The 44th Annual PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Men’s Swimming Championships will be hosted from Thursday February 21st through Saturday February 23rd at Clarion University’s Waldo S. Tippin Natatorium. Prelims are set each day at 10am and finals are slated to start at 6pm. The Women’s PSAC Championship will also run at the same time in an alternating event format.

Tickets for the championship will be on sale at the door. Al-Session passes will cost $35 for adults and $10 for students. Session passes will also be available at $7 per session for adults and $2 for students.

Last year at West Chester, the Rams won the team title scoring 619.5 points, while Clarion was second with 459.5. Rounding out the ten team field were Shippensburg third with 302, Bloomsburg fourth with 209, Kutztown fifth with 191, Slippery Rock sixth with 156, IUP seventh at 126 and Edinboro eighth with 69.

In 2000 at IUP, the PSAC title came down to the final race, the 400 free relay. West Chester edged Clarion in the 400 free relay and narrowly won the PSAC title by 7.5 points in the closest men’s championship in PSAC history. West Chester won the title with 514.5 points, while Clarion was second with 507. Rounding out the eight team field were Shippensburg third with 321, Kutztown fourth with 174.5, Slippery Rock fifth with 168, IUP sixth at 154, Bloomsburg seventh with 95 and Edinboro eighth at 84.

West Chester also won the 1999 PSAC title edging the Golden Eagles 413.5 - 394.5. The Rams have won a total of 14 PSAC titles (1959-65, 67-70, 99-2001) since the championship was started in 1959.

Clarion has won 24 PSAC men’s titles in the last 31 years and will be trying for number 25 this weekend under second year head coach Mark VanDyke. VanDyke, a 1980 Clarion grad, helped the Eagles to 4 straight PSAC titles as a swimmer and 6 titles as an Assistant Coach at Clarion from 1989-2000.

Clarion won 19 straight PSAC titles from 1971-89, won again in 1982 and copped four straight from 1995-98. Shippensburg is the won back to back titles in 1990 & 91, and in 1993 & 94 to account for all the PSAC titles from 1971-2000.

The 2002 Men’s Championship? "West Chester is the favorite to repeat," echoed VanDyke. "They have a very strong team and will likely win a number of the individual titles. We might have a chance to challenge, but we’ll need to do that with depth scoring in all events, hit our tapers perfectly. Everything would have to fall just right for us, but we’ll be giving it our best effort and see what happens."

Bloomsburg, Shippensburg and Slippery Rock will likely battle for third through fifth place positions.

Clarion enters the PSAC’s with a dual meet record of 7-1. The Golden Eagles have defeated Allegheny twice (148-86, 165-72), Shippensburg (158-104), IUP (278-85), Edinboro (172-60), Case Western (140-103) and Duquesne (116-68). Clairon’s lone loss came to West Chester (208-160).

West Chester, under coach Jamie Rudisill, is 10-1 overall entering the PSAC’s. The Rams only loss was to Johns Hopkins (118-89). Key wins were against Delaware (148-84), Lehigh (159.5-82.5), Kutztown (168-94), IUP (292-57) and Bloomsburg (141-91).

Bloomsburg, under coach Roch King, has a 6-3 dual meet record entering the PSAC’s, while Shippensburg is 5-2 under coach Tim Verge and Slippery Rock is 5-1 under Bob Ogoreuc.

Clarion’s PSAC team will be led by captains Brian Monico (Sr. Luzerne- Wyoming Valley) and Gary Aughinbaugh (Sr. Chambersburg).

