1998-99 season outlook.

October 20, 1998

The 1998-99 swimming and diving campaigns at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are filled with question marks as the Tar Heels prepare to embark on another season.

There is little doubt that Tar Heel head coach Frank Comfort has built himself a powerhouse program in Chapel Hill as he enters his 22nd year of directing the ship in the land of Carolina Blue skies. But the Tar Heels face the 1998-99 campaign with the #1 question being, what is the next level?

The women's team has won six of the last eight Atlantic Coast Conference championships and 12 of the past 18 in league warfare. But regaining the title in 1998-99 will be an arduous task to say the least. Both defending champion Virginia and Clemson have restocked their talent bases and the Tar Heels can expect a tough three-way fight if they are to fend of the challenges of their neighbors to the North and the South.

At the same time, the women's team has not finished higher than 12th in the NCAA Championships since the 1987 team punched the clock in ninth place. Comfort wants desperately for his charges to regain the Top 10 status they held for nine successive years from 1976 through 1984, but the swimmers must decide if they want to take their performance to "a higher level" as Comfort explains. Last year's team came close to reaching that level as the Tar Heel women swam to a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, her best finish since the ninth-place finish in 1987.

On paper, the Tar Heels would appear to have the top-tier talent to reach the Top 10. Despite losing Tracey Barrett, Richelle Fox, Janney Hooff, Jennifer Latimer, Millie Long, Chrissy Miller and Sarah Purcell to graduation, the Tar Heels have received an immediate infusion of talent in the form of a magnificent freshman class which includes potential stars like Melissa Fiss, Jennie Gardner, Sarah Givan, Katie Hathaway, Emily Huber, Stefanie Rulis, Heather Stiles, Molly Sullivan, Allison Terrill and Beth Waldo. That outstanding group of 10 swimmers and divers should go far to fill in for the seven seniors Carolina lost off of last year's team which finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 12th in the NCAA Championships. But if the Tar Heels are going to make that push for the Top 10, other Tar Heels must produce in addition to the freshmen class.

The bedrock of the team will be three upperclass swimmers who comprise the team's returning All-Americas. This trio includes junior Erika Acuff of Gladwyne, Pa., junior Jennifer Strasburger of Mercer Island, Wash., and sophomore Summer Mack of Satellite Beach, Fla. A total of 17 letter winners from 1997-98 return and will be counted on to do the job for Comfort and his staff.

On the men's side, the attitude for 1997-98 centers around the theme, "A Seventh Would Be Superb." This is in reference to the fact Carolina's men's swimming team has won six successive Atlantic Coast Conference team championships from 1993 through 1998. That is the longest streak of ACC championships in men's swimming in school history and the second longest streak in ACC history.

What Comfort has available to achieve this task is rather staggering. Despite the fact that Carolina's graduation losses were massive, once again on paper, the Tar Heels have the deepest team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, returning 69.1 percent of their point-scoring from the 1997-98 championship team. And one must take into account that Carolina's heralded freshman class of a year ago had a disappointing performance at last year's conference meet. Great improvement is expected from that group and the current crop of freshmen comes to Carolina with tremendous potential as well.

After all it is depth that wins conference championships. Just ask the league foes that have tried to dethrone North Carolina over the past six years.

Now if conference championships were about matching a swimming team's top half dozen swimmers in competition with those of other conference foes, then the Tar Heel dynasty would be in serious jeopardy. Both Florida State and Virginia have a top tier of swimmers as good as anybody in the ACC, maybe even better than North Carolina's.

But no one has the depth that Carolina possesses. As Virginia coach Mark Bernardino once remarked, "Over the past few years, the North Carolina men's swimming team has been as deep, and by that I mean swimmer #1 through swimmer #20, as any teams to ever compete in the history of this conference." That is high praise indeed from a head coach who has had his share of outstanding teams, including a 1987 team that was as dominant as any team in the history of the league in the conference championship meet.

Carolina also has loftier national goals in 1998-99 as well. Last year's team finished tied for 30th at the NCAA Championships, a supremely disappointing finish after the Tar Heels had finished as high as 15th in 1996. That latter finish was only the second time since the 1967 campaign that Carolina had finished in the Top 15 of the NCAA Championships. The only other occasion was a 14th-place finish in 1992-93.

