STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ATHLETIC CONFERENCE


Phone: (716) 673-3105
Fax: (716) 673-3135
Web: www.sunyac.com
Email: sunyac@netsync.net

For Immediate Release: February 9, 2004
Contact: Chris Gondek, SUNYAC Publicist


SUNYAC Swimming and Diving Championships Set To Begin

                FREDONIA, NY – For the seventh consecutive year, Erie Community College’s Burt Flickinger Aquatic Center is home to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Swimming and Diving Championships. Nine men and women’s teams will vie for the conference crowns February 11-14 in the 42nd annual men’s and 21st annual women’s competitions.
                The Geneseo women’s team will look to capture an astounding 15th SUNYAC title in a row at this year’s meet. Last year’s 500 and 1650-yd. freestyle champion Erin Walsh (Kenmore/Kenmore West) and 100-yd. breaststroke champ Jenny Cocco (Batavia/Notre Dame) both return for the Blue Wave to defend their championships. Oswego came the closest to dethroning Geneseo in 2003, finishing just 65.5 points behind the victors. Senior Anne Sarkissian (Oswego, NY), who finished tops in the 100 and 200-yd. butterfly in 2003, returns for the Lakers as well as 100-yd. backstroke winner, Kiersten Freer (New Paltz, NY).
                The Geneseo men’s team appears poised to earn its sixth consecutive SUNYAC championship at this year’s meet. Seven athletes, who combined for nine of 15 individual titles in 2003, return for the defending champions.  Sophomore freestyle and butterfly specialist Josh Hinman (Weedsport/Weedsport) and senior All-American diver T.J. Hirsch (Getzville/Williamsville North) each claimed two titles for the Blue Wave a year ago. Oswego placed second at the 2003 championships, falling just 46 points short of the eventual winners. Laker senior Andrew McLellan (Manlius, NY) returns this year to defend his 50 and 100-yd. freestyle and 100-yd. butterfly titles and give his team a shot at the overall team crown.
                The 2004 SUNYAC Championships begin with the diving competition Wednesday, Feb. 11 at noon and continue Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with preliminaries at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. each day.



2003 Final Team Standings
             
Women's Results
PTS.
Men's Results
PTS.
1
Geneseo
839.50
1
Geneseo
852
2
Oswego
774
2
Oswego
808
3
New Paltz
491
3
New Paltz
508
4
Cortland
444.50
4
Brockport
321
5
Potsdam
272
5
Cortland
311
6
Oneonta
212
6
Buffalo State
218
7
Buffalo State
211
7
Oneonta
204
8
Fredonia
166
8
Plattsburgh
173
9
Brockport
110
9
Fredonia
158
10
Plattsburgh
103
10
Potsdam
19

                                                                               


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