Alfred Defends Empire 8 Men's Swimming and Diving Championship Title
February 27, 2008
ROCHESTER, NY – Alfred University, which captured last year’s conference championship, will defend its title as Empire 8 teams compete in the 2008 Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association Championships Wednesday through Saturday at Nottingham High School in Syracuse.
The Saxons completed their second consecutive undefeated dual meet season and are seeking their third conference title in the past four years. Junior Matt Baker, who was named Swimmer of the Meet in last year’s championship, has recorded the fastest times in the Empire 8 this season in the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard backstrokes. Page Beecher, who captured the 200-yard individual medley in last year’s conference meet, has posted the top times in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events this year. Brian Agro has registered the fastest 100-yard breaststroke in the Empire 8 this season.
RIT senior Quinn Donahoe, who was named Diver of the Meet in the 2007 conference championship, seeks this fourth consecutive Empire 8 title on the three-meter board and third straight in the one-meter event. The 2005 Rookie of the Meet has recorded the season’s top scores in both dives this year. Junior Phil Baudoin (100-yard freestyle) and sophomore Jeff Kaemmerlen (50-yard freestyle) of the Tigers have each posted Empire 8 best times this year.
Stevens Institute of Technology will be competing in the championship for the first time and are led by freshman Evan Wilson, who has recorded the fastest conference time in six different events this season.
Another freshman who has posted a top time this year is Joe Gage of Ithaca College, one of three schools to capture the conference title in the past four years. Gage has posted the fastest time in the Empire 8 this season in the 200-yard freestyle.
Junior Kevin Milkovich of 2006 Empire 8 champion Hartwick College seeks his third consecutive conference title in the 1,650-yard freestyle and a repeat of his 400-yard IM title from a year ago.
Junior Michael Fritz of Nazareth College has recorded two of the season’s best times in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events.
Mike Mottola has the top ranking for a Utica College swimmer with his time in the 200-yard backstroke.