UNC also qualified 11 swimmers for the 1996 NCAA Championships, the most for the school since the 1991 team. The 1997 team followed by qualifying nine swimmers for the NCAA confab. Maximum squad size at the NCAA's is 18 so the size of the Tar Heel contingent at NCAA's those two years has been especially impressive. So it came as no small disappointment when UNC earned only two NCAA bids in 1998--for juniors Ted Brisson and Tucker Shade. The chief goal of the 1999 team will be to improve that number exponentially and to move up a minimum of 10 places in the NCAA standings.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TAR HEEL WOMEN'S SWIMMING TEAM IN 1998-99

North Carolina enters the 1997-98 campaign with 17 letter winners returning from last year's Atlantic Coast Conference runner-up team. Led by the swimming of first-team All-America and 1998 ACC Women's Swimmer of the Year Richelle Fox, UNC finished second in the ACC Championships last year. Fox went on to finish in the top four at the NCAA Championships in a trio of events while leading the Tar Heels to an 12th place NCAA finish. But Fox, 1998 ACC Championships MVP Chrissy Miller and 1998 honorable mention All-America Tracey Barrett were lost to graduation so the Tar Heels will be looking elsewhere for their leadership in 1998-99.

Comfort will not have the advantage of reloading for 1998-99 season with an experienced team, but the Tar Heel freshman will make sure that UNC does rest on its laurels by any means. Virginia, Clemson and Maryland have all made the push in the last few years to improve their women's swimming programs significantly and the Tar Heels can expect to be challenged if they are to capture an unprecedented 13th ACC championship in the history of the league.

Providing leadership for this year's team will be a trio of talented tri-captains who are all outstanding leaders out of the pool and outstanding performers in the water. Senior Kelsey Durkin (Winter Park, Fla.) was an NCAA qualifier last year and All-ACC swimmer. Senior Beth Schlessman (Avon, Ohio) was named All-ACC each of her first two years at Carolina. Senior Tracey Rankin (Fairfax Station, Va.) was outstanding as a junior, winning All-ACC honors and making the NCAA Championships as a relay swimmer.

The remainder of Carolina's senior class includes swimmers Elizabeth Bursiek (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Katie Coates (Milledgeville, Ga.), Catherine Frock (Pinehurst, N.C.), Hilary Hoskins (Raleigh, N.C.) and Karen Krysiewski (Kingston, Pa.) as well as diver Jill Myers (Portland, Ore.)

Returning Atlantic Coast Conference champions from the 1998 season for the Tar Heels are junior Erika Acuff in the 200-yard individual medley and on the 200- and 400-yard medley relays; sophomore Summer Mack in the 100-yard backstroke and on the 200- and 400-yard medley relays; senior Tracey Rankin on the 200-yard medley relay; and junior Jennifer Strasburger on the 400-yard medley relay.

Acuff was one of three Tar Heel women to be named a first-team All-America last year. She finished eighth in the 200-yard individual medley at the NCAA Championships. She also finished 10th in the 400-yard individual medley and swam on four relays which were named honorable mention All-America. Strasburger swam on the same four relay teams for the Tar Heels and she returns her expertise in that area for Carolina.

Meanwhile, Mack, the 1998 ACC women's swimming rookie-of-the-year, was an honorable mention All-America last year, finishing 11th in the 100-yard backstroke and swimming on three relays which were honorable mention All-America choices.

With this cadre of ACC champion and first-team and honorable mention All-America swimmers returning from last season, Comfort has a core group around which to build his 1998-99 team.

But folks should not overlook the additions to the team as well, several of whom should be NCAA qualifiers in 198-99. This group includes freestyler and butterflier Melissa Fiss (Charlotte, N.C); freestyler Jennie Gardner (Matthews, N.C.); backstroker and individual medleyist Sarah Givan (Huntsville, Ala.); breaststroker, freestyler and individual medleyist Katie Hathaway (Matthews, N.C.); individual medleyist and breaststroker Emily Huber (Raleigh, N.C); freestyler Stefanie Rulis (Lexington, Ky.); backstroker and individual medleyist Heather Stiles (Chapel Hill, N.C.); freestyler Molly Sullivan (Las Vegas, Nev.); backstroker and individual medleyist Allison Terrill (Roswell Ga.); and diver Beth Waldo (Fort Collins, Colo.). One other newcomer to the Tar Heel team is junior butterflier, individual medleyist and freestyler Ilana Kavadlo (Charlotte, N.C.), who transferred to Carolina this year after swimming at Auburn University the past two years.

