The RPI men’s swimming & diving team traveled to Syracuse, N.Y., over the weekend to take part in the UNYSCSA Championship.
The Red Hawks amassed 1,030.5 team points—84.5 points behind victorious Union—over the three-day tournament, en route to a fourth place finish.
“Going into the meet, we knew it was going to be a very tight meet among five teams,” commented assistant coach Daniel Traub. Emphasizing how close the tournament was, Traub added, “If you look at the past few years, you’ll find the second place team usually finished 85 points out of first.”
The trio of Pat Fell, Greg Derevianko, and Mike Scibelli led the way for RPI.
Fell, participating in his last team meet, finished second in the 500-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle, and third in the 200-yard freestyle. The senior was also the opening leg of the runner-up 800-yard freestyle relay quartet.
In the 1650-yard freestyle event, Fell set two school records. His 1000-yard split was good enough to break the mark he set earlier this semester at Union, and his 1650-yard total time of 16:16.48 was also an RPI record. Fell now owns or shares six Rensselaer swimming records.
“The 1650 is all about maintaining a solid pace,” explained the co-captain of his race strategy.
Reflecting on the records he divulged, Fell said, “School records are always nice to have. Everyone who walks into the pool can see your name on the board.” But, he added, “school records don’t always mean a trip to NCAAs, so they have never been my focus.”
Derevianko capped days one and three of the championship meet with second place finishes in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, respectively. “That was a really big accomplishment for me,” revealed a pleased Derevianko in regard to his runner-up performances at states.
Liberty League officials also recognized the feat, naming Derevianko Men’s Diver of the Week.
The award was the fourth of the season for the Wilmington, Del., native.
The diver’s achievements also marked the end of a stand-out sophomore campaign, one that leaves him anticipating next year’s possibilities.
“I had a huge improvement over last year,” commented Derevianko, “so if the trend keeps going, [next season] I’m hoping to just kick some ass.”
Scibelli tallied the only victory for the Red Hawks, winning the 400-yard individual medley. The sophomore completed the race in an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 4:09.21.
He went on to add a second place finish in the 200-yard individual medley and a third place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke. Scibelli was also the second leg of the runner-up 800-yard freestyle relay team.
“Keep an eye on him in the future,” advised Fell, Scibelli’s teammate, of the sophomore’s potential for the years to come.
Also contributing to the Rensselaer effort were junior Bobby Monahon and freshmen Matt Hiltner and Kevin Sheridan.
Monahon landed solid fifth place finishes on both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards.
Hiltner and Sheridan filled the third and anchor legs of the runner-up 800-yard freestyle relay team, respectively.
Sheridan also individually added a fifth place finish in the 100-yard freestyle and tied for fourth in the 200-yard freestyle.
His accomplishments were also noted by the Liberty League, as he was named Men’s Rookie of the Week for the third time this year.
Hiltner’s individual achievement came in the 200-yard butterfly. The freshman finished sixth in the event.
With the team season over, Fell, Derevianko, and Scibelli will now wait to hear from the NCAA selection committee on whether they will be representing Rensselaer at the NCAA Championship in Holland, Mich., on March 16-19.
Fell will be looking to compete in the 1650-yard freestyle, Derevianko’s events would be the 1-meter and 3-meter boards, and Scibelli is eligible in the 400-yard individual medley.
“I can’t really comment,” Traub said of the trio’s chances of being selected, “because the NCAA committee is like a college admissions committee; you never know what the heck they’re going to do and what they’re thinking.”
The official announcement will be handed out on Friday, March 4.
If chosen, Fell will be looking to draw from last year’s national championship meet. “If I do make the NCAAs this year, I think my experience last year will be very helpful. I think I worked the nerves out last year,” said the senior. He went on to predict, “If I get a shot, I’ll do well.”
The team season’s conclusion also marks the culmination of the careers of seven Red Hawk men.
Rick Allen, Chris Behle, Fell, Anthony Motisi, Joe Rutkowski, co-captain Pat Spooner, and Brett Stevens will say goodbye to the Rensselaer swimming & diving program.
“We’re losing seniors that will be very hard to replace in terms of performance in the pool, leadership, and personality,” admitted Traub. “This year’s class was very strong in terms of leadership.”
The loss of one quarter of the squad, however, will not plunge the team into mediocrity, insists Traub.
“We are losing a lot, but we’re looking to build upon this year, and hopefully be even better next year,” declared Traub. “We have a good core of swimmers coming back next year. I think with the talent on our team, if you look at the improvement that some of our sophomores had, if we continue to have that improvement, we will be a better team.”
Traub points to the breakout seasons of Derevianko, Scibelli, Hiltner, and Sheridan as proof of their ability to be the cornerstone of the team for seasons to come.
“We’re definitely looking to them to assume a bigger leadership role next year,” Traub said of the quartet.
Traub also mentioned co-captain and junior Rob Olivo as another teammate the men will look to for leadership next season.
The Red Hawk men finish the year with a stellar final record of 26-6, two games better than their 24-8 mark from a year ago.
The 2004-2005 season will also be remembered for a Liberty League championship crown, a perfect 11-0 start, a rewritten record book, and an upset of defending state champion Ithaca at a dual meet in their pool.
