2008 Woodie Awards
Swimming prepares for meet with Scots
By David Duke
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 1/20/06 Section: Sports
The Slippery Rock University men's and women's swimming teams are now back in the water and ready for another PSAC meet with rival Edinboro on Saturday after returning from a winter break that included a week-long trip to Florida.
The swim team traveled by bus to a location just outside of Orlando, Florida to take part in a grueling test of stamina that integrated 13,000-15,000 meters of swimming each day. Those on the team refer to this annual trip at the end of break as hell week.
Though the days proved to be long and difficult, graduate assistant Nathan Walters saw the trip as a major success and was very pleased with what the team was able to come away with out of town.
"I think the team did a good job overall," Walters said. "They stayed focused and everyone gave maximum effort."
Walters said the overall purpose behind going out of town and training in a different environment was to take away the monotony of the every day routine and to provide the team with a better facility to swim in.
Walters added that the Rock was the only team swimming at the Oviedo Aquatic Facility which made it easy to schedule practices.
On December 9, the Rock faced Westminster in its final meet before break. Though man individual performances highlighted the contest, neither the men nor women could capture a team victory as the men lost 118-76 and the women dropped a 116-87 decision.
Junior Kevin Maksinchuk and junior Megan Jo Ramage paced each of their respective teams with their hands in three victories apiece. Maksinchuk pulled off wins in the 50 freestyle (23.12), the 100 freestyle (51.28), and swam the lead leg of the 200 meter freestyle relay (1:35.61).
Ramage was victorious in the 1000 freestyle (10:56.39), the 200 butterfly (2:19.36), and swam the second leg of the winning 200 freestyle relay (1:46.52).
Joining Maksinchuk on the winning 200 freestyle relay were freshmen Tony DiEmidio and Leland Thompson, and senior Troy Kroll.And on the victorious women's 200 freestyle relay were Ramage, freshmen Lauren Hervatin, Stacey Henry, and Heather Walbright.
On Saturday the Rock travels to Edinboro to face an up and coming program.
Walters sees this meet as a tough challenge for the team, but expects them to do well.
"It's going to be a tough task for us," Walters said. Walters also noted that time is of the essence for those swimmers who want to qualify for the PSAC championships at the end of season.
The swim team traveled by bus to a location just outside of Orlando, Florida to take part in a grueling test of stamina that integrated 13,000-15,000 meters of swimming each day. Those on the team refer to this annual trip at the end of break as hell week.
Though the days proved to be long and difficult, graduate assistant Nathan Walters saw the trip as a major success and was very pleased with what the team was able to come away with out of town.
"I think the team did a good job overall," Walters said. "They stayed focused and everyone gave maximum effort."
Walters said the overall purpose behind going out of town and training in a different environment was to take away the monotony of the every day routine and to provide the team with a better facility to swim in.
Walters added that the Rock was the only team swimming at the Oviedo Aquatic Facility which made it easy to schedule practices.
On December 9, the Rock faced Westminster in its final meet before break. Though man individual performances highlighted the contest, neither the men nor women could capture a team victory as the men lost 118-76 and the women dropped a 116-87 decision.
Junior Kevin Maksinchuk and junior Megan Jo Ramage paced each of their respective teams with their hands in three victories apiece. Maksinchuk pulled off wins in the 50 freestyle (23.12), the 100 freestyle (51.28), and swam the lead leg of the 200 meter freestyle relay (1:35.61).
Ramage was victorious in the 1000 freestyle (10:56.39), the 200 butterfly (2:19.36), and swam the second leg of the winning 200 freestyle relay (1:46.52).
Joining Maksinchuk on the winning 200 freestyle relay were freshmen Tony DiEmidio and Leland Thompson, and senior Troy Kroll.And on the victorious women's 200 freestyle relay were Ramage, freshmen Lauren Hervatin, Stacey Henry, and Heather Walbright.
On Saturday the Rock travels to Edinboro to face an up and coming program.
Walters sees this meet as a tough challenge for the team, but expects them to do well.
"It's going to be a tough task for us," Walters said. Walters also noted that time is of the essence for those swimmers who want to qualify for the PSAC championships at the end of season.
