WJU SWIMMING TAKES ASC CHAMPIONSHIP, RUNNER-UP
Rick West named Men’s Coach of the Year

Huntington, WV, Feb. 20, 2010---The Wheeling Jesuit University Swimming program’s slogan of “Individuals Win Races, Teams Win Championships” was more than a tagline tonight as the Cardinals took home the Men’s Championship and the Women’s Runner-Up at the Appalachian Swimming Conference meet at the Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium at Marshall University in Huntington.
 
Head Coach Rick West was named Men’s coach of the year and freshman standout Emily Martin was named Swimmer of the Year.

The Cardinals had numerous stand-out swims.

Senior Sergio Bracamontes had the meet of his career as he topped the podium 1st in the 200 Butterfly. He also was runner-up in the 200 Freestyle and the 100 Butterfly events.

Sophomore Jake Lucas touched first in the 1650 freestyle. A standout in the distance freestyle events, Lucas also placed third in the 200 Backstroke.

Max Queale, a sophomore for the Cards, touched first in the 100 Freestyle. Queale followed up his win with a 4th place finish in the 50 Freestyle and a 5th in the 200 Free.

Freshman Matt Logan touched first in the 400 Individual Medley and followed up with runner-up places in the 200 Backstroke and the 200 Individual Medley.

The Cardinal Men’s 400 Medley Relay team of Logan, Freshmen Bill Risse, Patrick Chadowski and Tom Smith touched were also ACS champions.

The Women’s team was lead by Martin who won every event she swam for the Cardinals. Martin won the 200 Individual Medley, the 200 Freestyle, and the 500 Freestyle and was a member of a runner-up 400 Medley Relay team.

Other performances of note for the lady cardinals include a visit to the podium from freshman Casey Hamilton, who placed third in the 50 Freestyle and 6th in the 100 Freestyle.

Sophomores Jessica Steve finished 5th in the 200 Butterfly and Chelsea Guiseppi scored 6th in the 400 Individual Medley and 4th in the 200 Backstroke. Teammate Andi Fitzgibbon also touched fourth in the 100 Breaststroke.

Head Coach Rick West was thrilled with the result of the meet.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better meet,” West said. “All the pieces came together at the right time this weekend and we performed when we had to perform.”

“This meet is the result of what can happen when talented individuals work as a team,” he said.

West indicated that the championship effort was not based on wins alone.

“We had a ton of personal best swims this weekend,” he said. “It is these swims, the ones who stepped up and placed when they might not have been seeded to score, those are the swims that put us over the top.”

“We swam like a championship team and I’m thrilled with how far we’ve come.”

Topping the Mens team scores were WJU 658, Asbury 527, and Mars Hill College 503. Asbury captured the women’s top spot with 751, followed by WJU with 433.5 and Mars Hill 431. The full conference results are available on the Appalachian Swim Conference website.

The Appalachian Swim Conference consists of teams throughout the Midwest and Southern United States. Its members include: Asbury College (KY), Milligan College (TN), Berea College (KY), Notre Dame College (OH), Berry College (GA), Union College (NY), Brenau University (GA), Urbana University (OH), King College (TN), Ursuline College (OH), LaGrange College (GA), Warren Wilson College (NC), Mars Hill College (OH), and Wheeling Jesuit University (WV).