CLARION HOSTS 31ST WOMEN’S PSAC SWIM CHAMPIONSHIPS FEB. 15-18
                       DEFENDING CHAMP WEST CHESTER FAVORED TO EDGE CLARION
        The 31st Annual PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Women’s Swimming Championships will be hosted from Wednesday February 15th through Saturday February 18th at Clarion’s W. S. Tippin Natatorium.
        Only one event, the 1000 meter freestyle, will be competed on Wednesday at 6:30pm. From Thursday through Saturday prelims are set each day at 10am and finals are slated to start at 6pm. The Men’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. All-Session passes will cost $35 for adults and $10 for students. Individual session passes will also be available at $5 for adults for the prelims and $7 for adults at the finals, and $2 for students at all sessions.
        This meet has plenty of tradition. Clarion has won 25 of the 30 PSAC Championships determined since 1976. The PSAC Women’s Championship started in 1976 with Clarion winning the first team title, then the Golden Eagles proceeded to run off a total of 23 straight PSAC Championships through 1998. In 1999 IUP broke the string of Clarion wins, then Clarion bounced back to win again in 2000. West Chester bolted to the front and won three straight titles from 2001-2003 before Clarion came back to win in 2004. West Chester won the team title last year and is a slight pre-meet favorite to repeat again this year.
        West Chester won the team title in its own pool in 2005 scoring 1,073 points, while Clarion was second with 883 and IUP third with 553. Rounding out the thirteen team field were Bloomsburg fourth with 454, Shippensburg fifth at 401, California sixth with 396.5, Kutztown seventh at 268, Slippery Rock eighth with 256, Lock Haven ninth at 210, East Stroudsburg tenth with 207.5, Edinboro eleventh with 180, Millersville twelfth at 112 and Mansfield thirteenth with 66 points.
        In 2004 Clarion took the team title with 894.5 points, while West Chester finished second with 773 and Shippensburg was third with 408 and host IUP was fourth with 395.5. Rounding out the 13 team field were fifth place Bloomsburg with 288, Lock Haven sixth at 268, Slippery Rock seventh with 249.5, Kutztown eighth with 230, California ninth with 225.5, East Stroudsburg tenth with 216, Edinboro eleventh with 70, Millersville twelfth at 56 and Mansfield thirteenth with 51.
        The 2006 Women’s Championship? “West Chester is the favorite coming in,” said sixth year Clarion head coach Mark VanDyke. “West Chester is favored to win most of the individual events with some of their outstanding individual swimmers,” he continued. “If Clarion is to challenge for the title, and we think we have a chance to make this pretty close, we’ll have to make up those points with our depth scoring. I think if you look at the team scores after Thursday night you’ll have an idea how close the meet is going to be on Saturday between us and West Chester.” The battle for third seems to be between Shippensburg, IUP and Bloomsburg.
        Clarion’s women finished the year with an 9-3 dual meet record, including a 200-170 win over West Chester. That meet included diving, where Clarion took the top three places on both boards. Diving was eliminated from PSAC Championship competition ten years ago and with those points not available to the Golden Eagles in this championship, West Chester becomes the favorite.
        Clarion will have eighteen swimmers participating including in alpha order: Sarah Beck (So. Brecksville, Oh.), Morgan Berkowitz (Fr. York), Sarah Besecker (Sr. Chambersburg), Lee Caffrey (Jr. Washington), Sari Cattoni (So. Lewis Run), Kristy Clarke (Jr. Campbell Hall, N.Y.), Stevie Coble (So. Akron, Pa.), Brittany Hanzl (Jr. Whitehall), Brehan Heebner (Sr. Reading), Stacey Humienny (Jr. Steubenville, Oh.), Lauren Kalata (Sr. Trumbull, Ct.), Jess Kretz (Jr. Eighty-Four), Katie Kuntz (Jr. N. Canton, Oh.), Lori Leitzinger (So. State College), Vanessa Maus (Jr. Wexford), Stacy Ogden (Jr. Clearfield), Katelyn Ostopick (Jr. Plains), Melanie Reade (Jr. Erie) and Denise Simens (Fr. Hollister, Ca.).
