YSUsports.com - Program Has New Look For 2003-04

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Oct. 21, 2003
Program Has New Look For 2003-04
    This season the YSU swimming and diving programs have established strong expectations and added depth to a growing program by welcoming seven newcomers and returning 15 top performers to its 2003-04 swimming and diving team.
    The women will have to prove themselves as they face a competitive schedule under the direction of new head coach Matt Anderson. Anderson comes to Youngstown after being an assistant coach at Ohio State for the past four years.
    Anderson, who says his coaching philosophy is based on good quality and hard work, has set many realistic goals in hopes of transforming his program into top Horizon League contenders.
    “I want our girls to maintain a 3.35 GPA, I want to shoot for a fifth place or better finish in the Horizon League and I want to be above .500 in our dual meets this season.”
    Leading the group of sprinters is lone-senior and team captain Lena Arens. Last season, Arens finished 11th in the 50-yard freestyle at the Horizon League Championships with a personal-best time of 25.19.
    “Lena brings five years of experience to the team,” said Anderson. “She has great leadership characteristics and is excellent at organizing and getting things together for the rest of the team.”
    Joining Arens is junior Missy Wiese and sophomore Katy Maly. Last year, Wiese placed 15th in the 50-yard freestyle and 14th in the 100-yard freestyle.
    Also making waves in the pool for the Penguins in the breaststroke event are juniors Danielle Blagg, Amanda Howard and Erin Hanson. Blagg returns after breaking the school record in both the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke in the preliminary rounds of the league championships last year. Freshman Becky Bertuzzi and Darla Drummond are expected to make an immediate impact in the pool.
    The Penguins have depth and versatility in the individual medley, which is what Anderson tags as the strongest portion of the team. Top junior swimmer Jordan Dunn comes back after breaking the school record in the 200IM.
    “I think we are just starting to see the potential of Danielle and Jordan,” Anderson said. “I think both of them will break their records again this year.”
    Juniors Erin Carter and Megan Blazek will also make successful strides for the Penguins in the pool this season. Carter placed 14th at the league championships in the 200IM. Along with Carter and Blazek, freshman Kim Hanley is expected to make a splash in the IM, backstroke and freestyle.
    Leading the Penguins in distance are juniors Michelle Von Duhn, Erica Gregos and sophomore Lauren Connolly. Last season Gregos finished 15th in the 1,650 yard freestyle in the league championships with Von Duhn and Connolly finishing behind her with 16th and 17th-place finishes.
    Diving Coach Nick Gavolas said he is excited about his 2003-04 diving squad which features three newcomers and last year’s 2003 Horizon League Diver-of-the-Year Kalyn Leveto.
    “This group has a lot of talent and their desire to succeed is foremost in their goals to keep on top,” Gavolas said. “In the past five years we’ve had a winning program and our goal is to return to the top of the conference and we want to remain on top.”
    Leading the youthful group is junior Leveto, a junior. Leveto is coming off a remarkable sophomore campaign after finishing in first place in the one-meter and three-meter diving events at the Horizon League Championships.
    “We have managed to stay on top because of Kalyn,” Gavolas said. “She has helped create a tradition of bringing home titles and with the solid class of recruits and their desire to succeed will help keep this program on top.”
    Freshmen Lynea Harrill, Courtney Harless and Erin Mazzant are solid recruits with tons of raw talent and are expected to step up in their debut season.
    “Training so far has been fun,” Gavolas. said. “These girls are really talented, they work hard, and they want to get better which makes it fun for me to coach.”