March 17, 2008

Clarion's Women's Swimming and Diving team placed a strong 8th at the recently completed NCAA Division II Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships, under 8th year head coach Mark VanDyke.

Held at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Missouri, Clarion scored 190 points to finish in eoghth place. Truman State won the women's nationals with 461.5 points, Drury was second with 449, North Dakota third with 324, Cal San Diego fourth with 302 and Nebraska-Omaha 242 points.

Clarion had all 9 participants come home with All-America honors. In the pool Clarion had 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). While divers were Teagan Riggs (Sr. Meadville) and Ginny Saras (Sr. Sugarloaf) Jena Gardone (So. Apollo - Kiski) and Kayla Kelosky (Fr. Ellwood City - Riverside).

Riggs, a senior diver from Meadville, won the 3 meter national championship scoring 455 points, and topping South Dakota's Jill Smolczyk who had 451.2 points. Riggs moved on to one meter and placed second with 409 points. She finished her career as an 8-time All-American including a national championship and two runner-up finishes.

Saras, a senior from Sugarloaf, was 6th on 3 meter with 397.75 points and 9th on 1 meter with 335.25 points. She finishes as a 7-time All-American, with a second place finish on 1 meter last year as her highest mark.

Kelosky, a freshman from Ellwood City (Riverside), placed third on 1 meter with 400.05 points and was 10th on 3 meter with 348.15 points for an impressive showing.

Gardone, a sophomore from Apollo (Kiski), placed 8th on 3 meter with 348.15 points and was 7th on 1 meter with 366.45 points. She is a 4-time A-A in her career.

"Our divers did a great job at nationals," said coach Dave Hrovat. "We couldn't have been more pleased with their overall performances."

In the pool freshman Kaitlyn Johnson (Uniontown) posted 7 A-A honors with her 3 individual and 4 relay A-A placings. She placed 10th in the 50 free (23.64), 10th in the 100 free (51.85) and 13th in the 100 butterfly (57.67). She was part of 4 placing relays. The 400 medley relay was 7th (3:53.39), he 200 medley relay was 14th (1:48.13), the 200 free relay was 13th (1:37.40) and the 400 free relay was 11th (3:31.04).

Senior backstroke specialist Lori Leitzinger (State College) was a 5-time All-American at nationals and finished her career with 16-All-America honors. This year she placed 6th in the 200 backstroke with a time of (2:04.18) and 14th in the 100 back (58.27). She was part of the 7th place 400 medley, 14th place 200 medley and the 11th place 400 free relays.

Connolly, a freshman from Cranberry Twp. (Seneca Valley), was also a 5-time All-American at her first nationals. She palced 16th in the 100 breaststroke, and was part of 4 A-A relays. She was part of the 7th place 400 medley, 14th place 200 medley, 13th place 200 free and the 11th place 400 free relays.

Mattucci, a freshman from Jeanette (Penn Trafford), was on all 4 A-A relays including the 7th place 400 medley, the 14th place 200 medley, the 13th place 200 free and the 11th place 400 free relay.

Maloney, a sophomore from York, earned 1 A-A award on the 13th place 200 free relay.

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 8th at nationals in 2007, 11th in 2006, 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.

CLARION NOTES: Diving Coach Dave Hrovat has just completed 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 29 NCAA titles and 186 A-A placings in his 18 seasons... Clarion's women have a dual meet record of 62-24 under VanDyke.