        West Chester, led by 18th year head coach Jamie Rudisill, has a bevy of talent in the Golden Rams stable this year. Top swimmers include Eszter Balazs (Sr. Budapest, Hungary), Carlee Carew (Sr. Toms River, n.j.), Kathrin Dumitru (Fr. Kunzell, Germany), Kate Jones (So. Spring Grove), Julie Keefer (Sr. Palmyra), Kori Kilfeather (Jr. Phila.), Katie Kollar (So. Emmaus) and Tammy Leane (Sr. Goodwood, South Australia).
        IUP and acting head coach Emily Ryan, had a 3-3 dual meet record this year. Top swimmers are Casey Beck (Fr. Brampton, Ont.), Natasha Iacobucci (Jr. Brampton, Ont.), Heidi Mitskavich (So. Euclid, Oh.), Carlee Myers (Jr. Lansdale), Luci Plaxton (Sr. Toronto, Ont.) and Brittany Watkins (Fr. Brampton, Ont.).
        Shippensburg coach Tim Verge is in his eighth season with the Raiders and has a 4-5 dual record this season. Top swimmers include Mandi Foltz (Fr. Macungie), Courtney Houston (Sr. Landenburg), Noelle Knupp (Fr. Dauphin), and Jill Snyder (Jr. Muhlenberg).
        Bloomsburg head coach Dave Rider s in his 19th season with the Huskies. Posting a 5-2 dual record this season, top swimmers for Bloomsburg include Erin Carey (Sr. West Chester), Sara Lengler (Jr. Harrisburg), Kari Pokrzywa ((Sr. Fairless Hills), Dianna Smith (So. West Grove), and Ashley Yelinek (Jr. Youngwood).
        A number of quality individual swimmers represent the other PSAC schools. Some of the top individuals expected to challenge for a top three individual event spot are: Cal’s Mandie Huffman (Fr. Cranberry Twp.), Lea Mastascula (Fr. Bethel Park) and Melanie Ruch (So. Bethel Park), Edinboro’s Brooke Heath (So. Woodtsock, Ont.), Kutztown’s Kelly Rowan (Jr. Clifton Heights) and Ashley Singer (So. Lititz), Lock Haven’s Isabel Carneiro (Jr. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil), Tatiana Patakyova (Sr. Poprad-Matejouce, Slovak Rep.), Gerda Smirnova (Jr. Riga, Latvia) and Diane Sujansky (Jr. Plum), and Slippery Rock’s Megan Jo Ramage (Jr. Paducah, Ky.) And Jen Zuzack (Gr. Latrobe).
        An event by event preview follows: A swimmer can swim in 7 events, but no more than 3 individual events. Some swimmers will be listed in more than three events - Those swimmers will choose what events they are swimming in. (Seed Times are enclosed).
WEDNESDAY:
    EVENT 1: 1000 FREESTYLE: WC’s Tammy Leane (10:09.55) is the favorite if she swims here. Teammate Eszter Balazs (10:33.65) finished second last year and is seeded second. Bloom’s Ashley Yelinek (10:39.04) was fourth here in 2005 and IUP’s Heidi Mitskavich (10:5502) was third. Clarion’s Sara Besecker (10:44.83) is hoping for a top 3 finish. Clarion will also hope to score with Lauren Kalata, Morgan Berkowitz and Stevie Coble.
THURSDAY:
    EVENT 2: 200 FREE RELAY: WC is top seed (1:35.86) and defending champion, while Clarion is seeded second at (1:36.98) and Shippensburg third (1:38.44).
    EVENT 3: 500 FREESTYLE: WC’s Kathrin Dumitru (4:59.11) and Tammy Leane (4:59.45) are the top seeds but likely one will not swim here. Clarion’s Besecker (5:10.46) was second here a year ago, while WC’s Balazs (5:07.72) was third, Bloom’s Yelinek (5:12.67) was fourth and Ship’s Courtney Houston (5:12.40) was fifth. Clarion looks for points from Kalata, Berkowitz and Coble.
