Job Baker of The Woonsocket Call has a feature on UMass swimming alum Chris Payson who is coaching the Shamrock Swim Club. Payson started the club at the urge of local swimmers and the group has grown from day one.
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John Torsiello of the Housatonic Times has a profile piece on UMass men's swimming freshman Alex Bieber.
Taylor Snow of the Massachusetts Daily Collegian writes a wrap up of the swimming & diving season opener from the weekend in which the men's team tied Boston University, 149-149, while the women fell to the Terriers, 177-122. Both teams saw some terrific individual performances, including divers Alexander Merkulov and Michaela Butler, and freshmen stepping up for both teams in their collegiate debuts, including Hao Luong, Zoe Judd, and Katie Arnott. The Minutemen and Minutewomen travel to West Point, N.Y. this weekend for tough tests against talented Army squads.
Swimming and diving teams open up season - Daily Collegian
Merkulov and Luong were honored on Tuesday when they were named Atlantic 10 Performer and Rookie of the Week, respectively.
Dan Guttonplan of the Newburyport News has a great feature on UMass men's swimmer Dan Backer. The story focuses on Backler's college jounrey - from having his program cut at Rhode Island, to transferring to UMass, to being an Atlantic 10 Champion in multiple events, exceeding the expectations of many.
"He can walk away from the pool, after winning that 100 breast, holding his head high," Head Coach Russ Yarworth said. "I couldn't have predicted he'd swim that fast. It was one of the highlights of my coaching career. It was one of those swims -- I'm getting goose bumps thinking about it."
Nick Bellofatto of the Daily Collegian has a story on the UMass Swimming & Diving teams' performances at the A-10 Championships this past weekend in Buffalo. The Minutemen claimed their fifth-straight and 13th overall title, while the Minutewomen put in a very strong performance, placing third. It was a tremendously successful meet on both sides as numerous school records fell. In addition, the following individuals were recognized:
Women's Most Outstanding Diver: Molly Elkins
Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Mandy Hixon
Men's Most Outstanding Rookie: Chris Inglis
Men's Most Outstanding Diver: Jason Cook
Men's Co-Coach of the Year: Russ Yarworth
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Mandy Hixon
The Massachusetts men's and women's swimming teams are preparing for their biggest challenge of the season thus far; a road trip to Boston University for the Terrier Invitational Tournament. The preliminaries for the tournament begin Friday, Nov. 19 at Competition Pool and run until the finals of the tournament are concluded on Sunday night.
Check out the Daily Collegian's Nick Bellofatto's preview of the weekend as well as UMassAthletics.com's preview.
Nick Bellofatto of the Daily Collegian previews the men's and women's swimming & diving teams' road meet at Stony Brook this weekend. Both teams are riding high coming off a sweep of Army in the home opener last weekend. Bellofatto points out the the Minutemen and Minutewomen will both be looking for their first victory of the season in enemy waters as both teams fell at Boston University in the season opener two weeks ago.
The Daily Collegian has two stories on the UMass men's swimming team as it prepares to begin the season and defend its Atlantic 10 title. Nick Bellofatto has the team's season preview, while Ben Lambert has a story on the swimming & diving team's tri-captains, Dan Backler, Brian Schmidt, and Adam Duffield.
The Minutemen open the 2010-11 on Oct. 16 at Boston University. The first home meet of the season will be on Oct. 23 against Army.
