Season Outlook

Tiger team members show their team spirit during a 2006 home meet.

The Wittenberg men's and women's swimming and diving teams finished in the upper half of the intensely competitive North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championships each of the last two years, and success is something that has become a constant for the Tigers. In 2007-08, a program stocked with both talent and experience will try to move ever closer to the top of the conference and make an even bigger impression on the national scene. 

The Tiger men return 12 letterwinners, led by sophomoreNeil Anderson (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood), who enjoyed an outstanding freshman campaign and is expected to be a key performer for the Tigers again this season. Anderson was a consistent winner in a variety of events throughout the dual meet season a year ago, excelling in the distance freestyle and butterfly events. He went on to garner Most Valuable Swimmer honors and was a member of the 400-yard free relay team that earned a third-place finish at the NCAC meet to gain all-conference awards for the four members. Anderson was a top-eight finisher in the 200-yard freestyle and three relay events at the 2007 NCAC meet.

Seniors Brian Harris (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg), Nick Pierson (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) and Jeff Smith (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior) are tri-captains on this year's squad and are expected to continue to provide leadership in and out of the pool. Harris was a part of the aforementioned relay that picked up All-NCAC honors.

Sophomore Taylor Smith (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior) is another accomplished collegiate swimmer, after picking up top-eight finishes in the 100-yard backstroke and three relays at the conference meet. Sophomore Matt Erenpreiss (Columbus, Ohio/Centennial) is the Tigers' top returning diver after posting a seventh-place finish in the three-meter diving event at the NCAC meet. Both are expected to continue to score big points for the Tigers.

Other letterwinners back in the fold for the men are juniors Chris Banas (Huntington Woods, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central), Andy Bates (Lawrenceburg, Ind./East Central) and Robby McNeese (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) and sophomores Brandon Bock (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan), Bobby Ritzi (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) and Pat Deering (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston).

The roster is bolstered in 2007-08 by 11 newcomers who are expected to make immediate contributions to the team.

The Tiger women return 15 letterwinners, led by seniors Lindsay Smith (Mount Vernon, Ohio/Mount Vernon), who owns school records in the 50 and 100 free and also earned an NCAA B Cut for the 100 free, and Kaitlin Clark (Wakeman, Ohio/Firelands), a team captain who posted top-eight finishes in the 1650 free and 400 IM at last year's NCAC meet. Smith also was part of last year's 200, 400 and 800 free relay teams that set school records at the conference championships. She earned All-NCAC honors for her performance at the conference meet.

The heart of the team is a large, already accomplished sophomore class, including 2007 All-NCAC honorees Adeline Brym (Mansfield, Ohio/Lexington), Kristin Elber (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick), Emily Roesch (Oakland, Mich./Lake Orion)and Janna House (St. Thomas, Ontario/Central Elgin Collegiate Institute). Brym earned an individual school record - in the 200 freestyle - and was a member of all three record-breaking relays in the 2006-07 season. She achieved an NCAA B Cut in the 200 free, and earned multiple All-NCAC honors. House also swam a leg on each of the three record-breaking relays at the conference meet, Roesch was a standout in distance events and contributed to the school record 800 free relay quartet and Elber was a part of two record-breaking All-NCAC relays.

Other letterwinners back in the fold for the women are sophomores Megan Bundy (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield), Melissa Capelli (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek),Emily Ellerman (Littleton, Colo./Littleton), Emily Elliott (Cincinnati, Ohio/Clark Montessori), Katie Johnson (Springfield, Ohio/North), Laura Joseph (Weston, Conn./Weston) and Amy Prugh (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) and juniorsKelly Eggers (Rye, NY/Rye) and Allison Reed (Duluth, Ga./Duluth).

Seven newcomers have been added to the roster in 2007-08. They will be counted on to make immediate contributions.