    EVENT 4: 200 I.M.: WC’s Dumitru is the favorite here with a seed time of 2:03.04. Teammate Leane is the defending champion (2:09.01), while Edinboro’s Brooke Heath (2:06.51) was fourth last year, Clarion’s Brehan Heebner (2:10.40) was third and teammates Katie Kuntz (2:13.30) and Sari Cattoni (2:07.81) were fifth and sixth respectively. Clarion hopes Jess Kretz, Sarah Beck, Katelyn Ostopick and Denise Simens score here.
    EVENT 5: 50 FREESTYLE: Defending champion Luci Plaxton (24.05) of IUP could receive a challenge from any of the top six ranked freestylers. Back are SR’s 2004 champion Jen Zuzack (24.34), last year’s runner-up Kate Jones (24.19) of WC, Clarion’s Brittany Hanzl (24.40) who was 8th last year, and WC’s Julie Keefer (24.46) who was third last year. Clarion looks for points from Kristy Clarke, Lori Leitzinger, Stacy Ogden, Vanessa Maus and Melanie Reade.
    EVENT 6: 400 MEDLEY RELAY: WC is the top seed (3:51.11) and defending champion, while Clarion (3:55.97) and Shippensburg (3:58.19) hope to challenge.
FRIDAY:
    EVENT 7: 200 MEDLEY RELAY: WC is defending champ and top seed (1:45.31), while Shipp is seeded second (1:48.06) and Clarion third (1:49.76).
    EVENT 8: 400 I.M.: WC’s Leane is the defending PSAC and NCAA champion and top seed (4:29.32). Clarion’s Katie Kuntz (4:42.72) won in 2004 and was third last year, while teammates Stacey Humienny (4:47.50) and Jess Kretz (4:47.10) were fifth and sixth last year. Boom’s Erin Carey (4:44.85) was 8th a year ago, but seeded third this year and IUP’s Brittany Watkins (4:45.44) is seeded fourth.
    EVENT 9: 100 BUTTERFLY: WC’s Dumitru is currently the NCAA-II record holder (53.99) and top seed. The battle for second is between teammate Kori Kilfeather (56.82) who was third last year, Clarion’s Brehan Heebner (58.66) who was second last year, IUP’s Carlee Myers (58.79) who was 4th last year, Amanda Foltz (57.24) of Ship and Isabel Carneiro (58.27) of Lock Haven. Clarion’s Kalata and Ostopick hope to place high.
    EVENT 10: 200 FREESTYLE: WC’s Dumitru (1:51.04) and teammate Katie Kollar (1:54:52), who was second last year, figure to battle for the top. Clarion’s Kristy Clarke (1:55.33) was 5th here last year, while WC’s Keefer ws third (1:56.45). SR’s Jen Zuzack (1:56.23), Bloom’s Dianna Smith (1:56.49) and Clarion’s Sarah Besecker (1:56.82), who was 4th here last year, are all looking to final. Clarion hopes to score here with Hanzl, Reade and Maus.
    EVENT 11: 100 BREASTSTROKE: Dumitru could swim here and is the favorite (1:02.06) if she does. If not, a battle for first will materialize between Edinboro’s Brooke Heath (1:04.79) who was 3rd a year ago, Clarion’s Denise Simens (1:05.88) and teammate Sari Cattoni (1:06.74). Kutztown’s Kelly Rowan (1:09.23) was fourth last year, and Shipp’s Jill Snyder (1:07.29) was 5th. Clarion hopes Kretz could final, while receiving points from Ostopick.
    EVENT 12: 100 BACKSTROKE: This event could come down to a finger nail reach. Defending Champion Luci Plaxton (59.47) is actually seeded fourth behind Clarion’s Lori Leitzinger (59.07) who was 3rd last year, WC’s Carlee Carew (59.32) who was 10th last year, and SR’s Jen Zuzack (59.37), who was 7th last year. WC’s Leane (59.91) and Jones (59.93) are also within reach of the title. Clarion’s Stacy Ogden (1:00.83) was 6th and Millersville’s Sarah Johnson (1:01.58) was 4th last year.
