Men's Swimming Pre-Championship Webcast 

Barring unforeseen developments, the 2015 CAC Men’s Swimming Championship meet will highlighted by the final conference performances of University of Mary Washington senior Alex Anderson.  The two-time CAC Men’s Swimming Athlete of the Year, 2015 NCAA Championship Swimmer of the Meet and three-time national champion will try to lead the Eagles to their 15^th-straight CAC crown.

The Eagles were the unanimous pick of the CAC coaches in a pre-season poll to finish the 2015 CAC Championship atop the standings.  Among other interesting developments throughout this weekend’s action at St. Mary’s (Md.) will be how the other five teams shake out – individually and in the team standings.

The host Seahawks edged York by just 5.5 points in last year’s championship to finish in second place for the third-straight year.  The Spartans, led by 2014 NCAA two-time placewinner Kyle Walthall, are looking to regain the second-place rung in the team standings they occupied from 2007 through 2012.

The preseason poll ranked York (19 points) leading a tight four-team race for second place in the team standings, ahead of St. Mary’s (16 points), Salisbury (14 points) and Marymount (11 points).

Frostburg State, Marymount and Salisbury also posted improving times throughout their competitive dual meet seasons and hope to increase their team point totals in this week’s championship.

The action begins Friday (2/20) and continues with two sessions per day (10 a.m. trials and 6 p.m. finals) through Sunday night (2/22).  Prior to Sunday evening’s final competitions, the annual tribute to the seniors from each team will take place, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Here is a brief look at each team heading into the 2015 championship:

FROSTBURG STATE heads into the CAC Championships led by junior Jon Shepard and a duo of freshmen in James Williams and Christian March. Shepard, with six wins on the season, is currently ranked 4^th in the CAC in the 100-meter breaststroke (59.94) and 5^th in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:13.07). Williams, currently ranked 12^th in the CAC in both the 100-meter backstroke (58.11) and the 200-meter backstroke (2:05.19), adds three wins from the year. Boasting a team-high nine victories, March is currently ranked 3^rd in the CAC in the 100-meter breaststroke (58.75), 4^th in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:11.10), and 7^th in the 50-meter freestyle (22.16).

MARY WASHINGTON enters the CAC Championships seeking its 15th consecutive league crown. Led by three-time national champion and reigning NCAA Championships Swimmer of the Meet Alex Anderson, the Eagles look to garner more school records and NCAA qualifying times this weekend. In addition to Anderson, the Eagles boast a talent-laden squad, including freshman Kenyon Huber-Wilker, as well as returning first team all-conference swimmers Henry Bassett, Tyler Gimple, Zach Eisig, Sean Mayer, and Dallas Tarkenton, and will seek to win all five relays again this winter.

MARYMOUNT looks to improve on its fifth place finish at last year’s finale.  The Saints return several key seniors in Joseph Gardener and Dennis D’Abbracio, but look to a very talented bunch of newcomers to round out the championship event.  Rookie Thomas Brierley has been a constant atop the podium for Marymount, posting several top-ten times in the CAC this season.  Brierley has also made an early impact in his career as a Saint, breaking into several top-ten time categories in the program record books as well.

ST. MARY’S has improved after every meet this season and will carry that body of work into this year's CAC championship meet. The Seahawks will count on the work ethic of All-CAC performers, senior Bobby Witkop, juniors Grant Burgess and Michael Speer, and sophomore Matt Walchuck, to challenge the meet's top contenders.

SALISBURY is going into the CAC Championships with an experienced group of swimmers ready to compete. Junior Will Gough, who was a first-team All-CAC selection last year, has had another prosperous year for the Sea Gulls, leading the team in first-place finishes with 11 on the season. Sophomore Okan Eyigor, who also earned first-team All-CAC honors last season, has continued his success in his second season at Salisbury, taking the gold nine times during the year. Senior Daniel Keller has also stepped up this year after not competing with the team last season. Keller has taken gold four times on the season, including winning his last three races of the regular season. Junior Jake Blazer, who earned a second-team All-CAC nod last year, has improved from last season and has performed at a high level in the freestyle events, tallying two victories and seven second-place finishes on the season.

YORK head coach Erin Kurtz is looking forward to challenging for an upper spot in the upcoming CAC Championships.  She will turn to reigning CAC Co-Swimmer of the Year Kyle Walthall to score big points in the 100 and 200 breaststroke while he will be a key swimmer in the Spartan relays. Seniors Bryant Hughes, Shane Bonner and Cody Latchford are a trio of Spartans who Kurtz expects to rack up points for the Green and White. Freshman Morgan Schreiber should make an impact on the York lineup as he has the opportunity to contend for top rookie honors.

2014-15 CAC Men's Swimming Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(Announced on Oct. 24, 2014)