Expectations high as Swimmers Prepare for NCAC Championships

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- While the swim team did not compete this past weekend, there is a lot in store for them this week as they travel to Canton for the 17th Annual North Coast Athletic Conference Championships. 

Last season the both the men and the women placed 6th at Conference Championships. This year the Tigers hope to move into the top four. Neither team has beaten Allegheny is recent memory. A victory over the Gators should put the Tigers into the fourth position.

This will be the biggest conference team either the men or the women has brought to the championship meet in several years. Twenty-four women will be swimming for the Tigers, along with 22 men. Comparing this to 13 women and 8 men in 1998, the Tigers are hoping to make a big showing this year, not just in numbers but in points.

The NCAC turns out the top swimmers in the NCAA every year. The NCAC Championships is known as the fastest swimming meet in Division III. Nearly all top finishers in the NCAC go on to place in the top positions at NCAA Nationals.

Kenyon College has dominated the Conference since its inception in 1983. The Lords and Ladies have won every Conference trophy, excluding the mens trophy in 1995 that was claimed by Denison University. Even more impressive, the NCACs Kenyon College has swept the NCAA National Championships since 1980. The Lords will be going for their 21st consecutive National Title this year, while the Ladies will be going after their 17th. 

This rigid competition will be nothing new to the Tigers though. Over the course of this season the Tigers have squared off against both Kenyon College and Denison University, as well as Division I Wright State. "We carry a very tough duel meet schedule to expose ourselves to the high level of competition that will be at Conference," said Head Coach Bob Rueppel.  

The 7-4 records of both the men and the women are the best in recent years. Much of this success can be credited to Coach Rueppel. When Rueppel came to Wittenberg in 1995, the Tigers won a total of six meets in his first three years. In addition to duel meet success, Rueppel has lead the team out of last place in the Conference. Over the past five years, the Tigers score at Conference has risen from a mere 200 points to well over 600 last season. 

The Tigers are looking for senior co-captain Aaron Edsall is repeat his performance of last season. Edsall was NCAC champion in the 100-yard backstroke and finished third in the 200 backstroke. Edsall also earned two All-American awards at the NCAA National Championships which brought his total to seven All-American Awards. 

In addition to Edsall, Eric Jones, Jeremy Lazarus, Bob Rafferty, Joshua Schnacke, Alex Berger and Steve Rader all are contending for NCAA qualifications. Rafferty, Schnacke, and Lazarus each achieved NCAA consideration last year, but did not make the final cuts to the Championship meet. Newcomers, Rader and Berger, were both High School State Championship qualifiers last year. 

On the womens side, Rachel Juergens is expected to lead the Lady Tigers. Juergens has already achieved NCAA National Championship time standards. Among all NCAA Division III women, Juergens is currently ranked 19th in the 500 freestyle and 16th in the 1650 freestyle. 

Also expected to be NCAA contenders for the women's team is senior co-captain Melanie Edsall and Allison Dingus, juniors Melissa Beck and Paula Hauser, and freshman Courtney Galliger and Nicole Kinzler. Both Beck and Hauser achieved NCAA consideration last year.

Coach Rueppel was hesitant to make any predictions about this coming week, but he did elude to his expectations, "Hands down, the NCAC is the most competitive conference meet in Divison III. If we swim as well as we are capable, there is going to be a lot to look forward to after Conference."