RELEASE DATE: 10/13/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Mansfield swimming opens the 2009-10 season with meets this weekend

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University women’s swimming team will open the 2009-10 season this weekend with meets at Millersville and Cabrini on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 & 17.

Second-year head coach Ian Coffey expects a lot of improvement in his program after almost doubling the roster size of last year’s team. He can already see a marked improvement in athletic ability and team chemistry.

“With a lot of new faces, I am really looking forward to starting the competitions to see what we can do,” said Coffey.  “There is a new feeling in the air and the team is hungry and looking to go out and race.”

With seven newcomers and no seniors on the 11-person roster, the 2009-10 team will be young but should be vastly improved.

Junior Megan Smickley (Bartonsville/Pocono Mt. East) is the most experienced collegiate swimmer on the team having appeared in the PSAC championship in each of her first two seasons. Smickley will concentrate on the distance events along with freshman Lindsey Gregg (Springfield,VA/West Springfield). Gregg was a four-time all-district and all-region swimmer in high school.

Sophomore Christine Gilles (Milford/Delaware Valley) returns this season where she is expected to be a point’s producer in the freestyle sprints along with freshman Emily Staib (Riverside/Danville).  Staib was member of a  PIAA top 16 relay in high school.

Also expected to make immediate contributions are freshman Cassondra Griger (Dingmans Ferry/Delaware Valley) and transfer Samantha Contino (Milford/Delaware Valley) in the fly. Griger was a district medalist in high school.

Sophomore Elizabeth Stanton (Chemung,NY/Waverly) will vie in the breaststroke where she was a two-time IAC All-Star in high school. Freshman Taylor Zilinek  (Center Valley/Southern Lehigh) will be counted on in the individual medley and backstroke.

Sophomore Jonna Chilensky (Douglassville/Daniel Boone) will compete in freestyle events with fellow sophomore Kelley Wright (Hawley/Hatboro-Horsham) swimming the back and free. Freshman Elizabeth Keller  (Auburn,NY/Auburn) will swim in the breaststroke and freestyle events.

The Mountaineers will be on the road for their first four meets of the season before hosting East Stroudsburg on Nov. 14.