June 19, 2002

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook swimming and diving program will welcome 24 newcomers for the 2002-03 season, head coach Dave Alexander announced. The class joins a men's team that loses only three seniors from last year, and a women's team that remains intact from 2001-02.

Twelve athletes will join the women's team this fall: Jamie Bevilacqua (Lido Beach, N.Y.), who will specialize in sprint freestyle events; distance freestyler Erin Bowman (Hauppauge, N.Y.); Coram, N.Y., native Jessica Cervelli, a sophomore transfer from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Stephanie Doty (Middletown, N.Y.); Jessica Gleason (Towanda, Ill..), who was a three-time team MVP and conference champion in middle distance and individual medley events for Normal Community High School in Normal, Ill.; Farmingdale, N.Y., native Kim Harris, state qualifier in the 100 backstroke and class valedictorian at Farmingdale High School; distance freestyler Cheryl Lynch (Freeport, N.Y.); Tricia Palmeri (Seaford, N.Y.), who was a four-time team MVP specializing in the butterfly for Holy Trinity High School; sprint freestyler Ursula Pawelko (Deer Park, N.Y.); Daniela Sepulveda (Goshen, N.Y.), an Empire State Games qualifier in the backstroke; Jenny Servin (Canon City, N.Y.), who will swim IM events for Stony Brook; and Adrianna Snydstrup (Bohemia, N.Y.), who will compete in butterfly, IM and sprint freestyle events for the Seawolves.

The men's team also adds 12 newcomers: Ben Abrams (Deerfield, Ill.), an IM and breaststroke specialist; backstroker Billy Fick (Kings Park, N.Y.), a sophomore transfer from Goucher College in Towson, Md.; Ontario, Canada, native Nathan French, who swam backstroke and freestyle in the Canadian Junior Nationals; Nicholas Guerra (Hauppauge, N.Y.), a state qualifier in the breaststroke; New Fairfield, Conn., native Ryan Krompinger, who will compete in the IM and 100 breaststroke; Brian Leight (Floral Park, N.Y.), a sprint freestyler and backstroker; diver Patrick Marcel (Cornwall, N.Y.), sectional champion on both boards, 2001 Empire State Games bronze medalist on the three-meter board and bronze medalist on the one-meter; sprint freestyler Kit Mirchel (West Islip, N.Y.); sprint freestyler James Payne (Rochester, N.Y.), who transfers to Stony Brook after qualifying for the 2002 National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Championships in both the 50 and 100 freestyle for Monroe Community College; Brian Schliemer (West Islip, N.Y.), breaststroker and 50 freestyler; breaststroker Frank Schursky (Rye, N.Y.); and Kyle Thornton (Hastings, N.Y.), who will compete in the 200 IM and backstroke events.

"We're very excited about our incoming class," Alexander said. "To compete in the America East Conference, depth is the key on the men's side while talent is the key on the women's side. We believe these student-athletes, in addition to our athletes coming back, will help us achieve our goals next season."

Stony Brook's men's team was 7-4 in dual meets last season and finished third at the America East Championships, while the women's team was 5-7-1 in dual meets and sixth in the America East.