2010-11 Swimming And Diving Preview
October 07, 2010 | Swimming & Diving
Oct. 7, 2010
2010 Season Preview via All-Access
When the East Carolina swimming and diving program officially opens its 2010-11 season Friday, it will do so for a 29th consecutive season under head coach Rick Kobe with the same goals and philosophies he's had since he first began coaching.
"Our goals have always been for each individual to reach his or her potential and swim fast," Kobe said. "I believe that if you swim to your potential and swim fast then records and championships will take care of themselves. We certainly want to win another championship and we will, but our bigger goal is to compete, continue to improve and have everyone reach their potential both athletically and academically."
The men and women's teams return a combined 53 lettermen from last year's teams. The women's posted their best Conference USA finish in four years last season with a second-place finish, while the men's team earned a fourth-place finish.
The two teams accumulated a combined record of 14-6 last season, while setting 10 new school records, posting nine NCAA `B' cut times and sending three divers to the NCAA Regional Zone Championships. Overall, the Pirates had 16 All-Conference USA swimming performances and received nine weekly league awards.
The women's team will be led this season by senior captains Lauren Dufault and Courtney Harris. Both were scorers at the Conference USA Championship meet last season and are expected to provide valuable leadership throughout the year as well as be significant contributors during the dual meet season.
Dufault and Harris are among the six seniors on the squad. Varsity record holder Jenna Stewart leads the list of returnees. Stewart set the school record in the 100-yard freestyle as a junior and just missed winning the event at the conference championship meet by 0.39. She also helped establish a new school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay and registered an NCAA `B' cut in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle.
Fellow senior Kylie Francis will join Stewart again on the relay team this season. A C-USA backstroke finalist last season, she is part of one of the fastest units on the team. Junior Kelsey Brosi, sophomore Kayla Ford and Francis rank one, two and three on the school's all-time 200-yard backstroke chart. Brosi set the varsity record in the 200 as a sophomore, while Ford posted a new freshman mark in the same event. Brosi earned all-conference honors for her performance in the event at the 2010 C-USA meet.
Another senior expected to have a major impact this season is breaststroke record holder Stephanie Harper. She is a two-time all-league performer with the potential to post an NCAA cut time. Mercedes Minney is another senior that the coaching staff anticipates having an outstanding final season.
Junior Natalia Favoreto has the potential make major waves for the Pirates this season with the potential to qualify for the NCAA Championships in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke. She joined the Pirates mid-season a year ago and became a multi-event finalist at the conference championship meet.
Ford, last year's winner of the Most Outstanding Rookie Award, along with juniors Jessica Brinkley, Kristen Giese and Caitlin Marsilii are also expected to be major contributors during the dual meet season.
The men's team will be led by senior tri-captain Thiago Cavalcanti, who has been the recipient of the Pirates' Most Outstanding Swimmer Award each of the last three seasons.
Cavalcanti holds four ECU varsity freestyle records and to freshmen marks. He has earned All-Conference USA honors each year and has posted NCAA `B' cut qualifying times.
Joining Cavalcanti as tri-captain are seniors Andrew Christian and Andrew Stoker. Christian has been one of the Pirates' top 200 freestyle swimmers over the last three seasons and developed into one of their best 500 freestylers. Stoker, who also served as team captain last season, has consistently been one of ECU's hardest workers and has improved each season. His work ethic earned him the team's most Improved award following the 2009-10 campaign.
Senior Roman Sandler ranks among the school's all-time top 10 in four events and is one of the squad's most versatile swimmers. Junior Travis Stauder is another multi-stroke swimmer that gives the Pirates added depth in the breaststroke and IM events. Stauder was named the team's Most Outstanding Rookie in 2009 and then received the Coaches' Award last season.
Tommy Ryan returns for his senior season after sitting out the 2009-10 campaign due to an injury. He was an all-conference swimmer prior to sustaining injury and will be looking to re-establish the breaststroke records he set as a sophomore.
Juniors Chris Borseywicz and Miles Maximini are also going to be counted upon heavily. Borseywicz is a versatile swimmer whom adds depth to both the butterfly and IM events. Maximini posted the third-fastest 200-backstroke time in school history last season and will lead a very talented group.
Junior Meghan Coyne and sophomore Tyler Dunsmore will lead the divers. Coyne was a five-time Conference USA Diver-of-the-Week choice and qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships on both the one and three-meter board. Dunsmore is the lone returning diver on the men's side and will be expected to add a degree of difficulty to his dives.
The season begins Friday, Oct. 8, against North Carolina at Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill. The meet is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
