UMBC Men's Swimming Outlook
For the third consecutive year, the men's team won the ECAC Championships. They trounced the field as the second place finisher, Yale, trailed UMBC by 245 points.
Coach Burkot believes they can finish well again, "This year we have an Olympian [Addadi] and a swimmer who qualified for the US Olympic trials [Goh]. I expect us to be near the top again."
SPRINTS- Junior standout and captain Mehdi Addadi, coming off his Olympic appearance in Sydney, is a proven winner who Burkot expects more big things from this season. Along with Addadi, the Retrievers boast junior sensation Evan Patrick, who won the 50 Free at the ECACs. Junior Tom Dawson rounds out a tough trio of UMBC sprinters.
MID-FREE- Patrick is another key performer in the middle distance freestyle as he notched a third place finish in the 200 Free at the ECACs. He is joined by sophomore Ben Erb, who ended last season with some great swims. Freshmen Carlos Canepa and Brad Green also show promise.
DISTANCE FREE- Sophomores Christian Disque and Ron Park will share the duties in the distance free; Green will add depth to the distance events.
BUTTERFLY- Captains' Addadi and senior Steve Mason along with Disque and Park will compete in this event. Addadi holds the UMBC record in the 100 Fly. Freshman Peter Pugliese will also add depth to an already strong field.
BREAST- The Retrievers boast the ECAC, and UMBC, record holder in the 200 Breast in senior captain Kevin Goh, who will look to add to his record-breaking career in 2000-01. Also scoring points for the Retrievers in this event will be Mason and freshman Jon Armitage.
BACK- Addadi highlights this area for UMBC. He is the Retriever record holder in both the 100 and 200 Back. Addadi also won silver in the 100 Back at the ECACs. Freshmen Ramon James and Nicholas Lombo will help complement Addadi in this event.
IM- Goh and Patrick will handle the individual medley events. Goh is the two-time defending ECAC champion in the 200 IM. Sophomore Karl Strauss will provide the Retrievers with quality depth.
DIVING- Sophomore Ian Stucky returns to the boards along with freshman Jon Gdowik.