Though it’s been close to a month since the last competitive meet, the Clarkson University Swim team has been steadily building towards the ultimate event of the season. Starting on Wednesday, the Golden Knights will participate in the UNYSCSA Championships at the Webster Aquatic Center, hosted by Nazareth College.

With a full four months under their collective belts, the Golden Knights embark to the first co-ed regional meet, as previously the meets had been separated into women’s and men’s events. With double the swimmers, the UNYSCSA Championships will be streamlined with fewer events, allowing greater focus for the competitors.

The women will lead off on Wednesday in the 500 freestyle (with the men swimming in the same event right after), followed by the 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle before the 200 medley relay. Though Clarkson head coach Mick Maguire has yet to reveal who will compete in each event, the preliminary sheets were presented to provide an idea of which swimmers may compete in specific events.  Junior Emma Bonan (Queensbury, NY) had the top times for the women’s squad in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle events, and will likely swim in at least a couple of those events for Clarkson. As the only swimmer named for the 100 butterfly, she is certain to participate in that race. Joining Bonan as possible swimmers in the freestyle events are sophomores Kimberlee Stillittano (Binghamton, NY), Courtney Karszes (Stanley, NY), and Colleen Daly (Marcellus, NY). All have swum in the intermediate distances as well as the longer events.

In the specialized events, senior Nikki Pera (Jamison, PA) will have to wait until the third and fourth days of racing before she gets to test herself in the 100 and 200 backstroke events. Classmate Elena Kuo-LeBlanc (Scituat, RI) will have an equally long wait before she gets a chance in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. Junior Caitlin Joyce (Walden, NY), freshman Katrina Smith (Ballston Lake, NY), junior Kelsey Jones (Kattskill Bay, NY), and sophomore Anne Hawn (Gouverneur, NY) are the biggest wild cards for the Knights as each could be called upon early at the event or late, with all four listed in events that range from day one to day four.

For the men, the only certainty for the Knights is that junior Mike Rowe (Glenville, NY) will swim in the 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 200 backstroke. The junior swimmer who reached a preliminary NCAA “B” cut last year will have plenty of time to recover as each event is separated over the four-day meet. If only senior Robert Stevens (Lakewood, NY) had such security in knowing his role for the Knights. Stevens is listed for virtually every event, finding himself on eight sheets that do not include the relays. Obviously Stevens won’t participate in every race, but his versatility will add coach Maguire plenty of wiggle room to put the senior in the best position to succeed.

Their dockets might not be as full, but senior Brendan Hofler (Glen Gardner, NJ) and sophomore Sean Parnett (Clifton Park, NY) could be busy with some distance events. Both are listed among the top swimmers for the 500 freestyle and the even lengthier 1650 freestyle as well as several specialty events such as the individual medley and butterfly races. The same can be said for senior Kurt Schwarting (Lowville, NY), who could go in both individual medleys, the 100 butterfly or the 100 freestyle.

The 100 freestyle has left the most options for coach Maguire, as 12 different swimmers are listed on the state entry. Besides the usual suspects, Paul Krepple (Clarence, NY), Aaron Kreher (Clarence, NY), Jeremy Ozolins (Weedsport, NY), Paul Telesca (Liverpool, NY), Kane Streichert (Norwich, NY), Mitchell Maciuba (Clarence, NY), Nick Clemens (Lowville, NY), Andrew Zielinski (Hilton, NY), Pat Holloran (Ulster Park, NY), and Liam Sharkey (Malta, NY) all find themselves on the original list. Telesca is pretty much guaranteed a spot on the 100 freestyle, as well as the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle events since he had the top time in both the sprints for Clarkson, and was second in the 200.

Aaron Cubells (Hamden, CT) is no slouch in the 100 or 200 backstroke events and might also swim in the 500 freestyle.  Potentially competing with Cubells and Rowe in the backstroke events are sophomore Stephen Maxwell (Latham, NY) and freshman Liam Sharkey (Malta, NY). Freshman Chris Plummer (Spencerport, NY) could get tapped for the 200 individual medley or the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke events. Possibly joining Plummer in the breaststroke race will be classmate Barry Pawlowski (Cheektowaga, NY) and senior Sean Moran (Niantic, CT).  Several swimmers could also show off their versatility in the individual medley races, but senior Stephen Kelso (Exeter, NH) is close to a lock for the 200 and 400 individual medley events.