Men's Swimming & Diving
2007-08 Season Recap
The Clark men’s swim and dive team staked its claim to three dual-meet victories despite a shortage in numbers during the first half of the season. With three veteran swimmers (Brian Walsh, Mike Smith, Tim O’Keefe) abroad first semester, the youthful Cougars posted victories over Gordon College, Elms College and Bridgewater State College on their way to a 3-8 overall mark.
Clark placed third with 228 points at the Worcester City Meet held at Holy Cross after semester break. Junior Drew Jackson led the way with a first place finish in the 200-yard backstroke. That would set the stage for Jackson’s two new Clark backstroke records at the NEWMAC Championship meet. He set a new mark in the 50-yard backstroke (25.67) on the lead-leg of the 200-yard medley relay and broke his old Clark record in the 100-yard backstroke (54.87). The team finished sixth overall (244 points) at NEWMAC’s for the third straight year.
Senior captain Shyamal Asher represented the men’s team on the NEWMAC All-Academic squad. Additionally, Asher was awarded the athletic department’s inaugural Senior Scholar Athlete Award, created to recognize the senior athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average over four years or one who will have completed their undergraduate requirements in three years. Asher completed his degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in three years with a 4.11 grade point average.
2007 Season Outlook
Entering the 2007-08 campaign with just five letter-winners from a team that finished with a 5-6 dual-meet record and sixth place at the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championship meet, the Clark University’s men’s swim and dive team are committed to maintain their climb up the conference ladder.
“Last year, we had our best NEWMAC meet since I have been here,” said head coach Paul E. Phillips. “We scored the most points, set a couple of new school records and had 11 all-time top-five performances. I was extremely pleased with our effort.”
While 2006-07 was certainly a year to remember, the fifth-year head coach must set about the task of plugging the holes left by team leaders Brian Walsh ’09, Mike Smith ’09 and Tim O’Keefe ’09 – all abroad for the first half of this year – and blend the talents of seven newcomers with returning veterans.
“The absence of those three swimmers is going to impact us quite a bit in the first half,” Phillips said. “They will rejoin the team second semester, so until then we have to hold down the fort.”
“This group has some room to grow, and they are working hard,” he added. “The guys we have now are going to develop as the year goes on, and their hard work will pay off.”
Phillips will look to the team’s lone senior captain Shyamal Asher, a two-time NEWMAC All-Academic selection, to provide enthusiasm and steady leadership this winter. Junior school-record holder Drew Jackson returns to lead the Cougars in multiple events. Last season, Jackson set new school marks in the 100-(55:28) and 200-back (1:58.66), while moving into 5th on Clark’s all-time list in the 200 IM (2:02.54).
Sophomore Taylor Morono, a member of the 800-yard freestyle relay team who, along with Walsh, Jackson, and Smith, recorded Clark’s second-fastest time ever en-route to a fifth place finish at NEWMAC’s, returns to anchor the Cougar sprinters this winter. Classmate Curtis Reid, the team’s most improved swimmer last winter, and fellow sophomore Clark Reeves will provide valuable depth for the Cougars in multiple events, while first-years Alex Donnenfeld and Dan Howard will look to contribute in the breaststroke and butterfly events respectfully. Sophomore Kevin Williams (freestyle) returns to the team after a one-year hiatus, while first-years Alex Dunn, and Greg Wetmore have joined the fray and will be looking to contribute to the cause. Promising first-year diver, Colin Oldenburg should have an immediate impact on the Cougars fortunes this season.
In addition to an already imposing non-conference schedule, Phillips added defending conference champion Coast Guard Academy to the dual-meet line-up. “We needed to add more conference opponents before the end-of-the-year meet,” he said.
“It will be a tough match-up, but it will only make us better in the long run.”
Although many new faces surround the Kneller Athletic Center pool deck, the Cougars are optimistic about the year ahead. “The guys have been working really hard,” Phillips said. “If they commit to each other and come together as a team, I have every reason to believe we will have a very successful season.”
Swimming & Diving
About the Program
Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Paul E. Phillips, Clark’s men's and women’s swim and dive team has resurfaced as one of the emerging programs in New England. The women look to build on a successful season in which they celebrated their best finish since 2001 at the NEWMAC conference championships, moving up three spots from the previous year. The up-and-coming Cougar squad also produced two school records, 15 all-time top-five performances, and Clark’s best dual meet record in five years.
The men's team look to build on a successful season in which they finished sixth at the NEWMAC championships - 26 points behind fifth place - closing a gap of more than 130 points from the previous year. The young Cougar squad produced two school records, 11 all-time top-five performances, and an impressive 75 career-best marks. Season highlights also included a live web cast of the final home men's and women's dual-meet.
The swimming and diving program at Clark is designed to provide a platform for success without minimizing the student-athlete experience. “Our goal is for swimmers and divers to excel in the pool and appreciate the unique elements of college life,” states Coach Phillips. “We strive to provide the best of both worlds – the opportunity to compete at the highest level of Division III, and a well-rounded experience in a supportive, family atmosphere.”
