University of the Cumberlands Men and Women's Swimming
08-09 Preview

It is easy to see the standards are set high for the University of the Cumberlands swimming program when a Top 5 finish at the NAIA National Tournament is perceived as unacceptable, but that is exactly what happened in 2008. Although the outcome was less than a national championship and was not what the Patriots had hoped for, their drive, determination, and abilities were displayed as their name has become synonymous with the NAIA’s top swimming teams.

Coming off one of its best seasons ever, the swimming program earned 14 team records last year. The men went undefeated earning a perfect 14-0 record while the women were equally impressive finishing at 13-1. At the NAIA National Tournament, the men took 5th place in the nation while the women did one better coming in at
4th.

The 2008-09 season looks to be even better with a strong freshman class of twenty new swimmers. This year’s squad will be the biggest in Cumberlands history with a total of 54 talented names listed on the roster. The men’s team will find each other pitted against one another vying for one of the 18 spots for the NAIA National Meet.

This year’s team will be lead by NAIA All- Americans and team captain Eddie VonHertsenberg (Cincinnati, OH), Andrzej Lenard (Opole, Poland), Conor Gfroerer (Waterloo, Ontario), and top performer and 2008 Olympic Trial Qualifier Jorge Ospina (Tampa, FL). Newcomers whose names should be heard frequently and are expected to lead immediately are junior Matt Moon (Taft, CA), freshman Josh Morgan (Warner Robins, GA), freshman Frank McGregor (Savannah, GA), and freshman Brett Oliver (Ontario, Canada).

The women will return NAIA All-American Alex Robertson (Shreveport, LA) and Meredith Dement (Chattanooga, TN) to lead the team. Veterans and seniors Carol Clayton (Woodstock, GA) and Staci Barada (Ashland, KY) will join junior Marisa Lobacz (Acworth, GA) to provide upperclassmen dominance. Underclassmen sophomore’s Brianna Chen (Harrisburg, NC) and Bethany Quinn (Birmingham, AL) plus new signees Rebecca Cronkwright (Picton Ontario, Canada), Audrey Hess (Huntertown, IN), Heidi Huber (Houston, TX), Tess Antesberger (Chattanooga, TN), and Brittany Estep (Bristol, TN) will be looked upon to advance their skills and gel with the veterans to return the Patriot women to the NAIA’s Top 5.

Head Swimming Coach Garry Nelson enters his seventh year at the Cumberlands with high hopes bringing 29 total years of experience with him as he instructs the Patriot swimmers. Experienced veterans and talented newcomers make this team a national contender in 2009. The team has depth, speed, and a solid nucleus with some swimmers that can bring in the waves.

The schedule consists of excellent competition for the Patriots. With a much improved meet schedule which includes NCAA DI teams University of Tennessee, Western Kentucky University, and the University of New Orleans, the swimming team will be expected to step up and perform. The focus in 2008-09 will be on improving the team placement at the NAIA Nationals so that they can bring home the gold.

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