Oct. 27, 2005
DALLAS (SMU) - The men's swimming and diving team brings high hopes into 2005-06 as the team returns 20 letterwinners from last year's squad and adds 10 talented newcomers. With a strong nucleus set to return and newcomers ready to make an immediate impact, the Mustangs look to be one of the most improved teams in the country and hope to return to the top 15 for the 11th time under 17-year head coach Eddie Sinnott.
As returning All-Americans, Ian Clark, Philip Griffin, Per Nylin and Justin Stephenson will lead SMU. Clark was All-American last season in the 400 IM and his teammates have represented SMU in past NCAA Championships. Their experience and leadership will be beneficial to the newcomers as the Mustangs hope to make a bigger splash at this year's NCAA Championships.
Coach Sinnott brings one of the best recruiting classes in his tenure to the Hilltop and is looking to the new class of 2009 to be the precipitant that leads the team back to being one of the elite 10 teams in the nation. Headlining the new crop of Mustangs will be Alex Hetland who comes in as a sophomore after transferring from Oslo, Norway. Hetland already has times in breast events that would make him a scorer in the NCAA's. Hetland is joined Luka Vrtovec who is expected to fill the void left by Camillo Becerra in the butterfly.
Assistant coach Andy Kershaw is excited about the newcomers.
"When you consider the great accomplishments under Eddie's reign, it is very exciting to believe that this class is one of the most talented groups of newcomers that he has ever had. We can't wait to get the new season started and see what happens."
"We're excited about the quality of athletic and academic performance that these men bring to the program," added Coach Sinnott. "I believe this class will ensure our place in the top echelon of collegiate swimming for next four years. Everyone on the team is excited to welcome them to the great tradition of SMU Swimming and Diving."
Once again, SMU will swim a tough schedule, highlighted by The Dallas Morning News Swimming & Diving Classic on Jan. 13-14 at Perkins Natatorium. The Mustangs will host Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Northwestern and Washington in 2006.
SMU hosts six dual meets at home this season: Air Force, Wyoming, Centenary College, Florida State, Texas A&M and Texas all journey to campus to face the Ponies. The team will participate in the Texas A&M Invite at College Station, Texas, and the Kerr-McGee Invite in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"We look forward to our dual meet season," Sinnott said. "We swim quite a few of home matches this season against top competition and as always, we look forward to another exciting weekend of swimming at the Dallas Morning News Classic."
The Mustangs look to win their 10th straight conference championship when they participate in the first annual Conference USA Invitational Feb. 22-24 in Houston, Texas. The event is being held in conjunction with the women's C-USA Championship and the squad is excited about participating at the same venue as the women's team.
After the C-USA Invite, qualifiers will compete in the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Mar. 23-25. The 2006 U.S. Spring Nationals round out the year for the Mustangs.
Coach Sinnott has a bright outlook on the season and is eager to see his team perform.
"Our relays are stronger than last year," Sinnott said. "Our goal is to get our relays qualified at NCAAs, so our team will have the ability to finish higher. We also look forward to seeing our newcomers perform and develop as the year goes on."
FREESTYLE
The Mustangs are led in the sprint free lineup by the trio of Per Nylin, Justin Stephenson and Emilio Garmendia. The three seniors have had strong performances in international as well as NCAA competition and look to contribute again in 2005-06. Freshman Luka Vrtovec will compliment the veterans and coach Sinnott believes that he may develop into one of the fastest swimmers in the country. Sophomore Jani Brackett is an impressive swimmer as well and will help round out the sprint free crew.
In the middle distance free events, J.D. White is expected to be the leader. Fresh off a solid performance at nationals over the summer, White looks to pick up where he left off. Chase Ingraham will also be counted on for leadership and wants to step up in his senior year. Sophomore Shane Milu blossomed at the conclusion of his freshman year and coach Sinnott believes that he will step up as well.
The team will be led by three freshman in distance free competition. Michael Dmitriev, Chris Ginder and Thomas Callaghan make up the talented trio of newcomers. Dmitriev is a potential NCAA scorer and Ginder and Callaghan had great high school careers. The coaches are expecting them to develop quickly and Sinnott feels that Dmitriev has the possibility of breaking some school records that have been existence since 1993.
BREASTSTROKE
The breaststroke will be a stronger event for the Mustangs as compared to years past. Incoming transfer Alex Hetland has All-American potential and along with Per Nylin, will create formidable duo in the sprint breast. Senior Travis Wolther will be featured in breast events once again and looks to be complimented by newcomer Mitchell Johnson. Johnson will be thrown into the mix early and Sinnott hopes he will develop into a top performer.
BUTTERFLY
Justin Smith and Freshman Luka Vrtovec expect to fill the void left by Camilo Becerra in fly events. Vrtovec has swam for the Slovenian national team and the coaches expect him to be an impact swimmer. Sophomore Brett Denham is coming off a freshman year that established him as a solid performer at this level.
In the 200 fly, Justin Smith will be the number one option. Smith had a successful sophomore campaign and also is expected to provide leadership to this year's young lineup. Fresham Nathan Clark will get an opportunity to show what he can do at this level and help with depth in fly events.
BACKSTROKE
Returning All-Amercain Ian Clark will be the Mustangs top swimmer in both the 100 and 200 breast. Clark had an excellent sophomore season and posted SMU's top times in both the 100 and 200 back a year ago, setting new career bests in all of his featured events. Clark will be supported by Per Nylin in the 100 and freshman Pat Ellerding.
Newcomers Colton Ingraham, younger brother of Chase, and Alex Hetland will both get chances to prove themselves in the 200. This mix of veteran and newcomers will make back events one of the deepest for SMU heading into the season.
INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY
Individual medley will be SMU's strongest event in 2005-06. Sophomores Ian Clark and Justin Smith leads this strong group, while J.D. White, Alex Hetland, Nathan Clark and Pat Ellerding round out the lineup. Clark led SMU in both the 200 and 400 a year ago and the other returnees were also strong. Sinnott expects this group to be very strong once again in both the 200 and 400. He also believes this group will train well together and can be impact scorers in all events.
DIVING
All-American Philip Griffin headlines a diving team looking to improve. With the departure of NCAA performer Beau Sydes, Griffin hopes to duplicate his performances from his sophomore season when he placed 10th in the one-meter at the NCAA Championships and was also named NIC Diver of the Year and Most Outstanding Diver in The Dallas Morning News Classic. Griffin had a great summer at the Midwest Championships and qualified for the senior nationals on both boards where he finished in the top-20 and expects to pick up where he left off.
Head coach Jim Stillson is excited about the upcoming season and hopes to see Griffin return to form in '05-'06.
"Phil had a solid summer and I expect him to turn in a strong senior season," Stillson said. "This is also a big recruiting year for the squad and it will be interesting to see how the move to C-USA affects recruiting. Having the both conference meets at the same facility should have a positive impact on the program."
The diving team also returns junior Casey Markham who will be rebounding from an injury filled '04-'05. Stillson hopes that Markham can compliment Griffin and provide some solid scores.
