Three-Day Event Begins Friday at Williams

HADLEY, Mass. - Williams College, winner of three consecutive NESCAC Men's Swimming and Diving Championships and four of the last five, will serve as host this weekend for the 2006 NESCAC Men's Swimming and Diving Championship. The three-day event begins on Friday, February 24, at the Carl R. Samuelson and Robert B. Muir Pool in Williamstown, Mass., and will conclude on Sunday, February 26.

The Ephs are hoping to follow up a stellar performance in last year's championship, claiming the title with a championship-record 1,862 points thanks to four individual titles and a sweep in the five relay events. Senior Will Cunningham (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.), who earned Swimmer of the Meet honors for the third consecutive year at the 2005 championship, won three individual events and was a major factor in the Ephs' relay success, participating in four of the five relay events.

Expect to see more of the same this season in the 200, 400 and 800-yard freestyle relay from Williams as it returns most of its relay regiment this year in the form of seniors Blake Albohm (Allendale, N.J.), Brad Brecher (Waban, Mass.), Cunningham and Zack Orjuela (Cinncinnati, Ohio), along with juniors Nick Gallucci (Akron, Ohio) and Steve Spinelli (Longmeadow, Mass.). In the 200 and 400-yard medley relays, Williams lost half of its championship team to graduation, however sophomore Henry Felker (St. Louis, Mo.) and rookie Norman Scott (Elmsford, N.Y.) have made the transition seamless for the Ephs. Look for a host of teams to challenge Williams supremacy in the relays, including Amherst, Colby, Hamilton, and Tufts.

Cunningham will look to put on a repeat performance in the 100-yard freestyle this weekend, along with his record-setting time in the 200 free from his rookie season in 2003. The 50, 100, and 200 free will see plenty of competition for the individual titles from the likes of Spinella and a solid group of rookies that include Amherst's Chris Resler (Madison, N.J. ) and Colby's Sam Wampler (Glencoe, Ill.). The 500, 1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyle this year should feature another battle between Spinella and Wesleyan junior Ben Byers (Seattle, Wash.). Spinella took the 500 last year with Byers finishing second, however it was Byers that beat out Spinella in the 1,000 by just over two-tenths of a second. Both men rank nationally in the 1,650.

Amherst senior Rick Estacio (Mechanichsburg, Pa.) came close to putting together a sweep of the three backstroke events during last year's championship, taking home first in the 50-yard and setting the championship record in the 200 while finishing second in the 100. Cunningham, who edged out Estacio in the 100 last year, ranks nationally in both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke this year, but don't be surprised to see some different faces on the podium this year. Hamilton sophomore Todd Johnson (Kingston, Jamaica) finished fourth in his first year at the championship, and he also ranks nationally along with Cunningham in the 100.

In diving, Hamilton senior Mike Salmon (Lowville, N.Y.) enters the weekend in search of his third Diver of the Meet crown, having earned the title at each of the two previous NESCAC championships. Salmon, a five-time All-American, was first in last year's 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, setting the championship record in the 1-meter. Looking to surpass Salmon this weekend will be a host of divers, including Williams junior Tim Nolen (Deerfield, Mass.) and Amherst sophomore Connor Boyd (Northridge, Calif.), both of whom finished well last year.

Competition will get underway each day with preliminary heats at 10:00 a.m. Finals will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Updated schedules and championship results can be found at www.nescac.com.