2007-08 Bloomsburg University Men's Swimming Preview

BLOOMSBURG- The 2007-08 season hopes to be a promising one for the Bloomsburg University men's swim team. Coming off what head Coach R.J. Wojtylak describes as learning and rebuilding year, the Huskies hope their hard work will pay off.

"Our main goal is to improve on last year," said Wojtylak. "We want to do this by placing higher in the conference, winning more meets and improve our individual times as well."

The Huskies greatest strength this season, Wojtylak feels, is in the team's depth.

"The overall talent of the team has really improved and we will be competitive in almost all of our meets this year," added Wojtylak. "In order to take the next step in our development we will have to have a few swimmers really step up and be able to be counted on for first place finishes in our dual meets."

Since the Huskies are without a senior on the team and 15 of the 17 swimmers are freshman and sophomores, Wojtylak will look to juniors Mike Williams (Lower Moreland/ Lower Moreland) and Steve Withers (Chalfont/ Central Bucks West) to lead the team.

"We have two juniors who have improved tremendously from their first year," said Wojtylak. " While they provide leadership and stability they also provide inspiration from their improvements they have made each year."

Other key returners for the Huskies include, sophomores Kyle Weisenbach (Lincoln University/ Avon Grove) Joe Bentz (York/ York Suburban), David Mancinelli (Johnstown/ Westmont Hilltop), Dereck Fritz (Stevens/ Ephrata), and Michael Bierds (West Chester/ West Chester East).

Weisenbach placed ninth in the 200 backstroke (2:15.37) and 12th in the 1650 free (17.12.52) at the PSAC Championship last year. Joe Bentz had the top seed times for the Huskies going into the PSAC Championships. Bentz was seeded ninth in the 400-individual medley (4:25.13) and 10th in the 200-butterfly (2:01.60).

In addition, the Huskies bring in a talented and enthusiastic freshman class, that Wojtylak feels through their hard work in the pool, has helped push the upperclassmen and improved the team. The freshman class includes, Shaun Ulmer (Lancaster/Penn Manor), Cullen Mentzell (Trichlers/ Northampton), John King (Ridley Park/ Ridley), and Juan Castaneda (Shamokin/ Shamokin) who will look to compete in the freestyle events for the Huskies. Tom Runscavage (Shavertown/ Dallas) Tyler DeLorenzo (State College/ State College), Derek Straub (Sinking Springs/ Wilson), Ben Safran (Doylestown/ Central Bucks West), Mitch Hile (Dillsburg), and Anthony Sirico (Milford/ Delaware Valley) who will compete in the stroke events for the Bloomsburg.