sullivan, Colgate ^^
Kristen Tyler, Lafayette ^^
(Note - There are 20 members on the second team due to ties)
* - First-place finish in one or more races
^ - Filler based on highest remaining point totals
** - Second-place finish (not enough points to jump to first team)
^^ - Filler based on highest remaining point totals after previous three categories filled.
