Oct. 6, 2008
The men come into the 2008-09 season loaded with talent, but also loaded with a lot of fresh faces. The men will return 18 swimmers from last year's squad, but welcome 16 newcomers into the mix.
“In a word, the men's team is complicated this year,” Head Coach Brian Hoffer said. “We've got a lot of good swimmers and we've got a lot of depth in many events, but we have a lot of new faces on the squad as well. With so many newcomers, our biggest concern is the adjustment of the freshmen.”
The men's captains for the 2008-09 season are Jake Hoffmann, Bryan Difford and Brad Hubbard.
SPRINT FREE
Sophomore Jordan Hawley will be the main competitor for the Tigers in the sprints this season. As a freshman, Hawley climbed his way to second all-time in the 50 free, and third all-time in the 100 free. Senior Gilad Kaufman figures to be a major factor in the events, while incoming freshman Scott Martin is expected to contribute big in both the 50 and 100 free.
Hoffer: “We're really looking at Jordan Hawley as our main guy. He really handled the pressure well last year. He stepped up and gave us some great performances. Kaufman and Bryan [Difford] will also be big factors for us this year. We've also brought in a lot of young guys, so we'll see how they develop. If they are able to develop and handle everything, they can really help us. We're hoping Scott and Jack Dwyer can step in right away.”
MID-FREE
Plenty of experience returns to compete in the mid-distance freestyle events for the Tigers this year. Seniors Matt Dahlke and Hubbard, along with redshirt sophomore Cameron Sellers, will lead the Tigers into the pool for the 200 and 500 freestyle. Sellers is the school record holder in the 200, and second all-time in the 500. Dahlke and Hubbard both moved their way up the all-time lists as well last season. Sophomore Jeff Hendricks, a transfer student, and freshman Yaniv Schnaider, also figure to contribute as well.
Hoffer: “This should be a very good event for us. Cameron is swimming well lately. The 200 and 500 really come naturally to him. He's very much ahead of the pack and he's a great racer for us. Dahlke is also a very consistent swimmer. We're pleased with his progress and he's going to be a big help to us. Brad Hubbard is very good in the 200 and 500. We've also got Jeff Hendricks, a transfer, and freshman Yaniv Schnaider who will definitely come in and help us out. The guys we'll be going to battle with are very consistent swimmers.”
DISTANCE FREE
The distance freestyle is one of the least deep areas for the men's squad this year. The event is headlined by sophomore Spenser Lauver. Lauver really impressed coaches during his freshman campaign, and he is expected to improve during his second season. Sellers is also expected to step in when needed.
Hoffer: “Right now, we're not very deep in this event. Spenser will be our main guy here. If needed, we could also move Cameron up. He's not a natural miler, but he's very good. However, we need him more in the 200 and 500.”
FLY
Kaufman leads the way for the Tigers in the fly, in what is hands-down his best event. Joining the school record-holder are Dave Dorak and Eric Smith, who figure to play a big role this year after they came into their own during the previous season. Incoming freshman Scott Martin is expected to have an immediate impact this year.
Hoffer: “Gilad is our top guy. He has the school record in the 100, and we think he's got a lot left in the 200. He could break the school record in that as well. Gilad is our go-to guy, we need him to help us win meets. Eric Smith and Dave Dorak look to be big factors in the event for us. Smith really came on at the end of last year and Dorak had an outstanding season. He gained a lot of experience and really brought it together in the end. Spenser [Lauver] will be big in the 200 for us, and we think we're going to get some immediate help out of freshman Scott Martin in the 100. We're very excited about that.”
BREAST
Junior Martin Cernansky and senior Ted Harris lead the way for the Tigers in the breaststroke for the upcoming season. Cernansky, a school record-holder, and Harris, a 2008 Olympic Trials qualifier, provide the Tigers with a lot of experience. Difford, along with incoming freshmen Michael Lopresti and Yaniv Schnaider will provide some talented depth to the event.
Hoffer: “When talking about the breaststroke, it begins with Martin Cernansky. He's one of the best in the history of our program. He holds the school record in the 200 and is third all-time in the 100. After him you've got Ted Harris. Harris made the Olympic Trials, and has really improved as an athlete. The progress he has made has been really fun to watch. Bryan Difford will also be able to help us out here. He's our utility guy – he can do breast, fly, free, whatever you need. Two new guys, Yaniv Schnaider and Michael Lopresti, figure to be a part of the equation as well.”
BACK
With the backstroke comes plenty of depth for the Tigers this season, as the Tigers potentially have five or six swimmers who could contribute in the event. Hoffmann brings his experience as a leader and consistency in the pool to help anchor what should be a strong event for the team. Senior Byron Carlisle and freshman Jan Konarzewski are expected to contribue big, while newcomers John Howell, John Higgins, and Adam Abernathy will provide some young depth.
Hoffer: “The back is our deepest event, but we don't have anyone who is far-and-away our best backstroker. Jake Hoffmann has been unbelievable for us. He's improved every year. You know exactly what you are getting when Jake takes the pool. We're hoping Byron [Carlisle] can step up big for us this year. We've got a slew of new backstrokers coming in, so nothing is for sure when you have so many new guys. Jan [Konarzewski] is coming in with a personal best in the 200 back that is faster than our current school record. He can make us a lot better very quickly. Adam Abernathy, John Higgins, and John Howell could all contribute. The new guys are going to find a way to get in there. It'll be interesting to see who is going to separate themselves from the pack.”
IM
The Tigers expect to get contributions from plenty of swimmers in the IM this season. Difford, who is second all-time in the 200 IM, will be Mizzou's go-to-guy in the event. Joining him will be Cernansky, who is sixth all-time in the 200 IM, and Hoffmann, eighth all-time in the event, giving the Tigers plenty of options in the pool. Harris and Schnaider will provide Mizzou added depth in the IM.
Hoffer: “The IM is very deep. [Bryan] Difford figures to be our main swimmer for the 200. He's made a lot of progress, and he's got no problem handling big time competition. [Ted] Harris and Martin Cernansky will contribute as well. Newcomer Yaniv [Schnaider] will be our best 400 IM swimmer by a wide margin. We're hoping he can threaten our school record. Jake Hoffmann has really progressed, and we're anticipating him contributing also.”
DIVING
Diving will continue to be a major strength for the Tigers in 2008-09, as they bring back two NCAA qualifiers from the previous season, including All-American junior Greg DeStephen. Sophomore Dante Jones, who qualified for the NCAA Championships in his inaugural collegiate season, is expected to get even better with a year of experience under his belt. Junior Ryan Meeker figures to be a major factor in the diving well, as he looks to improve on his impressive showing in last year's Zones.
Diving Coach James Sweeney: “The men's team is comprised of all returning athletes, two of which were NCAA qualifiers last year. All-American junior diver Greg DeStephen will be leading the charge on three meter springboard and 10-meter platform. Sophomore Dante Jones, a 2007-08 NCAA Qualifier, will be the dominant force on one-meter springboard and 10-meter platform. Junior diver Ryan Meeker will have his strongest season ever attempting to make his first appearance at the NCAA championships.”
Stay checked into mutigers.com for more Swimming and Diving information, including the preview of the 2008-09 women's team later in the week.