ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon swimming and diving teams kick off their 2010-11 season Friday, October 15 at the Cleveland State Invitational. The Golden Knights will be the only non-Division I program participating in the five-team event.
Cleveland State, Gannon, Butler, Niagara and St. Francis (Pa.) make up the season-opening invitational. Both Gannon teams went 2-1 at last year's event with the only loss on each side coming at the hands of Cleveland State.
Gannon returns 14 swimmers and divers from last year's women's squad that finished 29th at the NCAA Division II Championship. Seven female student-athletes qualified for the national championships, including six returners.
Ellie Hess (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell), Jackie Rzymek (Erie, Pa./McDowell),
Kaitlyn Bosy (Courtice, Ontario/Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary),
Sarah Lawton (Franklin, Pa./Franklin),
Diana Rocco (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) and
Megan Beresford (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) all return after qualifying for nationals last season.
Rocco became a three-time All-American, earning honors in the one-meter diving event. The 200-yard and 400-yard relay team of
Rachel Rzymek, Hess, Jackie Rzymek and Bosy earned All-America awards as well. The 200-yard freestyle team placed 12th and the 400-yard freestyle team finished 16th at nationals.
Gannon returns 12 swimmers and divers from last year's men's team that posted a 5-5 record in dual meets. The Golden Knights won five consecutive dual meets midway through the 2009-10 campaign, including a come-from-behind 119-115 victory against local rival Allegheny College.
Twenty-seven Gannon swimmers qualified for 2010 PSAC Championship. Both Gannon teams finished sixth at the conference championship while five swimmers earned All-PSAC honors. The women's 200-yard freestyle team of Hess, Bosy,
Rachel Rzymek and Jackie Rzymek received the honor by finishing third.
Mitchel Meighen (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) became an All-PSAC performer after placing third in the 200 breaststroke.
Third-year head coach Nate Walter's programs will get used to the road early, opening the season with seven consecutive events away from the Carneval Athletic Pavilion. The first home meet is scheduled for Saturday, January 15 against NCAA Division I Canisius.
