An increase in numbers alone will not generate more wins, but the numbers, coupled with more talent and depth, will. The Lions have a spirited bunch of seniors captained by Reyn Cabinté and Jason Chechitelli who will lead the Lions' wave. Cabinté, varsity record holder in the 200 yard backstroke (1:52.05) will team up with fellow senior Tim Womack to give the Light Blue a solid one-two scoring punch in the backstroke events. Womack, returning after a year away from the sport, is the varsity record holder in the 100 yard backstroke (51.19). Chechitelli (50.0/1:55.1), a veteran of several Eastern Championships, will lead the butterfly corps along with teammate Justin Zaglio. Like Womack, Zaglio (51.8/1:55.9) is returning after a year away and should provide plenty of support in both the 100 and 200 yard events. Two other seniors wrapping up their careers will be be distanceman Gabe Bevenuti and sprinter Jeremy Stephens. The two have improved steadily each year and will look to continue that trend in 1995-96.
The junior class will feature four Eastern qualifiers and scorers. Distanceman David Michaels (4:42.2/9:48.8/16:30.2) looks to qualify for his third straight Championships while breaststroker Eugene Yamamoto (58.6/2:09.5) seeks to regain the form of his freshman year. Yamamoto, who scored in both breast events as a freshman, sat out most of last year while recovering from back surgery. The two most talented members of the junior class, Scott Sherman and Ed Yaeger, will be counted on heavily. Sherman, the most versatile of the Lions, could swim any number of events, but will focus mainly on the 200 IM (1:51.19), the 100 fly (49.4r) and the 100 free (45.6). He scored in all three last year, but is looking to make an NCAA cut this time around as well as a top three finish at Easterns. Yaeger, another versatile performer, will concentrate on the freestyle events. As a freshman, he scored in the 50 (21.3), the 100 (46.5) and the 200 (1:41.30) yard frees at Easterns and similar contributions will be needed this year.
The return of a large group of sophomores will further the Lions' development and efforts at cracking the top three in league placing. The three Mikes, Gustafson, McCosker and Poropat, all-Eastern qualifiers and scorers will be the big point producers. Gustafson (4:34.2/9:26.6) and McCosker (4:34.5/9:34.0/15:52.6) will handle most of the distance and middle distance events while Poropat (21.6/46.2/1:42.2), a terrific relay swimmer will contribute to the shorter freestyle races. Butterflyers Kyle Laracy (1:55.1), Dayce Schrieber (1:58.8) and Louis De Leon (1:55.04) will join forces with seniors Chechitelli and Zaglio to give the Lions a solid fly unit. Norman, Oklahoma native Matt Gilman (4:09.8), the most versatile of the Class of '98, will continue to concentrate on the 100 and 400 yard IMs, but will also be ready for backstroke and breaststroke duty when needed. Two more sprinters, Roy Griffith and Jamie Setzler, will link up with Poropat for the sprint free events. Setzler (144.7) will focus on the 200 free while Griffith (21.1/47.3) tends to enjoy the 50 and 100 more.
The diving events will be under the ever-improving bounce of Mike Feit. Feit, a junior who walked-on as a freshman, has improved steadily each year and will be counted on to continue that progress.
Overall, the Lions are looking to improve upon last year's league win total of three. It has been a while since the Lions have had such a combination of talent and depth, making the '95-'96 campaign a good place to start the climb back to the top.
"I am not sure if the adage 'bigger is better automatically applies to this team,' states 12th-year coach Jim Bolster, "but I wouldn't bet against it either."