Other returning letter winners for the Tar Heels include sophomore butterflier, individual medleyist and breaststroker Kristin Lozeau (Ashburnham, Mass.), an NCAA qualifier in the 200-yard butterflier last year; junior Kelly McLaughlin (High Point, N.C.), one of the team's most versatile swimmers in the butterfly, individual medley and breaststroke eventsl sophomore diver Holly Mills (Durham, N.C.); sophomore individual medleyist and breaststroker JoAnn Overton (Greenwood Village, Colo.), who was a pleasant surprise to the Tar Heels in her freshman year; and sophomore backstroker and individual medleyist Erica Vrana (Chapel Hill, N.C.).

While Comfort knows that building depth will be the #1 concern of this year's women's team, he looks forward to the challenge. "We have become used to winning conference championships at North Carolina in women's swimming," the 22nd-year head coach states. "I hope that we have not become too spoiled by the frequency with which we have won them.

"We face a new set of challenges this year. Clemson, Virginia and Maryland have all improved their women's swimming programs dramatically. Our young women must step up and meet that challenge. But it won't be easy. We have our work cut out for us. We also hope that our recruiting class will help us get back into the Top 10, our top short-term goal."

As per usual, the Tar Heels face one of the best schedules in the country. Outside of the ACC, UNC will face Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Kenyon and Brown in dual meets. UNC also plays host to the Nike Cup November 19-21, 1998 in Chapel Hill with a field that includes Clemson, Connecticut, East Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, North Carolina, N.C. State, UNC-Wilmington, Old Dominion, Richmond and Syracuse.

Carolina will compete in the 21st annual Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Maryland's new Campus Recreation Center Natatorium, February 18-20, 1999.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TAR HEEL MEN'S SWIMMING TEAM IN 1998-99

The 1998-99 men's swimming and diving team at the University of North Carolina hopes to accomplish something that no other Tar Heel men's team has ever done before--win a seventh straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship. The 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959 Tar Heel men's swimming teams won ACC championships, but the 1960 team came up short in its quest for a fifth straight title, ending the streak by finishing third in the league. UNC enters the 1998-99 campaign having won conference crowns in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Tar Heel senior tri-captains Ted Brisson (Goldsboro, N.C.), Tom Schmelzer (Propect, Ky.) and Tucker Shade (Decatur, Ill.) hope that the same fate does not befall the 1999 Tar Heels as did the 1960 squad when its championship reign ended. There is a passion this year to gain that seventh championship in a row, while at the same time significantly improving UNC's finish at the NCAA Championships. The Tar Heels were a disappointing 30th last year.

"Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of coaching some of the most unified teams in the history of North Carolina athletics, and by that I mean any sport," beams a proud Tar Heel head mentor Frank Comfort. "It is thoroughly amazing how the young men on our team have taken a very individualized sport like swimming and made it into the ultimate team discipline. It is a pleasure to coach these young men."

Comfort is completely correct in that assessment. At the very top of its lineup, North Carolina is probably not the most talented men's swimming team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That honor belongs to Florida State or Virginia. But the Tar Heels do possess team depth that is very hard to equal. These numbers should tell you something about that depth.

First and foremost, UNC returns a veteran team to defend its conference championship in 1998-99, including 21 letter winners in all. That group includes five swimmers who were named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 1997 and five swimmers who qualified for the 1996, 1997 or 1998 NCAA Championships. Of those five NCAA qualifiers, four of them were named either first-team or honorable mention All-Americas over the past three years.

The latter group includes senior Tucker Shade (Decatur, Ill.), one of the nation's top butterfliers, the Most Valuable Swimmer at the 1996 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships and winner of the past three ACC 100-yard butterfly titles; senior freestyle sprinter, butterflier and backstroker Chris Jennings (Greenwich, Conn.), a transfer from the University of Southern California who was on two relay teams in 1997 which made honorable mention All-America and who has been a big-time scorer for the Tar Heels at each of the last two ACC meets; senior tri-captain Ted Brisson (Goldsboro, N.C.), an honorable mention All-America on relays in 1996 and 1997, ACC individual champion in 1996 and 1998 and second-team academic All-America in 1998; and senior distance freestyler Michael Chorba (King of Prussia, Pa.), an ACC champion and honorable mention All-America as a freshman in 1996 who came back from an illness-marred sophomore campaign to excel for the Tar Heels at last year's ACC meet. Added to this group is senior tri-captain Tom Schmelzer (Prospect, Ky.), one of the most underrated swimmers in the Atlantic Coast Conference. A quiet leader, outstanding scholar and magnificent human being, Schmelzer was second in three individual events at the ACC Championships last year, leading the Tar Heels to another title with his incredible versatility.