    EVENT 13: 800 FREE RELAY: WC is the defending champ and top seed (7:42.17), but Clarion is right behind (7:44.69), and IUP third (7:54.89).
SATURDAY:
    EVENT 14: 1650 FREESTYLE: The grueling 1650 could see anyone of 7 people emerge as the victor. Defending champion Heidi Mitskavich (18:12.65) is actually seeded 7th. WC Balazs is the top seed (17:26.22) and finished second last year. Bloom’s Yelinek (17:39.79) was third a year ago, Ship’s Courtney Houston (17:54.40), WC Christie Angstadt (18:06.06), Clarion’s Besecker (18:07.15) and WC Danielle McIntyre (18:08.15) all could rise to the top. Clarion hopes to score here with Berkowitz and Coble.
    EVENT 15: 200 BACKSTROKE: The favorite is the defending champion Tammy Leane (2:06.60), who went 2:01.36 in the finals last year. Clarion’s Lori Leitzinger is the top seed (2:06.51), but was second with a time of 2:06.33 last year. WC has depth here with Jamie Broadbent (2:09.88) and Carlee Carew (2:08.49) who were 5th and 7th last year. SR’s Zuzeck (2:09.32) was 6th here last year and Bloom’s Kari Pokrzywa (2:11.06) was 4th here last year. Clarion is looking for Ogden and Beck to score place points.
    EVENT 16: 100 FREESTYLE: IUP’s Plaxton is the defending champion and top seed (52.10). WC’s Katie Kollar (52.73) was second last year, while teammate Keefer (53.62) was third. Clarion hopes to counter with Brittany Hanzl (52.73) who was 7th last year, Kristy Clarke (53.71), who was 6th a year ago and Sari Cattoni (53.31). Bloom’s Dianna Smith (53.79) was 4th here last year. Clarion hopes to score with Maus & Reade
    EVENT 17: 200 BREASTSTROKE: WC’s Dumitru (2:16.03) is the favorite here, while defending champion Brooke Heath (2:19.41) hopes to challenge. Shipp’s Jill Snyder (2:25.16) was third a year ago. Clarion seems to have finalists in Denise Simens (2:25.68) and Jess Kretz (2:26.12), who was 5th last year. IUP’s Natasha Iacobucci (2:27.78) was 6th a year ago. Clarion’s Sarah Beck hopes to place high.
    EVENT 18: 200 BUTTERFLY: If Dumitru swims here she is the favorite (2:04.46). If not the race is wide open between LH’s Isabel Carneiro (2:08.47), WC’s Kilfeather (2:09.43) and Clarion’s Heebner (2:09.77). Heebner was 2nd last year and Kilfeather 8th. Other placewinners returning include Clarion’s Kuntz (2:12.53) - 6th, WC’s Smidlein (2:14.16) - 4th, and IUP’s Carlee Myers (2:10.53) - 7th. Clarion’s Kalata also hopes to score points.
    EVENT 19: 400 FREE RELAY: If it comes down to the final relay, West Chester is the defending champ and top seed (3:31.60), while Clarion is second at (3:33.09) and IUP third with a (3:33.83).
        CLARION NOTES: Each swimmer can swim a maximum of 7 events this weekend and no more than three individual events... In school history Clarion has won 8 NCAA titles (1977, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 & 86)... Clarion will be at the NCAA D-II Nationals on March 8-11 in Indianapolis, In. ..... In 1999 IUP dethroned the Golden Eagles in the closest meet in PSAC history (399.5 - 396.5). In 2000, at IUP, Clarion took the title back scoring 446 points, while West Chester was second with 426.5 and IUP was third with 370.5. Other close PSAC finishes saw Clarion win by 14.5 over IUP in 1998 and 23.5 over Bloomsburg in 1991...2006 marks the tenth year diving was eliminated from the PSAC Championship... Diving remains an integral part of the NCAA Championship.