Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving
Men's Highlights
2008-09
The Clark University men’s swim and dive team had one of its best starts with a four-meet win streak to kick-off the winter season. Highlights during the stretch included the Cougars first victory over Babson College since 2005. The team, which finished 6th at the NEWMAC Championships, posted an additional dual-meet win later in the year to wrap up at 5-3.
Freshman Ryan Garr made a splash in his first collegiate season in the pool. He captured the 200-yard backstroke title at the NEWMAC Championships, earning the team’s first All-NEWMAC honors since L. Parker Barnum '04 in 2002 and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships. In the preliminaries at nationals, Garr broke his own Clark record with his 31st place finish (52.01) in the 100-back and then finished 22nd in the 200-yard back (1:52.16). Garr also concluded his first year with three new school marks.
Senior Drew Jackson also capped off his career in fine fashion. He was named the Worcester City Championship men's swimmer of the meet after winning the 500-yard freestyle (5:01.66), the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.87), as well as anchoring the 400-yard medley relay team to victory. It was the first men's relay win at the Worcester City Meet in six years.
Completing the year with a 7-2 dual-meet mark, the Clark University women’s swim and dive team finished one of its best seasons in program history. The Cougars captured their highest finish in the NEWMAC (5th/281 points) since joining the conference in 1998, posted their third winning record in four years, and saw its first diver qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships in 10 years.
Clark had five individuals, as well as four relay teams set new school marks this season. First-time diver Eileen Garcia ’12 set three of those records (1-M 11, 3-M 6, 3-M 11) en route to the national meet, where she became an All-America after an eighth place finish on the 3-meter board. Additional season highlights for the diver included the Beth Ferraro ’88 Women’s Diver of the Meet award at the Worcester City Championships and earning the highest individual finish (3rd/1-M) at the NEWMAC Championships.
First-year Erin Smith set a new school mark in the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.96) and became the first woman in Clark history to swim under two minutes in the event, while senior Kayleigh Lagasse broke her own record in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:15.15 at the NEWMAC meet.
The 200-yard freestyle (Smith, Akerfelds, Stewart, Stone), 400-yard medley (Akerfelds, Stone, Lagasse, Smith), 400-yard freestyle (Smith, Rosen, Stone, Akerfelds) and the 800-yard freestyle (Rosen, Wigley, Smith, Akerfelds) were the first relay teams to record new school records since 2002.
As a team, the Cougars, who went undefeated through the first four meets of the season, claimed its fourth straight win over Babson College early in the year to highlight its overall victories.
Swim and dive team members excelled in the classroom as well. Kayleigh Lagasse capped her four-year career as the Clark University Athletic Department’s co-Alice Higgins award recipient, given to the student-athlete who has combined academic excellence with athletic achievement. Lagasse also joined seniors Jess Baker and Korin Danchise-Curtis; graduate students Caitlin Hanson and Cassie Crawford; junior Corri Stewart; and sophomores Jen Aballo, Theresa Lindboe, Liz Rosen and Emily Rouleau on the NEWMAC All-Academic team. Clark tied MIT for the institution with the most All-Academic selections.
2007-08
The Clark men’s swim and dive team staked its claim to three dual-meet victories despite a shortage in numbers during the first half of the season. With three veteran swimmers (Brian Walsh, Mike Smith, Tim O’Keefe) abroad first semester, the youthful Cougars posted victories over Gordon College, Elms College and Bridgewater State College on their way to a 3-8 overall mark.
Clark placed third with 228 points at the Worcester City Meet held at Holy Cross after semester break. Junior Drew Jackson led the way with a first place finish in the 200-yard backstroke. That would set the stage for Jackson’s two new Clark backstroke records at the NEWMAC Championship meet. He set a new mark in the 50-yard backstroke (25.67) on the lead-leg of the 200-yard medley relay and broke his old Clark record in the 100-yard backstroke (54.87). The team finished sixth overall (244 points) at NEWMAC’s for the third straight year.
Senior captain Shyamal Asher represented the men’s team on the NEWMAC All-Academic squad. Additionally, Asher was awarded the athletic department’s inaugural Senior Scholar Athlete Award, created to recognize the senior athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average over four years or one who will have completed their undergraduate requirements in three years. Asher completed his degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in three years with a 4.11 grade point average.
2006-07
Led by fourth-year head coach Paul E. Phillips, both the Clark University women’s and men’s swim and dive programs posted its second consecutive winning season. In addition to their in the pool exploits, the Cougars broadcasted their first-ever live CougarCast. Betty-Jean (Grazulis) Jaskoviak ’83, a member of Clark’s Athletic Hall Of Fame, and Doug Denny-Brown ’87, one of the team’s most supportive alums, provided the commentary.
Finishing seventh at the NEWMAC Championships, the Cougar women moved up three places and posted its highest finish since 2001-02. Additionally, Clark upped its point total from last year’s mark by 62 points and finished with a pair of new school marks, 71 season-best performances and 41 career records. Meet highlights included first-year Dana Akerfelds fastest finish in the 500-yard freestyle in 25 years and a 100-yard backstroke showing just tenth of a second short of a new school mark. The 200-yard freestyle relay team also posted the highest relay finish in three years and the fastest time since 1997.