The depth of this Tar Heel team does not stop at these five individuals, however. There are 16 other returning letter winners who were a key part of Carolina's run to a sixth straight Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 1998. In fact, Carolina returns 69.1 percent of its scoring from its title-winning team of last year so a repeat is certainly not out of the question.

This talented "Sweet 16" includes sophomore backstroker, freestyler and butterflier Matt Baldwin (Lancaster, Pa.); sophomore freestyler and butterflier David Green (Durham, N.C.); sophomore breaststroker and individual medleyist Ethan Hall (Pleasant Hill, Calif.); sophomore breaststroker, freestyler and individual medleyist Brad Kline (Charlotte, N.C); sophomore freestyler and individual medleyist Seth Laughlin (Bethesda, Md.); senior backstroker and individual medleyist Matt Lundgaard (Campbell, Calif.); junior diver Kevin Mangum (Cary, N.C.); sophomore butterflier and individual medleyist Taylor Marks (Raleigh, N.C.); sophomore breaststroker David Meschke (Cary, N.C.); sophomore backstroker, individual medleyist and breaststroker Mark Seidman (Cleveland Heights, Ohio); sophomore breaststroker, freestyler and individual medleyist David Slawinski (East Brunswick, N.J.); junior freestyler, butterflier and individual medleyist Randy Thorpe (Winter Park, Fla.); senior breaststroker Tim Tober (Akron, Ohio); sophomore freestyler Jonah Turner (Raleigh, N.C.); junior butterflier and freestyler David Weeks (Raleigh, N.C.); and junior diver Christian Zuburg (Raleigh, N.C.).

It is hard to imagine any team in ACC men's swimming history having the kind of depth this team North Carolina team possesses. And what is even more impressive is that it blends the depth with good top level talent and with a class of seniors that provide the best in leadership qualities. That senior class includes Ted Brisson, Mike Chorba, Chris Jennings, Matt Lundgaard, Tom Schmelzer, Tucker Shade and Tim Tober.

Of course, we have written all these nice words about the North Carolina swimming team and we have yet to mention another very solid freshman class that will be joining the Tar Heels in 1998-99. This group includes freestyler Andrew Biedrzycki (Charlotte, N.C); freestyler and individual medleyist Willem Bok (Cleveland, Tenn.); freestyler and butterflier Mike Callahan (Raleigh, N.C.); freestyler Kevin Erndl (Martinez, Ga.); backstroker, breaststroker and individual medleyist Chris Helin (East Setauket, N.Y.); freestyler and butterflier Kert Johnson (Ooltewah, Tenn.); butterflier and individual medleyist Sebastien Moity (Charlotte, N.C.); freestyler, breaststroker and individual medleyist Justin Rossi (Truckee, Calif.); and freestyler and backstroker John Spaziano (Raleigh, N.C.).

Also joining the Tar Heels is sophomore Gregg Johnson, an individual medleyist, butterflier and breaststroker from Rural Hall, N.C., who has transferred to UNC from the United States Military Academy.

There is plenty of talent in this group of first-year swimmers, but each and every one of them is going to have to work very hard to crack the Tar Heels' 20-man ACC Championships roster.

"We are tremendously proud of the freshman class we have brought in for this year," says Comfort. "But they must understand that they still have a lot to learn about what college swimming is all about.

"Fortunately for them and for us, we will not have to rush this group into pressure situations. The upperclassmen on this team are so driven and so used to winning that we will not have to put a lot of pressure on our freshman swimmers right off the bat.

"While I fully expect to see this group turn in a fine performance at the ACC Championships this year, I think the greatest improvement you will see in our 1998-99 freshman class will be in their transition from their freshmen to sophomore years after they have a full year of collegiate experience under their belts. Going along with that thought, I think you will see a tremendous improvement in our sophomore class this year at the ACC and national level.

"This is a wonderful group of young men--a group that is a credit to our great university," praises Comfort in reference to his entire team. "When you coach a team that is as together and as committed as this group is, you want them to be successful. You want them to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

"When I look at Florida State on paper, I shudder. When I look at Virginia on paper, the same thoughts occur to me. Both have as good an NCAA level team as any in this conference since N.C. State had its heyday in the 1970s. But I wouldn't bet against our guys in the conference meet. Oftimes, it is the 20th guy who decides who wins the conference banner."

Those championships will be held at the University of Maryland in 1999, February 25-27.

Meanwhile, the Tar Heels have some unfinished business. They need to prepare themselves to both win that conference crown and to achieve the times necessary to move swimmers onto the NCAA level. This group thinks 30th place isn't good enough. Smart money says don't bet against this group. They are achievers.