March 10, 2008

(Columbia. Missouri): Clarion's Women's Swimming and Diving team is ready for the NCAA Division II National Championships this week and are looking for some top performances. The NCAA's will be hosted at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Missouri from March 12-15. Prelims will start each day at 10:30am with finals starting at 6pm.

Clarion eighth year head coach Mark VanDyke is looking forward to the NCAA's, after leading the Women to a second place finish at the 2008 PSAC Championships.

The Clarion women will send 9 participants to nationals, including 5 swimmers and 4 divers. "I believe we're ready for some quality swims in the pool, and the divers are ready to have another great meet," said coach VanDyke. "Our goal for the women is a top 10 finish."

Clarion's women have a long and strong tradition at the NCAA's. Winners of 8 Division II Titles (77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 & 86) and 26 PSAC titles, the Golden Eagles were 11th at nationals last year, 10th in 2005, 5th in 2004, 10th in 2003, 7th in 2002 and 6th in 2001. Other top 5 Clarion placings recently include 2nd in 1993, 3rd in 1998 and 94, 4th in 2000, 99, 97, 95 and 98 and 5th in 1996, 92 and 91.

Last year the Golden Eagles placed 8th at D-II Nationals, which were held in Buffalo, N.Y. Drury won the team title with 646.5 points, Truman State was second with 518 and Cal San Diego was third with 318. Clarion was eighth with 243 points.

In the pool Clarion will have Kelly Connolly (Fr. Free/Breast; Cranberry Twp. Seneca Valley), Kaitlyn Johnson (Fr. Free/Fly; Uniontown), Lori Leitzinger (Sr. Free/Back; State College), Jamie Maloney (So. Free/Breaststroke; York - Dallastown) and Gina Mattucci (Fr. Free; Jeannette - Penn Trafford).

Leitzinger is an 11-time All-American entering nationals. Last year she was 8th in the 200 back and 11th in the 100 backstroke. She is seeded 5th going into nationals in the 200 back.

This will be the first trip to nationals for Connolly, Johnson, Maloney, and Mattucci.

Clarion's diving contingent, under the watchful eye of coach Dave Hrovat, is poised for another strong nationals. Jamie Wolf (South Park), who won 7 of 8 D-II national titles has graduated, but last year's runner-ups were also Clarion divers who will make a bid to win titles this year. .

Clarion's Teagan Riggs (Sr. Meadville) and Ginny Saras (Sr. Sugarloaf) hope to battle for a national title. Last year Riggs was second on three meter with 429.15 points, behind Wolf's 499.15. She was also 4th on 1 meter and is a 6-time All-American. Riggs was 5th on 3 meter and 9th on one meter in 2006.

Saras meanwhile was second on one meter last year with 360.80 points, behind Wolf's record setting 453.75 points. She was also 6th on 3 meter. She is a 5-time All-American.

Also expected to have strong performances will be Jena Gardone (So. Apollo - Kiski) and Kayla Kelosky (Fr. Ellwood City - Riverside). Gardone was 8th on 1 meter and 16th on 3 meter a year ago. This will be Kelosky's first nationals appearance.

CLARION NOTES: Diving Coach Dave Hrovat is in his 18th year at Clarion... He has been named the D-II "Diving Coach of the Year" 15-times ... Women's coach in 2007, 2005, 04, 02, 01, 2000, 1995 and 93, and Men's coach in 2003, 02, 98, 97, 96 , 92 and 91... Dave's divers have won 28 NCAA titles and 175 A-A placings in his 17 seasons... Clarion's women have a dual meet record of 62-24 under VanDyke.