Drew swimming opens its 2009-10 campaign on Saturday when it hosts the Ramapo Roadrunners at 1 pm.  The Rangers are looking to build off a successful finish to the ’08-09 season that saw them set 64 personal bests at the Landmark Conference Championships, the women’s team win its most meets since 2001-02 and 84 new times entered into Drew’s All-Time Top 15 lists.  Head Coach Eric Scheingoltz and his Rangers will be looking for similar successes in the upcoming season.

The Rangers return a number of talented swimmers from last year’s squad.  Though Team MVP Alexssa Todd graduated, the women’s team will be lead by three upperclasswomen: Selena Davis, Kati Eggert and Sofia Quintanar.  Davis, a senior backstroke specialist, placed eighth in the Landmark in the 100 back while Eggert, a junior sprinter, took fifth in the 50 free.  Quintanar, a junior, also scored at the Landmarks, by placing eighth in the 400 IM.   Pleasant surprises as rookies, Marissa Kraynak and Jasmine Prokscha, will look to show even more as sophomores.  Kraynak proved herself a valuable point winner in the distance events, placing in the LC’s Top 10 in the 1650.  Prokscha showed versatility, but scored most in the breaststroke where she took two Top 10s at the Landmarks.

The men’s team will be more reliant on youth though junior John Feniello and sophomore Jeroen Fabricant return to guide the squad.  Fabricant had an outstanding freshman season earning Landmark Swimmer of the Week and Team MVP honors in ’08-09. 

Scheingoltz, now in his second season with the Ranger program, brought in a strong recruiting class, especially on the men’s side, that he believes will contribute from the start.  “This is one of the largest incoming classes we have had in some time,” said Scheingoltz. “Every member of this class will make an immediate impact on our team, but who also have a lot of raw talent to work with. I am looking forward to bringing them into the Drew system.”
“We worked very hard to find the right athletes to help move our program to the next level,” said Assistant Coach Brian O’Neill. “It should be very exciting to work with this class and help them adjust to their new surroundings in school and in the pool.”

Though Scheingoltz has instilled many new traditions with the program, he was very successful in maintaining one much older one.  The Drew Swimming program has always triumphed in the classroom and last season was no different.  The women’s team posted a 3.464 cumulative GPA, eight members of the team were named to the Landmark Conference’s Academic Honor Roll and Alexssa Todd earned Landmark Conference All-Academic Team accolades. 

“Not only did the team work hard in the pool,” said Scheingoltz, “But they were just as committed in their studies as well.  It was nice to see that the lessons of hard work, discipline and dedication translated to their academics.”

The Rangers will have four home meets this season and six away meets.  One of those new traditions will begin on December 8^th in the Battle of Madison Ave. tri-meet between the Rangers, FDU Devils and College of St. Elizabeth Eagles.