Oct. 16, 2004
Preview: YSU Looks to Continue Improvement in 2004-05 Campaign
    The Youngstown State swimming and diving team has a lot to be excited about entering the 2004-05 campaign.
    Entering the season last year with only one senior, a new head coach and the uncertainties that surround the reshaping of a program, the Penguins responded with their highest finish ever at the Horizon League Championship, produced two individual conference champions and saw seven school records fall.
    Now, entering the second season of Matt Anderson’s era as head coach, the team has a plan in place to continue its climb toward the upper echelon of the region and conference.  Leading the way will be 10 seniors, 14 returning letterwinners, a solid recruiting class, two defending conference champions and four school-record holders.
    "The team and I have one year together and they are beginning to understand the direction we're going and are developing a comfort level knowing the expectations and goals for the program."

Freestyle
    The Penguins lost their top sprint freestyler from a year ago when Lena Arens, a top-eight finisher in the 50 and 100 last season, graduated, but they ‘ll bring back two seniors and will get a boost from a freshman.
    Senior Missy Wiese is the most decorated sprinter returning as she scored in both sprint events at the Horizon League Championship a year ago. She finished 16th in both the 50- and 200-yard free at the league meet and ranks third all-time in school history in the 50 free. Katy Malys, who will also compete in the backstroke, placed 22nd in the 50 free and 25th in the 100 at the conference meet.
    Freshman Brittany Senn should also be a factor in the sprint freestyle as she was the team’s top finisher in the 50 and 100 free at the team’s preseason Red and Black Intrasquad Meet and set the Padua High record in the 50, 100, 200 and 500 free.
    “Both Missy and Katy bring great experience back as seniors,” Anderson said. “Both of them had success last year at conference and we’re looking for them to continue that success this season.”
    “Brittany has a really bright future for us and should really help us replace the loss of Lena.”
    Sophomore Becky Bertuzzi will look to make an impact in the middle distance free as she has one year under her belt while splitting time with the butterfly.
    In the distance events, the Penguins will be paced by a trio of seniors in Jordan Dunn, Erika Gregos and Michelle Von Duhn. Dunn finished 14th in the 1,000 and 1,650 free at the Horizon League Championship last season and ranks second in school history in both events. Gregos finished right behind Dunn in the 1,000 at the conference meet while Von Duhn placed 16th in the 1,650.  Von Duhn also earned the team’s most improved swimmer.
    “With all three of them returning, having more training and putting in good summers, they should all make an impact at the conference meet,” Anderson said.
    Freshman Amanda Ladd will also see some time in the distance events, although she will concentrate mainly on the butterfly.

Butterfly
    The Penguins were solid but a bit shallow in the fly a year ago, but with the addition of two freshmen recruits and an extra year of experience for the returners, the event could be one of the team’s strongest this season.
    Erin Carter primarily competes in the individual medley events, but she proved to be the squad’s top flyer last season. The senior captain placed eighth in the 200 fly at the conference meet and ranks second all-time in the event and third in the 100 fly.
    Bertuzzi swam the butterfly leg of the school record-setting 400-yard medley relay at the Horizon League Championship. She also placed 15th in the 200 fly at the conference meet.
    “Erin is the core of our returners with her versatility,” Anderson said. "She has the ability to swim in any event at any time."
    “Becky has a year under her belt now and should make an impact at conference.”
    Freshmen Sarah Porchak and Ladd should help add depth to the event. Porchak was nationally ranked in Canada as a junior in the 50 fly when she swam for the Tillsonburg Aquatic Torpedoes club team while Ladd was a four-time letterwinner and two-time team MVP at Milford High School.

Backstroke
    The backstroke should also be deep as Megan Blazek, Malys and Carter return. Blazek, a senior, finished 18th in the 100 back at the conference meet while Malys placed 16th in the event. Carter swam the backstroke leg of the record-setting 400 medley relay tandem at the league meet and ranks second all-time in school history in both the 100 and 200 back.
    Porchak should also help out in the backstroke as she was also nationally ranked in the 50 and 100 back as a junior and set her club team’s record in the 200 back.
    “Adding Sarah will be a huge help,” Anderson said. “She’s coming in right behind Erin’s times. With her and those three returning, we expect to be solid.”

Breaststroke
    The Penguins have three returning scorers at conference in the breast as seniors Danielle Blagg and Amanda Howard look to have a strong final season while sophomore Kim Hanley looks to move up the rankings in the league.
    Blagg finished 11th in the 100 breast and 14th in the 200 at the conference meet last year and owns the school record in both events. She also swam the breaststroke leg of the record-setting 400 medley relay.
    Howard placed 16th in the 100 breast and 19th in the 200 breast at the conference meet. Hanley placed 15th in the 100 breast and 17th in the 200 breast at last season’s conference meet and ranks sixth all-time in the 200 breast.
    Freshman Julia Darling should also contribute immediately in the breast. The Holland, Mich., native set the school record in the 100 breast and earned all-state honors at West Ottawa High School. She also won the 200 breast in the Red and Black Intrasquad scrimmage.
    “We’re very deep with Danielle, Amanda and Kim coming back,” Anderson said. “Julia coming in should really be an impact for the program as she also adds depth in the IM.”

Individual Medley
    Carter became the first Penguin swimmer to capture an individual crown at the Horizon League Championship as she won the 400 IM with a school-record time last season. She also set the school record in the 200 IM en route to being named the team’s Swimmer of the Year.
    Darling, Blagg and Hanley will also see action in the IM.

Diving
    Senior captain Kalyn Leveto is coming off of a junior season in which she defended her title in 3-meter diving and added a second-place finish in the 1-meter event to earn Horizon League Diver of the Year honors for the second-straight season.
    Also returning are sophomores Erin Mazzant and Lynea Harrill. Mazzant placed 13th in the 3-meter and 14th in the 1-meter at the conference meet last season while Harrill finished 16th at both heights.
    Junior Kristen Moffatt, who redshirted last season after transferring from West Virginia, should also make and impact.
    “Hopefully Kalyn can do what she’s been able to do what she’s done the past two years and bring home another trophy,” head coach Nick Gavolas said. “Erin and Lynea should benefit from having a year’s experience.”

Schedule
    The Penguins stepped up their schedule with the likes of out-of-conference foes Ohio, West Virginia and Division III National Runner-Up Denison. They will also take on Cleveland State twice - once in their home opener on Nov. 5 - and Wright State to get a preview of the Horizon League competition.  YSU will open its season with four road meets beginning with an Oct. 17 showdown with Marshall and Radford in Huntington, W. Va.
    "We're a better team this year and we wanted bigger challenges," Anderson said.