2006-07 Outlook (M)
2006-07 Men's Swimming & Diving Outlook
Focus. The Rider University men’s swimming & diving team has always been able to maintain its focus. “Our focus has always been to help athletes improve and compete to the best of their ability and achieve their potential in swimming and diving,” said head
coach Steve Fletcher, the Rider University Coach of the Year in 2005-06. “That is something we have always accomplished in the last five years. As long as we continue to do that, I don’t think the team will have any regrets.”
The Broncs will be more about quality than quantity this year. “We might have a small roster, not a great deal of depth, but we have outstanding talent and we’ll certainly put up a good fight as we always do at the MAAC Championships,” said Fletcher.
The returnees will be led by seniors Brandon Modrov and Andy French and junior Dylan Korn.
Modrov was named the MAAC Championships Most Outstanding Performer last year and was also named the 2005-06 Rider Male Athlete of the Year. “Brandon was the first Rider swimmer to break four minutes in the 400 IM which is something we take a lot of pride in,” said Fletcher. “The 400 IM is like track’s decathlon. It is one of the toughest events. We are proud that the MAAC record is held by a Rider swimmer.”
Modrov won MAAC gold medals in the 200IM, 400IM, 200 breast, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, and 800 free relay last year and swam on the ECAC gold medal winning 200 medley relay. “The 200 breast and the 200 IM are probably his best shot at Nationals,” said Fletcher, “and that’s our goal.”
Korn was the MAAC Most Outstanding Diver last season, winning both diving events while setting a 1-meter MAAC record. He finished runner-up in the 1-meter event at the ECAC Championships and advanced to the finals of the one-meter at the 2006 NCAA Zone meet. “Dylan is arguably one of the most successful divers in Rider history with his placement in the zone meet,” said Fletcher. “We never had a finalist at the zone meet before place that high. He’s very talented and we’re excited because he is still improving.”
French is a team captain this year. Last year he won the 1650 free at the MAAC Championships, placed second in the 500 free, was third in the 400 IM and was part of the winning 800 free relay. “Andy understands what senior leadership is all about,” said Fletcher. “He has improved dramatically over his four years and is the most committed and dedicated swimmer I think I’ve ever worked with. He’s been one of the top performers in the MAAC in the 400 IM, 1650 and the 1000 free. This year he wants to set his mark on the school record board in the 500 free. He wants that record and it is very much within his reach to do that.”
Other key returnees include juniors Matt Bauer and Pete Starr and sophomores Josh Rosenbluth, Drew Palmieri and Bryan Mejia.
Bauer was part of the 200 medley relay which finished second at the MAAC Championships and took fourth in both the 100 and 200 breast. “Matt had a breakthrough season last year,” said Fletcher. “He had lifetime best performances at the conference championships. The 200 IM is the most competitive event in the conference and Matt stands to be one of the top competitors in that event this year.”
Starr won MAAC gold as part of the 200 free relay, finished second in the 100 back, fourth in the 200 back, and fifth in the 50 free. “Pete is a great backstroker in the sprint events,” said Fletcher. “He’s a real power-event guy with a great start and great sprint speed.”
Rosenbluth qualified for the U. S. Nationals in the 200 back after winning both the 100 and 200 back at the MAACs and placing second in the 100 back at the ECACs. “Josh was a highly sought after recruit and proved why last year as a freshman,” said Fletcher. “That was a real notch in our belt as a program to have a U. S. Nationals qualifier. He is still looking to break Sam Engle’s team record. He improved a lot last year and we’re happy he has three more years here.”
Palmieri finished third in the 200 butterfly, sixth in the 500 free and seventh in the 100 fly at the MAACs last year. “Drew was named our Most Improved Swimmer last season,” Fletcher said. “He dropped eight seconds in the 200 butterfly in one season and dropped about 15 seconds in the 500 freestyle to be a conference finalist. The 500 free is one of the fastest events in the MAAC.”
Mejia finished 10th in the 100 back and 12th in the 50 free at MAACs last year. “Bryan was a walk-on who became a point scorer for us at the conference championships,” Fletcher said. “We plan on using him a bit more this year in the backstroke events.”
The newcomers are expected to make an immediate contribution to the team, led by freshmen Cleveland Brown V, Brian Brady and
Scott Player.
Brown is a unique freshman in that he is a 24-year old Air Force veteran who has served in Iraq. “Cleveland is in a unique position as a leader on the team even though he’s a freshman,” said Fletcher. “He has a lot of life experiences he can bring to the team and he has a lot of talent in the sprint events. He was a US Open qualifier in the 50 free, the 100 free and the 100 butterfly, so he has a lot of talent. He’s just getting back into the training routine after a five-year lay off. He’s stronger and more intelligent now and I expect his improvement curve to be very dramatic.”
Brady was a First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Parochial and team MVP selection as a senior at Gloucester Catholic High School. “Brian did very well in his senior year,” Fletcher said. “He just recently made the big jump to being a year-round swimmer and he did pretty well with it. It is a major adjustment. He could surprise a lot of people in his distance events.”
Player was a two time All-American and league MVP in California. “His results in practice have been phenomenal,” said Fletcher. “He is already doing lifetime best swims. He is going to surprise a lot of people. He will have an impact right away on our relays. On our team being on a relay as a freshman is very respectable because those spots are usually occupied by juniors and seniors. He has a ton of talent.”
Other key newcomers include Paul Apostolakis, Brett Daroci and Alex Grubbs. “Our freshman class in general is one that not a lot of people have heard of, but at the end of the year they will have heard a lot about it,” Fletcher said.
Apostolakis “is very athletic but has not had a lot of training,” said Fletcher. “He’s going to improve a ton. He has a lot of ability and natural talent. With consistent training he’ll improve a lot and hopefully be a finalist at the MAAC on both boards.
“Brett was one of the top performers in the Shore Conference last year has a lot of untapped potential. He will develop a lot in his four years. He hasn’t seen his best swims yet by far. He’s very coachable who will contribute at the conference level.
“Alex will surprise some people this year in the 200 and 500 free.” Focus. The Broncs will focus on improvement and reaching their potential while keeping their eye on a MAAC Championship.
