Feb. 14, 2005

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The men's and women's swimming teams travel to Baltimore, Md. this weekend for the America East Championships at UMBC. Competition starts Friday at the UMBC Natatorium at 10:30 a.m.

The women boast a 9-2 record going into America East Championships, winning seven straight, behind the strong performance of Shirlee Manoogian. The junior holds ten Stony Brook records, setting eight of those records this season. Among America East performers, Manoogian is first in the 50 freestyle (24.22), first in the 100 freestyle (52.11), first in the 400 IM (4:03.91) third in the 200 IM (2:08.82), tied for third in the 200 freestyle (1:55.29) and fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:08.13).

Senior Alison Porteus goes into her last championship meet, swimming in the top five in two events. She has the best time in the conference in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.45) and the fifth best time in the 200 breaststroke (2:24.93). Last season, Porteus placed seventh in the 200 breaststroke and fourth in the 100 breaststroke at America East Championships. She holds the Stony Brook records in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.

Diver Hailey Lewandowski's scores improved as the season progressed. She is fifth in the conference in three-meter diving performances. The sophomore posted her best score of the season in the last meet against Binghamton. She will look to improve on her fifth place finish in the three-meter event from last year.

Look for backstroker Kim Harris to improve upon her seventh place 200 backstroke and fifth place 100 backstroke finishes from America East Championships last year. Jamie Bevilacqua is in the top ten in almost all of her events, making her a contender for a top spot in championships. Freshmen Courtney Teague and Autumn Griggers will swim in their first America East Championships after combining for 17 total wins on the season. The women were 4-0 against America East opponents this season, swimming to victories over Maine, Vermont, Binghamton and Boston University.

The men head into the weekend with a record of 7-3, losing only to Army, UMass and conference foe, Binghamton. Ted Freeborn, Jeffrey Chu and Nathan French lead the way for SB, each among the top performers in the conference in their respective events.

Freeborn and Chu will swim in their last championship meet this weekend, looking for top finishes to cap off their careers at SB. Chu is the top performer in the conference in the 100 butterfly (51.52) and fourth in the conference in the 200 butterfly (1:53.85). Freeborn is just .01 of a second from being the number one performer in the 50 freestyle. His best performance in that event is 21.19. The senior is third in 100 freestyle performances (47.04). Last year at the championships, Freeborn took third in the 100 freestyle and Chu finished third in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 200 butterfly.

Look for 2003 America East 200 backstroke champion Nathan French to try to reclaim the title. The junior has the second-best conference time (1:56.51) in the event this season as well as the second best time in the 100 backstroke (53.38).

Newcomer Vladimir Sreckovic as well as the men's 200 freestyle relay promise big performances at the meet. Freeborn and fellow senior Roger Pugh were a part of the 2004 America East champion 200 freestyle relay team and return to the championships for their last shot at an America East crown.

America East Schedule: February 18-20, 2005

UMBC Natatorium, Baltimore, Md. (UMBC)

*all events women followed by men; all events in yards

DAY I TRIALS

Events Begin at 10:30 a.m.

500 Freestyle

200 Individual Medley

50 Freestyle

3-Meter Diving (women)

1-Meter Diving (men)

DAY I FINALS

Events Begin at 6 p.m.

*Consolation followed by Final

200 Freestyle Relay

500 Freestyle

200 Individual Medley

50 Freestyle

3-Meter Diving (women)

1-Meter Diving (men)

400 Medley Relay

DAY II TRIALS

Events Begin at 10:30 a.m.

400 Indidividual Medley

100 Butterfly

200 Freestyle

100 Breaststroke

100 Backstroke

1-Meter Diving (women)

DAY II FINALS

Events Begin at 6 p.m.

*Consolation followed by Final

200 Medley Relay

400 Individual Medley

100 Butterfly

200 Freestyle

100 Breaststroke

100 Backstroke

1-Meter Diving (women)

800 Freestyle Relay

DAY III TRIALS

Events Begin at 10:30 a.m.

200 Backstroke

100 Freestyle

200 Breaststroke

200 Butterly

1,650 Freestyle (All but last heat)

3-Meter Diving (men)

DAY III FINALS

Events Begin at 5:30 p.m.

Consolation followed by Final

1,650 Freestyle

200 Backstroke

100 Freestyle

200 Breaststroke

200 Butterfly

3-Meter Diving (men)

400 Freestyle Relay