Lehigh to open swimming season this weekend
10/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
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For the Lehigh women’s team, last season’s run to a fifth place finish at the 2007 Patriot League championships was a sign of a young, talented squad gaining experience and learning to compete. The 2007-08 team will look to build on those experiences and turn up the heat on the league’s elite.
“We’ve still got a very young team,” said head coach Rob Herb. “There are only two upperclassmen on the roster, but we’re definitely a team with a lot of hope,” he said. “I think we can surprise a lot of people if we work hard.”
Leading the way for Herb’s squad will be his two seniors, Sherri Pickens and Terry Mongan. Herb believes that his seniors will be required to exhibit leadership to the rest of the team and give them the confidence they need to succeed.
“We’re looking for a little bit of everything from the team this year, and because we’re young, we can mold our swimmers and encourage their growth by trying new things,” he said.
As for experience, the team gained a lot last season, and had a total of 21 swimmers who scored points. All of the returning swimmers for 2007-08 have scored for the Lehigh women’s team.
“Having a season where you had to rely on your younger swimmers is sometimes difficult in the short-term, but I think we’re better off for this season having given our whole lineup a shot to compete last year,” said Herb.
Gaining some of the most experience were sisters, junior Melanie and sophomore Allison Rolish.
Melanie garnered All-Patriot League first team honors at the 2007 championships after breaking school records in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Those record-breaking performances were good enough for second and fourth place finishes. She cemented her selection with three top 8 finishes as part of Lehigh’s relay teams.
Allison earned an All-Patriot League second team distinction for her efforts at the championships, which included a third place finish in the 1650 Free event and two other eleventh place finishes.
Breaking down the events, Herb expects sophomore Laura Eull to excel in the Back events this year, while Melanie Rolish and sophomore Stephanie Naylor will look to compete hard in the breaststroke.
Allison Rolish will look to continue her development in the distance events, while sophomore Julie Sicherman will look to provide leadership in the fly events. Senior Mongan will head the sprinting events, along with what Herb calls, “a great recruiting class” of sprinters.
“The girls coming in as freshman are really fast,” said Herb. “I think that they’ll be able to contribute right away for us.”
As in the past, Herb believes that the girls will set the goals for the team. “It’s really up to them,” he said. “But I think that if we have a healthy and fast season, we’ll be successful.”
Coming off their second straight fourth-place performance at the 2007 Patriot League championships, the Lehigh men’s team is looking forward to contending for a Patriot League title in 2007-08.
Despite losing All-League performer Tom Gilbert from last season, Herb believes that men’s squad could be his most-balanced unit he’s led at Lehigh.
“This can be a solid crew for us this year,” said Herb, “There really aren’t any superstars for us, but I think the overall level of the team has been raised. We’re really looking for support from the entire team this season, and to be successful we’re going to have to compete as one cohesive unit.”
Herb believes that he has a core group of go-to swimmers this year on the men’s team beginning with junior Dan Johnson.
Johnson earned an All-Patriot League first-selection at the 2007 championships along with the graduated Gilbert. Johnson was recognized for his second, third and fourth place finishes in the 200, 100 and 50 meter events respectively. He also was the catalyst for the Lehigh relay teams, guiding them to four top 4 finishes.
Herb’s list also includes All-Patriot League second-team performers senior Jon
Herb believes that the leadership of his best swimmers combined with a great work ethic can give this team a boost to the top of the Patriot League.
“We have the ability to make every meet interesting this season,” he said. “Our second string is not as far behind our best guys as they used to be. This helps us, not only because we’ll compete better, but we’ll practice better too. Our guys will push each other like they haven’t before.”
Herb will look to senior Mike Hay to lead the freestyle events for Lehigh, while sophomore Ben Dearden will look to continue his development in the fly events along with
Overall, Herb sees this team competing heavily in the Patriot League in 2007-08. “If we’re able to get a lot of big swims, and transform the mindset of our younger guys, I think we have a chance to do something special,” he said. “We definitely have a shot at competing with the best teams in the league, and giving Army, Bucknell and Navy a run for their money.”
Though small in numbers, the Lehigh diving team will look to jump to the next level in 2007-08 The program has been gaining strength under senior leader and All-Patriot League performer senior Clark Cohen.
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Cohen shined again at the Patriot League championships in 2007 earning a sixth place finish in the one meter dive to go along with a fifth place finish in the three meter event. Cohen holds the mark for the fifth-best one meter dive at Lehigh (269.48) to go along with a third-best three meter dive (295.20).
On the women’s side, Lehigh will look to sophomore Erin Tormey to continue her development after finishing 14th in the one meter dive and tenth in the three meter at last year’s Patriot League Championships.
Lehigh will open the 2007-08 season on Saturday at
