First year head coach Scott Whitbeck (Kalamazzo, ’04) enters the 2008-09 season with high expectations for one of the deepest squads in years. New Paltz will be looking to improve upon their fourth place finish at the SUNYAC Championships last year and possibly break a school record or two.
The team returns two first team All-SUNYAC performers, led by juniors Stephen Cozzolongo (Burlington, CT/Lewis S. Mills) and Zack Lowenstein (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp). Cozzolongo won the 100 back at the conference meet and Lowenstein won the 200 IM.
Sophomore Dave Gardner (Chittenango) returns after finishing in the top eight at the SUNYAC’s in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events. Whitbeck will be looking to Gardner to improve and lead the sprinters. Joining Gardner in the sprints will be Pat Rathbun (Long Valley, NJ) who took sixth in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 free. Whitbeck is expecting Billy Papetti (Long Beach) to improve upon his 13th place finish in the 50 free and is hoping Rob Webb (Hillsbourgh, NJ) will step up in the breaststroke and IM events.
Other returnees for the Hawks include senior Mark Chipman (Oswego) in the butterfly, sophomore Matt Demerest (Long Beach) in the freestyle and butterfly, Matt Gassert (Bellmore/John F. Kennedy) and Nick Johnson (Highland Mills/Monroe-Woodbury) in the breaststroke and sophomore Andrew Outcault (Commack) who finished eighth in the 400 IM. Senior Adam Leiner (Chester/Monroe-Woodbury) returns to the squad after missing last season due to injury.
The distance group is as good as it’s been led by veterans Brian Bennett (Merrick/Bellmore Merrick) and Stefan Crain (Plattsburgh). Bennett took eighth in the 500 free and Crain finished eighth in the 1650 at the championship meet. Providing support in the distance events are first years Marc Battisti (East Meadow), Pete Nastasi (Monroe/Monroe Woodbury) and Bryan Pirrone (Charlton/Burnt Hills).
Whitbeck is expecting first year butterfly specialist Ray Amato (Scotia/Burnt Hills) and backstroker and IMer Jesse Sweeney (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) to have an immediate impact. Other first years looking to contribute at the conference championship include Jeremy Borrelli (Vestal), Eric LeClaire (Hauppauge) and Corey Lomas (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional).
New Paltz opens their season on Friday, October 31st at Hartwick with the home meet slated for Friday, November 7th.
