Oct. 8, 2008

HUNTINGTON - The Marshall swimming & diving team will open up its 2008-09 campaign Saturday against East Carolina, WVU and Xavier. Marshall had another good season in 2007-08, moving up two spots at the Conference USA Championships and moving within 60 points of Houston for fourth-place. The Thundering Herd was up and down during the dual meet season but swam well during the middle of the season at Miami Invitational and at the C-USA Championships.

Marshall head coach Leonard Kraus is looking to have another good year and to continue to build on last year's improvements. "We accomplished many of our goals we set for ourselves last year, including moving up at conference," Kraus said. "We struggled a little to stretch together wins in our duals meets but we did well when it mattered most."

As for this year goals they are simpler; "Keep growing as a team, have fun, work hard, dive clean and swim fast!" Kraus says. "If we do that we will have a winning and successful season."

Diving
With all four divers of the team's divers returning, it looks like diving will be a strength for the team, lead by senior Siobhan Schuurman. Schuurman had an impressive season breaking Casey Mulholland's one-meter diving record and breaking her own platform record at the conference championships as well as qualifying for the NCAA Diving Zone Championships for the first time. Junior Rachel Hannum and sophomores Haley Holmquist and Jordan Weber are back after strong 2007-08 campaigns. All three improved during the season and will be looked upon to do so again. Each of the three also finished in the top-eight at the C-USA Championships on the platform and in the top-16 on one and three-meter springboard. Head coach Lori Meierbachtol also returns for her fourth season as the Herd's head diving coach. "All of the girls have so much potential and can improve upon their great finished from last season." Coach Meierbachtol said.

Butterfly
Seniors Kayla Truswell and Samantha Noland will lead the squad's flyers this season. Truswell was a finalist in the 200-yard butterfly and finished 10th in the 100 at the C-USA Championships. The Ontario, Canada native also had life time bests in both events last year. The team looks for more of the same from Truswell this year. Noland was having her best season last year when an illness cost a trip to Houston for the conference champions. Healthy again, Noland looks to help in the water and out.

Junior Kristin Wheatley will also play a big role in the fly events after being the No. 2 flyer in both the 100 and 200 distances last year. Also look for senior Camilla Overup, sophomores Susie Velte, Lauren Fairbanks and Jenae Moreno to help in the 100 and sophomore Kristi Schroeder as well as freshmen Meghan Demeter and Chelsey Lukens to add quality depth in both of the fly events.

Backstroke
Junior Jenny Johnsson will lead Marshall's backstrokers. The school record holder in the 200-yard backstroke did much to impress last year, finishing in the top-eight in the 200 at the C-USA Championships with a life time best. The Oslo, Sweeden native has set the stage for two more great years. With her work ethic and leadership she will lead a talented group that includes Erin Kennedy who was All-Conference USA (as the backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay), Kelsie Eberly, senior Camilla Overup, sophomores Kristi Schroeder & Susie Velte and freshmen Kim Melinsky and Chelsey Lukens.

Breaststroke
Marshall will certainly miss the services of school record holder and C-USA Champion Micky Sceli in the breast events. Expected to step up and lead this group is juniors Ally Melinsky, Kristin Wheatley and Briana Burns. Melinsky is a natural breaststroker and will be counted on to be a go to person in the 200 and in addition to pushing for the No. 1 spot in the 100. Melinsky had a tremendous in-season last year but suffered from illness at the C-USA Championships. Despite the adversity the Michigan native still had three top-16 finishes. Wheatley is a versatile swimmer and her role in this discipline will increase a great deal in the 2008-09 season. She has the talent to be the squad's No. 1 in both distances. Last but not certainly not least is Burns. The junior has made major improvements in her 100 in both of the last two years. The team will need her to do the same this year and be steady throughout the season. "All three are very capable," Coach Kraus said. "We need them to improve and push each other. Unlike our other events we are thin here so not only do we need improvement but also consistency from all three young ladies. I truly believe they can do both.

Sprints
The sprint events will continue to improve this season with Kyla Jungclaus leading the way. She is the teams leading 100-yard swimmer and number two in the 50 and 200 events. "I look for her to out with a big bang her senior year," Kraus said. "She works so hard in the pool and has good leadership qualities that will help the group and the whole team." Fellow returners Briana Burns (first in the 50), Jenae Moreno (first in the 200 & second in the 100), Lauren Fairbanks (third in the 50, 100 & 200) and Meghan Robinson (fourth in the 50) give the coaching staff great hope for the growth of the sprints squad. Also look for talented freshmen Meghan Demeter, Greenway and Stock to play major roles in the 100 and 200 distances.

Middle Distance & Distance
With the loss of five mainstays and three captains from this group, Marshall will have almost a completely new look for its distance squad in the upcoming season The group will be young and talented with freshmen Liz Greenway, Lindsey Stock, Meghan Demeter and Jessica Sweeney jumping in and making a big splash. They have some big shoes to fill but are certainly capable. Jenny Johnsson is returning after being in the top position at all three distances last year in the 500, 1000 and 1650 events last season. Taylor Brown and Karli Alsop are also returning giving quality depth. "This is a young group with two juniors, a sophomore and four freshmen," Kraus said. "However, they are hard working and positive. As a group probably more talented then the class we just graduated and that class represented Marshall and the swim team well for four years. I am excited to see this group getting started."

Individual Medley
Kristin Wheatley will lead the IM group this year. Wheatley had a amazing freshman year in 2006-07, but was up and down during her sophomore campaign. Supporting her will be Jenny Johnsson and Ally Melinsky, both of whom scored for the Herd at the C-USA Championships in the 400 IM last season. Look for Melinsky to also play a big role in the 200 IM during the season. Look for fellow junior Karli Alsop and freshman Megan Fillinger to play important parts in the IM events this year as well.

Schedule
The Herd hosted just two home meets in the 2007-08 season, but looks to make up for it this year with seven home events, including the first ever Marshall Invitational.

Marshall will open up the year at Frederick A. Fitch Natatorium on Oct. 11 with a four-way meet against Xavier, C-USA rival East Carolina and in-state foe West Virginia.

The Herd will stay home for three more dates, starting with Radford on Oct. 18. After battling the Highlander, Marshall will host Youngstown State on the 24th followed by Fairmont and Transylvania on Nov. 11.

Marshall's first road trip of the season will come in December with a trip to the Miami Invitational. This will be the Herd's first taper meet of the season and has traditionally been an event where Marshall swimmers recorded some their top times.

The Herd will close out the fall potion of its schedule at the John Carroll Invitational in University Heights, Ohio on Dec. 6-7.

Following its December training trip and Christmas break, the Herd will be on the road for a dual meet with Akron on Jan. 10.

Marshall will return the friendly confines of the Fitch Natatorium to take on Ohio before traveling to Nashville for a three-way battle with host Vanderbilt and Georgetown.

The team will then make a final home stand, hosting James Madison in its final dual meet. The Herd will then host the first ever Marshall Invitational, which will also double as the Appalachian Conference Championships on Feb. 21-22.

Finally, on Feb. 25, Marshall will open up competition at the Conference USA Championships where the Herd will look to improve on its fifth-place finish from 2008.