The Pioneer Times

Issue date: 12/20/06 Section: Sports

Longtime and Legendary WPU Swim Team Coach Ed Gurka

Sophomore Michael O'Shea established a new school record and qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships in the one-meter dive to highlight the William Paterson University men's and women's swimming and diving meet against Division II Adelphi University Dec. 9.

O'Shea posted a score of 283.80 to break Steve Brown's school record total of 272.00 established in 1984.

Overall, the Pioneers earned a split with the Panthers as the women won, 163-73, and the men fell in a close meet, 104-125. Entering the 100 breaststroke, the two men's teams were separated by just one point (98-97).

Sophomore Grace McKay had the top performance of the day for the women, edging AU All-American Jerri Lester in the 100 backstroke by .09 second (1:03.19 to 1:03.28). Sophomore Cathy Hartwell was victorious in the 50 (25.91) and 100 freestyle (56.32), senior Traci Dombrowski was the winner of the 200 (2:08.58) and 500 (5:50.18) frees and senior Colleen Takemoto won the 100 fly (1:04.26).

Junior Jessica Lyon won the 200 individual medley (2:24.68) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.92), junior Jamie Hopper was first in the one-meter dive (189.75) and freshman Giana Albruzzese was the winner of the three-meter dive (156.75). McKay, Lyon, Takemoto and Hartwell touched first in the 200 medley relay (1:57.68), while McKay, Dombrowski, and sophomores Donivyn Schmidt and Melanie Mejias were the winners of the 200 free relay (1:47.05).

"It was a total team effort by the women today, winning every race but one," said head coach Ed Gurka. "Beyond the win, it was the second, third and fourth-place finishes that made the difference and all were finishes that could have gone either way."

In the race of the meet, sophomore David Caputo touched the wall first with a personal-best time in the 1,000 free (10:35.37), edging AU's Brendan Berry by .06 (10:35.43). Freshman Vojtech Karas earned the win in the 200 free (1:48.62), and O'Shea added a win in the three-meter dive (220.58) to his victory in the one-meter. The Pioneers' 200 free relay of Karas, sophomore Brian Fisher Caputo and freshman Joe Shirrman was just edged out by the Panthers (1:31.03 to 1:31.19).

"We had our chances to win on the men's side," said Gurka. "We certainly swam well, and we're happy with the results."

The WPU men and women will train in the Antilles Dec. 26 - Jan. 4, and will return to competition Jan. 20 at Montclair State University.

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