MEN'S SWIMMING SEASON PREVIEW

Men’s swimming at Limestone is ready to plunge into the 2007-08 season with high hopes of success. After last season’s record of 5-8, the Saints are working hard to come out with a winning record. They also are looking to improve on their performance at the conference championships, where they placed 8th of 12 last year.

Seniors
The Saints welcome back just one senior this season, Adam Caldwell (Marietta, Ga.). Caldwell participates in the freestyle competitions and won several events last season. Before he began competing, Caldwell served as a student assistant and should exhibit experience and leadership this season.

Juniors
The only other upperclassmen, Chris Harrigan (Greenville, S.C.), will also be an important component to the team this year. Also a freestyle swimmer, Harrigan qualified for senior nationals in the 50 free last season.

Sophomores
Daniel Bethke (Charleston, S.C.), Lee Boone (Savannah, Ga.), Tariq Turner (Anderson, S.C.), and Ben Williams (Simpsonville, S.C.) are the Saints’ final four returnees. All four of these swimmers were essential in the Saints’ victories last year and will certainly be valuable again.

Freshmen
The Saints are crowded with freshmen this season, with ten newcomers to the team, all with impressive prep careers. With experience from all over the globe, the freshmen hope to bring more success to the table this season.

Drew Boyd (Louisville, Ky.) hopes to bring experience in the freestyle, butterfly, and breaststroke to the team. Boyd helped his squad to the Kentucky state tournament last season. Brandon Liberator (Walcott, Conn.) brings his freestyle abilities to the team; he was also named Most Improved for his high school and club teams.

David Krahn (Charleston, S.C.) and Ryan Mead (Lexington, S.C.) were both assets to their teams during high school, earning honors such as All-Region and MVP. They both swim freestyle and Mead participates in individual medley, too.

The Saints welcome three swimmers from South Africa: Craig Jordens, Chad McKenzie, and Matthew Parsonage. These three swimmers competed at the provincial level of competition during high school. Jordens competes in the freestyle and butterfly, McKenzie in the breaststroke, and Parsonage in the individual medley.
Three more international swimmers will round out the team. Goran Majlat and Zeljko Karaman of Split, Croatia, show promising talent. Karaman was among the top five swimmers in Croatia in the 200 and 400 individual medley. Majlat was among the top 16 in the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 50 and 100 butterfly.

Anders Melin comes to the Saints’ team from Karlstad, Sweden. He participated in the 2006 Swedish and Junior Swedish National Championships, where he placed 17th and 9th in the 50 meter back, respectively.

-LIMESTONE-