Accomplished athletes, Cougar swimmers and divers are also among the University’s leading scholars. Last year, Clark once again earned the College Swim Coaches Association’s Team Academic All-America Award for the fall (3.25) and spring (3.27) semesters. Five women were named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team, and more than half (14) were recognized as Clark Scholar Athletes (3.5 semester GPA and/or cumulative).
Swimmers train 5-8 times per week, taking advantage of 10 workouts to design individual practice schedules that are conducive to their academic achievement and personal swimming goals. Clark’s diving coaches offer six practices per week, and both groups utilize dry-land and video. All practices emphasize personal attention in an interactive team-oriented environment. The Cougars have traveled to Puerto Rico, Florida, and Southern California in recent years for training during the semester break.
Facility
The Kneller Pool, renovated during the summer of 2004, is a six-lane 25- yard facility with 1
and 3-Meter Duraflex diving boards, Colorado Timing, non-turbulent Competitor lane lines and seating
for 200 spectators.
Clark Swimming & Diving History
- At the 2002 NCAA Championships, L. Parker Barnum ’04 finished 14th in the 100 Breaststroke
(58.35), earning All-America Honorable Mention Honors. Jeffery Rivkin ’05 earned NEWMAC Diver
of the Year honors by winning the 1-Meter diving event and finishing third in the 3-Meter event at
the NEWMAC conference championship meet.
- In 2002, Jaime Armstrong ’03 won the 100 Fly at NEWMAC Championships, earning all-conference
honors and establishing new school and conference records. Katie Calabrese ’02 finished
third in the 100 Breast, and fourth in the 200 Breast at NEWMAC’s, establishing school records
in both events.
- At the 2001 NCAA Championships, L. Parker Barnum ’04 earned All-America Honors after
finishing fourth in the 100 Breast. His prelim time of 57.50 broke his own school record, and
established a NEWMAC Conference Open record. At the NEWMAC Championships, Barnum earned all-conference
honors by winning both the 100 and 200-yard Breaststroke events. He also represented Clark at the
Division I Husky Invitational where he won the 100 Breast.
- At the 2001 NEWMAC Championships Jaime Armstrong ’03 placed second in the 100 Fly, and set
a new school record with her Backstroke leg on the 200 medley relay team that finished sixth.
- Doug Shea ’00 earned NEWMAC all-conference honors in 1999 and 2000 by winning the 200 Back
and 200 IM at the 1999 Conference Championships, and the 400 IM at the at the 2000 NEWMAC Championships.
He also finished second in the 200 Back and third in the 200 IM in 2000.
- In 1999 Katie Calabrese ’02 earned All-Conference honors, winning the 100 Breast at NEWMAC
Championships.
- In 1998 Megan Farmer ‘98 competed in the NCAA Division III Diving Championships in Atlanta,
GA, placing 21st in the three-meter event and 34th in the one-meter event, to finish 24th overall.
- At the 1995 New England Championships, Charlene Wilk earned Clark’s highest finish (5th in
the 100 Fly).
- In 1988, diver Beth Ferraro ’88, was the one-meter board runner-up at the NCAA Division
III Championships. Ferraro was a four-time All-America selection, who twice finished among the top
10 at the National Championship Diving Meet.
- In 1986 Peter Locke ’88 and Rob Carr ’88 became Clark’s first male swimmers to
compete in the NCAA Championships. Locke was an All-American in 1988 and was inducted into Clark’s
Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Carr was inducted into the Clark Hall of Fame in in 2002.
- Catherine Desrosiers '82 was Clark's first four-time All-America athlete, and she was the 1982
NCAA National runner-up in the 200 Breaststroke. She was inducted into Clark's Athletic Hall of
Fame in the University's inaugural induction in 1994.
Back to the top
For more information about Clark University Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving, please contact head coach Paul E. Phillips
at (508) 793-7170 or by email at pephillips@clarku.edu
|
 |
|
Varsity Sports Quick Links:
|
|
|
|
Additional Resources
|
|
|
| Recent Results |
| Dec 7 |
WSD at Wesleyan Cardinal Invitational
Two-Day Meet
12/6-12/7
|
3rd/721 points
Recap
|
| Dec 7 |
MSD at Wesleyan Cardinal Invitational
Two-Day Meet
12/6-12/7
|
5th/520 points
Recap
|
| Nov 22 |
WSD vs UMass-Dartmouth
|
W 149-88
Recap
|
| Nov 22 |
MSD vs UMass-Dartmouth
|
W 135-105
Recap
|
| Upcoming Schedule | Full Schedule |
| Dec 29 |
WSD at Winter Break Training Trip
Dec. 29 - Jan. 8
|
TBA
|
| Dec 29 |
MSD at Winter Break Training Trip
Dec. 29 - Jan. 8
|
TBA
|
| Jan 10 |
MSD at Wheaton Invitational
w/ Vassar and Roger Williams
|
12:00 PM
|
| Jan 10 |
WSD at Wheaton Invitational
w/ Wellesley, Smith, Vassar and Roger Williams
|
12:00 PM
|
|
|
You may also be interested in:
|
|
|
|