Also competing this weekend and looking to lead the Golden Eagles are: Jeff Alley (SO. Warren, Ohio - Harding), Aaron Bell (So. Bradford), Matt Buckley (Sr. Wyomissing, Wilson), Beau Caldwell (So. Columbus, Oh.- Upper Arlington), Ben Chandlee (Jr. Red Lion), Aaron Cline (Fr. Clearfield), Eric Dams (Jr. Emmaus), Kevin DiVincenzo (Fr. Warren, Oh.- Hardng), Jeff Kilner (Fr. Titusville), Adam Lohr (Sr. Newville - Big Spring), Mike McConnell (Fr. Wilmington, De.- Mount Pleasant), Brian Nicholas (Fr. Kettering, Oh.), Byron Smith (So. Alpharetta, Ga.), Chris Strauber (So. Downingtown- Henderson), Ryan Wiehagen (So. Irwin - Penn Trafford), Scott Wilson (Fr. Pierrefonds, Que.- Lindsay Place) and Bill Wright (Jr. Canton, Oh - Glen Oaks).

EVENT BREAKDOWN: Each swimmer can only swim a maximum of three individual events and 4 relays for a total of 7 ... Some swimmers are seeded in more than three individual events and each coach will be responsible for selecting the three they will eventually swim. (Seed times are in parenthesis):

EVENT #1 - 200 MEDLEY RELAY: West Chester won the lead event last year and is #1 seed (1:22.64) in 2002. Clarion is a close second seed (1:24.05) and Slippery Rock third (1:26.37).

EVENT #2 - 500 FREESTYLE: WC’s Kyle Almoney (4:36.77) has won two straight years and is the top seed. Teammate Ryan Weathers (4:40.30) is the second seed and finished third here a year ago. Clarion freshman Brian Nicholas (4:42.20) is seeded third and hopes to challenge, along with teammate Brian Monico who was 5^th here last year (4:46.52). Shipp’s Jordan Edwards was 4^th in the 500 last year (4:48.44), WC’s Mike Fender (4:44.51) was sixth and Bloomsburg’s Dave Robinson (4:45.87) was 9^th. Clarion hopes to place Adam Lohr (4:50.13) who was 7^th last year, Matt Buckley (4:50.08) and Aaron Cline (4:51.32) high.

EVENT #3 - 200 I.M.: West Chester’s Matt Matys (1:52.29) is the top seed and three-time defending champion. His teammates Jason Sweger (1:56.28), Bob Carmody (1:56.49) and Grant McGeary (1:56.69) have #2-#4 seeds. Carmody was second last year, McGeary third and Sweger fourth. Hoping to break up the Rams party in this event are Clarion’s Ben Chandlee (1:58.11), Scott Wilson (1:58.59), Mike McConnell (1:59.28) and Beau Caldwell (1:59.89). Caldwell was 5^th last year and Chandlee 6^th. Ship’s Mike Robinson (1:57.03) is seeded 5^th and Bloomsburg’s Jason Davis (2:00.14) is seeded 14^th but finished 8^th last year. The Eagles will also look to score with Aaron Cline and Jeff Alley.

EVENT #4 - 50 FREESTYLE: WC’s Todd Albert (21.04) won this event in 2001 and 1999, while teammate Matt Matys is the top seed (20.92), but will likely not swim this event. Ram Gabe Melo is seeded third (21.25). Clarion’s Gary Aughinbaugh (21.57) was second here last year and hopes to challenge along with Bill Wright (21.31), who was fourth the last two years. Also looking to hit the wall fast are SR’s Aaron Hoffman (21.90) who was 5^th last year, WC’s Erik Boll (21.67) who was seventh in 2001, Shipp’s Derek Johnston (21.72) who was 7^th last year and Bloom’s Steve Fisher (22.23) who was 10^th in 2001. The Eagles hope to score with Kevin DiVincenzo (22.59).

EVENT #5 - 400 MEDLEY RELAY: West Chester is the defending champion and top seed (3:26.72). Clarion will need a big time drop from its seed time of 3:29.77 to challenge, while Shipp (3:31.44) and Bloomsburg (3:32.13) are right behind.

EVENT #6 - 200 MEDLEY RELAY: Clarion won this event in a "photo finish" (36 hundredths of a second) last year which could repeat itself in 2002. WC has the top seed time of 1:34.93, while Clarion is right behind with 1:35.01. Shipp (1:37.27) and Bloom (1:37.68) are also ready to challenge.

