Swimming and Diving Opens Season This Weekend

Friday, September 27

Charlotte NC

5:30 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

Queens

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

Swimming and Diving Opens Season This Weekend

9/27/2019 12:09:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Season Preview (Watch)
DavidsonPhotos.com

DAVIDSON — The Davidson swimming and diving teams open the 2019-20 campaign this weekend, and coach John Young views the early competition as a checkpoint of sorts for the Wildcat men and women.

The Davidson women will compete at Queens Friday, also against Georgia Southern and UNC Asheville, while the men will host Queens Saturday at 11 a.m. in Cannon Pool. Saturday's action will also include women's diving against UNC Asheville and Ga. Southern that will complete Friday's results.

"The energy has been fantastic in the early season," said Young. "The teams have been focused, and the newcomers have acclimated well. Really, there are no surprises. We expect to see people pick up where they left off, and that's largely been the case. Especially for the folks who finished last season with some momentum, this is an exciting time."

Davidson returns a number of top performers, including junior Sarah Helen Shepherd, who put her name at the top of the program records in three events last year (200 IM, 400 IM, 200 backstroke).

Versatile senior Crossan Cooper ranks among the men's program's top-10 all-time performers in five events.

Young said the team will rely on its seniors to set the tone.

"The men have grown into a class with a lot of firepower," he said. "On their side, at last year's championship, they were the fifth highest scoring class. They'll lead the way. On the women's side, the seniors have seen the team at highs and lows. If they take what they've learned and rally us around what our best can be, we'll have a very satisfying season. Individually, I'm especially eager to see what some of last year's breakout underclassmen do. The juniors especially — like Mitchell Stanek, Will Tabor, and Sarah Helen — have just begun to explore their actual potential."

Preseason workouts have had an amplified soundtrack this year, as the Wildcats now have a trio of divers — Liz Goei, Drew Sheldon and Daniel Valmassei — led by coach Greg Ferrucci, a former state champion at nearby Hopewell High and an All-American at Kentucky.

"It is big," said Young. "Phase one was recruiting a passionate coach willing to invest in our divers, and Greg has been extraordinary. I am so happy, and feel so lucky, to have him here. Phase two was getting some talent on the boards, and Liz, Drew, and Daniel have exceeded our expectations. The energy at that end has been outstanding, and it's made the overall vibe better. The obvious is that having points from the diving events will help. Maybe more important, they'll be another source of energy and inspiration. It's huge."

Returning Top 10 A-10 Finishers
Women
Sarah Helen Shepherd: 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 back
Isabella McElrath: 100 fly
Relays: 200 free, 400 free, 400 medley, 800 free

Men
Crossan Cooper: 500 free, 400 IM
Owen Corkery: 200 back
Walter Dauksher: 100 free, 200 free, 500 free
Ian Hentenaar: 200 free
Brian Hynes: 200 free
Mitchell Stanek: 200 breast, 400 IM
Alex Strasser: 100 fly
Will Tabor: 200 fly
Relays: 200 free, 400 free, 400 medley, 800 free