Wednesday, February 20
Lewisburg, Pa.
2 p.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Patriot League Championships Day 1
Photo by: Josh Liddick
Lehigh set for Patriot League Championships starting Wednesday
2/19/2019 3:15:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The week has finally arrived, as the Lehigh swimming and diving team is prepared to compete in the Patriot League Championships at Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa. starting Wednesday and concluding on Saturday evening.
Both women's and men's team are geared up and ready for action on all four days, in both individual and relay events.
On the women's side, both junior Payton Miles and sophomore Megan Fennell return to the pool attempting to defend their Patriot League titles won last season. Miles claimed the championship in the 100 freestyle by swimming to a time of 50.04. Fennell got her title in the one-meter dive with a score of 270.50. She also was named Female Diver of the Meet. In addition to the two individual league titles in 2018, the group of Ann Foley, Miles, Julianne Koch and Meghan Thompson also won the 200 free relay gold medal with a school-record time of 1:31.41.
Foley, Miles and company figure to be fast competitors this week with a chance to really put the Lehigh women on the map after an incredible 7-2 regular season.
"Ann and Payton are heads above everyone else heading into Patriots as far as the results they have already had," said head coach Rob Herb. "They both have a strong work ethic and they've both prepared hard for this week.
"But they're pulling other people up so we're expecting some of our freshmen to really rake a good jump and I think we'll see some rises in the top two, but I think the biggest change is that we're going to get everybody into finals."
The freshmen that have had an impact in obtaining points for the Mountain Hawks this season have been Annie Norris, Carly Rutledge and Liz Olszewski, who are all making their Patriot League championship debuts at Bucknell.
In defending their championships, Miles and Fennell are in a good position heading into the week to do just that.
"I think every year is very different," said Herb. "Payton continues to impress us, Megan is still trying to figure out her self and how she takes this whole thing with a grain of salt, win or lose.
"Titles are great and we want them, but we're looking for an advancement for the whole program and that's not going to come with one person winning a title, it's going to come with four girls jumping into finals when they didn't last year. When someone like Ann or Payton wins, it motivates the rest of the team, so we're looking for that to be a motivation to our strong finish."
On the men's side, junior Walker Wilson continues to be a threat, but the men are all-around better than they have been in a long time and have a chance to be extremely dangerous in being a threat in the top-half of the Patriot League. The men finished in sixth place out of 10 teams last season, just four points behind Loyola.
"I think we're in a really unique position that we have not been in a long time. We're a strong team," Herb said. "We're as strong as anyone else and that's the unique thing. Two things go your way and you're looking at the best performance we've had since my first year here (3rd place in 2004), so if that happens, I'll be delighted. If it doesn't, I know that we're going to have a lot of individual strengths that are going to be impressive."
Herb lists Greg Giannella, Kevin Fleck, Teddy Smith and Max Goldenberg that could have an impactful week in Lewisburg for the Mountain Hawks, in addition to Wilson.
"All those guys, they're all going to have a chance to shine and they've all done the work and they've all done the everything they need to do to do that, but it's all been a growing process," Herb said. "I think we'll be very pleasantly surprised. They're really great people and they've got great energy."
The event kicks off on Wednesday with the preliminary round scheduled for 2 p.m. with men's three-meter dive trials. The 200 medley relay finals, the men's three-meter dive final and the 800 free relay finals are set to go at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the prelim rounds begin at 10 a.m. with the final rounds starting at 6 p.m.
All four days of the event will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network. Tickets can be purchased through Bucknell's website.
Like Lehigh Swimming and Diving on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Both women's and men's team are geared up and ready for action on all four days, in both individual and relay events.
On the women's side, both junior Payton Miles and sophomore Megan Fennell return to the pool attempting to defend their Patriot League titles won last season. Miles claimed the championship in the 100 freestyle by swimming to a time of 50.04. Fennell got her title in the one-meter dive with a score of 270.50. She also was named Female Diver of the Meet. In addition to the two individual league titles in 2018, the group of Ann Foley, Miles, Julianne Koch and Meghan Thompson also won the 200 free relay gold medal with a school-record time of 1:31.41.
Foley, Miles and company figure to be fast competitors this week with a chance to really put the Lehigh women on the map after an incredible 7-2 regular season.
"Ann and Payton are heads above everyone else heading into Patriots as far as the results they have already had," said head coach Rob Herb. "They both have a strong work ethic and they've both prepared hard for this week.
"But they're pulling other people up so we're expecting some of our freshmen to really rake a good jump and I think we'll see some rises in the top two, but I think the biggest change is that we're going to get everybody into finals."
The freshmen that have had an impact in obtaining points for the Mountain Hawks this season have been Annie Norris, Carly Rutledge and Liz Olszewski, who are all making their Patriot League championship debuts at Bucknell.
In defending their championships, Miles and Fennell are in a good position heading into the week to do just that.
"I think every year is very different," said Herb. "Payton continues to impress us, Megan is still trying to figure out her self and how she takes this whole thing with a grain of salt, win or lose.
"Titles are great and we want them, but we're looking for an advancement for the whole program and that's not going to come with one person winning a title, it's going to come with four girls jumping into finals when they didn't last year. When someone like Ann or Payton wins, it motivates the rest of the team, so we're looking for that to be a motivation to our strong finish."
On the men's side, junior Walker Wilson continues to be a threat, but the men are all-around better than they have been in a long time and have a chance to be extremely dangerous in being a threat in the top-half of the Patriot League. The men finished in sixth place out of 10 teams last season, just four points behind Loyola.
"I think we're in a really unique position that we have not been in a long time. We're a strong team," Herb said. "We're as strong as anyone else and that's the unique thing. Two things go your way and you're looking at the best performance we've had since my first year here (3rd place in 2004), so if that happens, I'll be delighted. If it doesn't, I know that we're going to have a lot of individual strengths that are going to be impressive."
Herb lists Greg Giannella, Kevin Fleck, Teddy Smith and Max Goldenberg that could have an impactful week in Lewisburg for the Mountain Hawks, in addition to Wilson.
"All those guys, they're all going to have a chance to shine and they've all done the work and they've all done the everything they need to do to do that, but it's all been a growing process," Herb said. "I think we'll be very pleasantly surprised. They're really great people and they've got great energy."
The event kicks off on Wednesday with the preliminary round scheduled for 2 p.m. with men's three-meter dive trials. The 200 medley relay finals, the men's three-meter dive final and the 800 free relay finals are set to go at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the prelim rounds begin at 10 a.m. with the final rounds starting at 6 p.m.
All four days of the event will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network. Tickets can be purchased through Bucknell's website.
Like Lehigh Swimming and Diving on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
Players Mentioned
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back/Free
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