EVENT #7 - 1000 FREESTYLE: New event last year! WC’s Kyle Almoney (9:47.78) is the defending champion and top seed. Clarion hopes to challenge with #2 seed Brian Nicholas (9:56.07) and teammates Brian Monico (10:10.26), Adam Lohr (10:21.99), Ryan Wiehagen (10:28.08), EJ Dams (10:11.04) and AaronCline (10:17.87). Monico was third last year, Lohr 5^th and Wiehagen 11^th. Others ready to challenge include Shipp’s Jordan Edwards (10:03.86), WC’s Mike Fender (10:05.91), IUP’s Jeff Faikish (10:09.07) and Bloom’s David Robinson (10:17.48).

EVENT #8 - 400 I.M.: Clarion’s Beau Caldwell (4:13.34) is the defending champion but seeded 5^th. Teammate Brian Nicholas (4:09.87) is seeded second and hopes to challenge. WC’s Matt Matys (4:09.46) is the top seed, while teammate Alex Gallas (4:11.45) is seeded third. Shipp’s Mike Robinson (4:12.02) was third here last year, while Clarion’s EJ Dams (4:22.80) was 5^th and teammate Chris Strauber (4:26.62) was 6th. WC’s Grant McGeary (4:14.14) and Bloom’s Jason Davis (4:18.89) hope to place high. The Eagles also look for Byron Smith, Brian Monico and Jeff Alley to try and score points.

EVENT #9 - 100 BUTTERFLY: WC’s Todd Albert (50.34 is the two-time defending champion and top seed in this race. Teammate Bob Carmody (50.85) was second last year and Rams Gabe Melo (52.59) and Jason Sweger (53.07) could give WC big points here. Shipp’s Mike Robinson (5224) and Tim Carvell (52.32) are seeded #3 and #4 respectively. Clarion’s top hopes are Mike McConnell (53.16) and Gary Aughinbaugh (53.55). Aughinbaugh was 8^th last year.

EVENT #10 - 200 FREESTYLE: WC’s Matt Matys (1:40.32) and Ryan Weathers (1:41.32) tied for first last year and expect to race to the wall again. Clarion’s Aaron Bell (1:41.86) was third last year. Kutztown’s Eric Hillbish (1:43.31) could also challenge for first. WC’s Mike Fender (1:44.19), IUP’s Jeff Faikish (1:44.39), Shipp’s Derek Johnston (1:44.80) and Bloom’s David Robinson (1:44.96) are all within reach of a top 6 swim. Clarion will look to Adam Lohr (1:45.74), Aaron Cline (1:45.96), Bill Wright (1:46.14) and Matt Buckley (1:47.49) hope to score points.

EVENT #11 - 100 BREASTSTROKE: Clarion’s Ben Chandlee is the returning champion (58.65) and top seed while teammate Scott Wilson (1:00.48) hopes to place high. WC’s Rob Barnum (59.18) and Jason Brennan (59.56) and Bloom’s Jason Davis (59.28) also hope to challenge. Davis was third last year. Clarion also hopes to score with Kevin DiVincenzo (1:02.24) and Jeff Alley (1:03.11).

EVENT #12 - 100 BACKSTROKE: Clarion’s Doug Scott won the last two seasons but has graduated, leaving teammate Aaron Bell (51.13) as the top seed. Bell was 4^th last year. Bloomsburg’s Brandon Hilt (52.65) is the #2 seed and finished sixth last year, while WC’s Alex Best (52.74), and Jason Sweger (53.26) who was 5^th last year, plus Kutztown’s Eric Hillbish (53.01), all have a shot to win. Clarion hopes Byron Smith can move up to place.

EVENT #13 - 800 FREE RELAY: West Chester is the defending champion and prohibitive favorite (6:51.35). Bloomsburg is seeded second (7:05.85) and Clarion third (7:06.47).

