Feb. 27, 2001
Stony Brook, N.Y. -
It only took one weekend for the Stony Brook swimming and diving team to turn its season around.
After struggling through a regular season during which the men's team won only three dual meets and the women's team won four, the Seawolves set five new school records at the METS Championships and ended up with 15 qualifiers for the ECAC Championships. The 15 qualifiers eclipsed last season's total of 11 and marked the most Seawolves ever to participate in ECACs.
Freshman Starlyn Rupinski started off the year by breaking school records in the 50 and 100 free and was SBU's first ECAC qualifier. The Stony Point, N.Y., native proved to be a very valuable freestyler for the Seawolves, as she competed in both the 50 and 100 free and all three freestyle relays--the 200, 400 and 800--at ECACs.
Freshman Lyndsy Sudol also made an impact in her debut season for Stony Brook. She broke Rupinski's mark in the 50 free at the METS Championships and swam on the 200 and 400 free relays at ECACs.
In diving, Kristi Schubert continued to be reliable on both the one- and three-meter boards, qualifying for both in ECACs. Schubert notched four victories on each board during the year and swept both events in three meets. Meanwhile, freshman Erin Byrnes also qualified for ECACs on both boards, after winning twice on both the one- and three-meter and sweeping the events in one meet during the year.
On the men's side, it was Igor Voloshin who continued to be a key swimmer for Stony Brook. The junior dominated the breaststroke events during the season and was runner-up at the METS Championships in the 100 and 200 breast. Voloshin's time of 2:10.55 in the 200 set a new school record, one which he already owned. Besides Rupinski, Voloshin was the Seawolves' only other qualifier in individual events at ECACs, competing in both the 100 and 200 breast.
Freshman Jason Ferrara also ended the season on a high note, finishing second in the 400 IM at METS.
As the Seawolves come off a successful conclusion to their 2000-01 campaign, they look forward to a new challenge that lies ahead--competing in the America East Conference for the first time next season. After two years as a Division I Independent, SBU faces the tough challenge of conference competition.
Five America East women's teams--Boston College, UMBC, New Hampshire, Delaware and Towson--finished in the top 10 at the ECAC Championships, while three men's teams--UMBC, Drexel and Towson--also finished in the top 10. As Stony Brook looks to build on its class of solid newcomers, the Seawolves hope to improve and become one of the top teams in the America East next season.
