2008 Woodie Awards
Men's swimming and diving earns best ever ECAC finish, walk on Collins ends Marist career a champion
Matt Spillane
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Sports
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The Marist men's swimming and diving team had its best Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships ever by securing second place in Boston this weekend. The Red Foxes, with a score of 458.5, were the runner-up to Harvard with 513.
Coming off its third consecutive MAAC championship, Coach Larry VanWagner said the team was very confident. Since teams do not know who they are competing against until the day before the event, VanWagner said the swimmers were focused on themselves and their individual performances.
VanWagner said that his team trailed Harvard throughout the event, but that they won a close battle with Columbia, Rider and Yale for second place.
"We competed very closely with them for the entire three-day weekend," VanWagner said.
Columbia, Rider and Yale finished third, fifth and seventh, respectively.
It was fitting that the team's seniors, in their final competition, guided the team to its historic finish. Former walk-on, Pat Collins, led the way by winning the 100-yard freestyle in 45.48 seconds on Sunday, propelling the team ahead of the pack into second place. He also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.15.
VanWagner said it was extremely satisfying to see Collins's years of dedication and determination result in such unparalleled success.
"Pat's progress has been historical," VanWagner said. "For him to come in as a walk-on, basically not being recruited, and leave as an ECAC champion - it's never been done before."
Collins was not the only senior that VanWagner was proud of during the team's championship run.
"All the seniors did an outstanding job the last two weekends," he said.
In the 200-yard backstroke, Dan Garaffa placed fourth by finishing with a time of 1:52.49 and captain Brandon Youse posted a seventh-place finish with a time of 1:55.05.
Nick Chevalier posted a ninth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:55.50. Will Shearouse and Collins guided the 400-yard freestyle relay team, along with sophomore Ralph Rienzo and Junior Greg Jablonski, in securing third place with a time of 3:06.42.
Coming off its third consecutive MAAC championship, Coach Larry VanWagner said the team was very confident. Since teams do not know who they are competing against until the day before the event, VanWagner said the swimmers were focused on themselves and their individual performances.
VanWagner said that his team trailed Harvard throughout the event, but that they won a close battle with Columbia, Rider and Yale for second place.
"We competed very closely with them for the entire three-day weekend," VanWagner said.
Columbia, Rider and Yale finished third, fifth and seventh, respectively.
It was fitting that the team's seniors, in their final competition, guided the team to its historic finish. Former walk-on, Pat Collins, led the way by winning the 100-yard freestyle in 45.48 seconds on Sunday, propelling the team ahead of the pack into second place. He also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.15.
VanWagner said it was extremely satisfying to see Collins's years of dedication and determination result in such unparalleled success.
"Pat's progress has been historical," VanWagner said. "For him to come in as a walk-on, basically not being recruited, and leave as an ECAC champion - it's never been done before."
Collins was not the only senior that VanWagner was proud of during the team's championship run.
"All the seniors did an outstanding job the last two weekends," he said.
In the 200-yard backstroke, Dan Garaffa placed fourth by finishing with a time of 1:52.49 and captain Brandon Youse posted a seventh-place finish with a time of 1:55.05.
Nick Chevalier posted a ninth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:55.50. Will Shearouse and Collins guided the 400-yard freestyle relay team, along with sophomore Ralph Rienzo and Junior Greg Jablonski, in securing third place with a time of 3:06.42.
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