EVENT #14 - 1650 FREESTYLE: West Chester’s Kyle Almoney (16:29.24) won this grueling event last year and teammate Bob Carmody (17:28.66) won in 2000, while Alex Gallas (16:37.46) is seeded third. Clarion’s Brian Nicholas (16:23.65) has the top seed time, while teammates Brian Monico (16:44.76) and EJ Dams (16:56.70) look to place high. Monico was third last year and second in 1999. Shipp’s Jordan Edwards (16:44.31) was 5^th last year and Bloom’s David Robinson (17:02.69) was 6^th. Robinson was the champion in 1999. Clarion hopes Ryan Wiehagen can score here.

EVENT #15 - 200 BACKSTROKE: With Clarion’s two-time champion Doug Scott graduated, Aaron Bell (1:51.44) is the top seed who hopes to continue the Eagles winning ways. WC’s Ryan Weathers (1:54.35) and Alec Best (1:54.57) are #2 and #3 seeds, while teammate Jason Sweger (1:56.98), who was 4^th last year, lurks right behind. IUP’s Ben Oshri (1:55.43) and Shipp’s Mike Robinson (1:55.45), who was third last year, also expect to challenge. Bloom’s Brandon Hilt (1:56.27) and Shipp’s David Fulmer (1:57.77) were 5^th and 6^th respectively in 2001. Clarion’s Chris Strauber, Byron Smith and Aaron Kline hope to score points.

EVENT #16 - 100 FREESTYLE: WC’s Matys (45.81) is two-time defending champ and top seed tp make it three in a row. Teammate Bob Carmody (46.47) and Ryan Weathers (46.72) expect to be in the top 6. Weathers was third last year. Clarion’s Aaron Bell (46.36) was second here last year. Kutztown’s Eric Hillbish (46.68) could challenge for first, along with SR’s Aaron Hoffman (47.73), who was 4^th last year. Clarion’s Bill Wright (46.92) was 7^th last year and hopes to final, along with teammate Gary Aughinbaugh (47.89).

EVENT #17 - 200 BREASTSTROKE: With defending champ Grant Clark (WC) graduated, the field is open. Clarion’s Scott Wilson (2:08.72) is the top seed, while WC freshmen Rob Barnum (2:09.88) and Jason Brennan (2:09.99) are looking to win. Bloom’s Jason Davis (2:13.22) and Brent Watkins (2:14.70) were second and third last year . Clarion’s Ben Chandlee (2:14.02) was 4^th last year. Shipp’s Jay Belles (2:11.16) and WC’s Erik Boll (2:12.82) also hope to final. Clarion hopes to score with Jeff Alley, Matt Buckley and Kevin DiVincenzo.

EVENT #18 - 200 BUTTERFLY: WC’s 2001 champ Todd Albert (1:54.94) and 2000 winner Kyle Almoney (1:52:97) are favorites in this race with Clarion’s Mike McConnell (1:56.72) and teammate Beau Caldwell (1:59.33), who was second last year. Shipp’s Mike Robinson (1:58.09) and Tim Carvell (1:58.36), and SR’s Adrian Matlack (2:00.93), who was third last year and 4^th in 2000, hope to challenge. Clarion’s EJ Dams (2:01.56) and Ryan Wiehagen (2:07.38) hope to score.

EVENT #19 - 400 FREE RELAY: If it comes down to the final relay, like it did in 2000, West Chester will be the favorite to take this event with a seed time of 3:04.25. Clarion (3:06.95) could challenge, while Bloom is way back at (3:11.92).

CLARION NOTES: Since 1971, when the PSAC began to score its championships the same way the NCAA does, the closest championship races were 2000's year’s 7.5 point difference, 1972 when Clarion won by 9 points (383-374) over West Chester, and 1991 when Shipp edged Clarion by 15 (565-550)... The NCAA’s are scheduled for March 13-16 in Orlando, Florida... 2002 marks the sixth year diving was eliminated from the PSAC Championship... Diving remains an integral part of the NCAA Championship.