Oct. 13, 2009

- Maryland Men's Swimming and Diving Season Preview

This is part one of a four-part series previewing the Maryland men's swimming and diving 2009-10 season.

Today - Freestyle
Wednesday - Backstroke
Thursday - Fly and IM
Friday - Diving and Overview

Maryland will benefit from the return of junior Mitch Challacombe in the 50 and 100 as well as the distance duo of Chris Rouchard and Brian Honore in the freestyle events in 2009-10.

Challacombe was an integral part of the school-record setting 200 free relay that captured sixth at the 2009 ACC Championships. He also had a tremendous Terrapin Cup, winning the 100 free and taking third in the 50 free while competing with both the first-place 200 and 400 free relays.

"Mitch was on the top of our depth chart in both the 50 and the 100 free as well as the 100 back last season," head coach Sean Schimmel said. "We are looking for him to really have some leadership in those shorter events this season."

The Terps lost the services of Andy Dilz, who was a strong force on the relays, but do return Andy Mears and Ryan Greene to help alleviate Dilz's departure.

"Andy and Ryan, who is one of our captains this year, are going to step up and be players in the shorter events as well as the relays."

Incoming freshman Jeff Winters will also likely factor in immediately. Winters was a seven-time first team all-state pick, broke three state records and was tabbed Rhode Island Swimmer of the Year while enrolled at East Greenwich High School.

"We are looking for Jeff to really be a force in those events as well," Schimmel said.

Other newcomers joining Winters in the sprint freestyle group include Robert Mauer, Matt Kolb and Chris Hale.

"I am looking at developing Rob, Matt and Chris and eventually looking for great things by the end of this year and for the next three years," Schimmel said."

The distance events will be led by Honore and Rouchard but the Terps also welcome four talented freshmen with the arrival of Nick Evans, Jon Thielen, Graham Eve and Alex Spina.

"It's great because we have leadership from captain Chris Rouchard and Brian Honore that are both seniors," Schimmel said. "Honore is the team record holder in the 500 and the mile and he's back. And Rouchard is right behind him especially in the 500, just a couple of .10 off of Brian's team record.

"I'm looking for great things from them to battle out through the year. As opposed to last year where it was just those two, we've really filled the gaps on the men's side which is nice. In terms of training and competing and lineups, we've added a lot of depth in those events."

Junior Matt Gruszecki and senior Kevin Reardon will also add depth to the freestyle.