The women swam their way to a 7-5 dual-meet mark this winter. Winners of three-straight before the Puerto Rico training trip, Clark returned to take second at the Worcester City Championship. Named the Cathy Desrosiers ’82 Women’s Swimmer of the Meet runner-up, Akerfelds set a new meet mark in the 500-yard free.
The Clark men’s squad (6-5) also had its share of notable accomplishments this season. Although the Cougars placed sixth for the second consecutive year at the NEWMAC Meet, they were within striking distance of the number five slot. In team scoring, the men finished with 272 points just 26 behind fifth. Sophomore Drew Jackson led the way with two record-breaking performances in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke, where he shattered a seven-year old school mark held by former conference backstroke champion Doug Shea ’00. Clark also packed on the points by placing in five of six relay events.
Prior to NEWMAC’s, Clark won three out of four dual-meets to start the season, and returned from their winter break trip to tack on another dual-meet victory.
2005-06
NEWMAC Championships – 6th place (best finish since 2002)
The men’s team posted a 7-5 dual meet record after a 2-9 campaign in 2003-04 and 1-9 in 2004-05.
Drew Jackson ’09 finished third in the 200 backstroke—the best finish by a Clark swimmer since 2002—while Dave Critchlow ’08 broke the school record in the 100 backstroke (56.38), and Sal Pezzella ’09 finished fifth in both diving events.
2004-05 (NEWMAC Championship Highlights)
The men’s swimming and diving team performed well at the NEWMAC Championship despite
finishing in 7th place. First-year Steven Ratner placed 5th in both diving events, moving into
second place on Clark’s all-time list in the 1-meter (361.30) and third place all-time in
the 3-meter event (354.10). First-year Dave Critchlow broke a 13-year-old school record in the
50-yard backstroke event (26.65) and finished 11th in the 100-yard backstroke (57.36), moving into
4th place on the all-time list. Junior Jesse Bausell finished 11th in the 1650-yard freestyle,
with the program’s fourth-best performance all-time (18:02.57) and sophomore Joe Page finished
16th in the 200-yard butterfly. Senior captain Sam Swartwout anchored two 6th-place relays for
the Cougars.
2004-05
Team awards were presented to Jesse Bausell ’06 (outstanding performer), David Critchlow
’08 (most improved), and Sam Swartwout (unsung hero). Bausell led the team in points scored
for the season and was also recognized with the team’s academic achievement award.
Leading the way for the men this season was lone senior and captain Sam Swartwout. Swartwout’s
versatility was evident having earned the team’s second fastest times in the 100, 200, 500 and
1000yd freestyle in addition to the 50 fly (relay split). Junior Jesse Bausell’s efforts in
the 1650yd freestyle earned him a place on the All-Time Top Five list with his time of 18:02.57 at
the NEWMAC Championships. Bausell led the Cougars with the top times of the season in the 500
(5:14.34), 1000 (10:53.08) and 1650yd freestyle events and he also led the team in points scored.
The class of 2008 showed a promising future for the Cougars as first-year David Critchlow and
classmate Steven Ratner had very successful rookie campaigns. Critchlow broke a 13 year-old school
record in the 50yd backstroke at the NEWMAC Championships leading off the 200yd medley relay with
a split of 26.69, and he also earned the Cougars’ best times of the season in the 50yd freestyle
(23.00) and the 100 (57.36) and 200yd backstroke events. Ratner made a place for himself in
Cougar history by earning spots on the All-Time Top Five in all four diving categories. He was
undefeated in the final five dual meets, posting double wins against UMass/Dartmouth, Brandeis,
Connecticut College, Wesleyan, and WPI. At the Worcester City Championships he finished first on
both boards competing against WPI and Division I Holy Cross. Ratner was also the team's top
individual performer at the NEWMAC Championships, where he finished 5th in both the 1-M and 3-M
diving events.
2003-04
Despite a roster of only seven members, Coach Phillips’ first year with the men’s
program was productive in 2003-04. The men won their first dual meet at Gordon, with multiple wins
from Sam Swartwout (1000 Fr, 100 Bk), Jesse Bausell (200 IM, 500 Fr), and senior captain Roy Barnum
(200 Fr, 100 Br). Barnum, one of the most accomplished swimmers ever to compete at Clark, finished his
stellar career with 8 all-time top-five times, including 5 set in 03-04. Barnum led the team with
221 individual points scored, and at the NEWMAC Championships he finished 6th in the 200 IM
(2:01.58), 9th in the 200 Fr (1:47.79), and 8th in the 200 Breast (2:18.00). Freshman Brett Moore
finished strong in 03-04, compiling top-five times in two events at NEWMACs, while Jesse Bausell
finished 12th in the 1650 Fr. Overall, the men’s team compiled 23 lifetime-best performances at
NEWMAC Championships
2002-03
At the 2002 NCAA Championships, L. Parker Barnum ’04 finished 14th in the 100 Breaststroke
(58.35), earning All-America Honorable Mention Honors. Jeffery Rivkin ’05 earned NEWMAC Diver
of the Year honors by winning the 1-Meter diving event and finishing third in the 3-Meter event at
the NEWMAC conference championship meet.
2001-02
The 2001-2002 team finished the season with a 7-3 record and placed fifth at the NEWMAC
Championship. Sophomore L. Parker Barnum qualified for the NCAA Championship for the second
consecutive year. He finished 14th in the NCAA 100 breaststroke with a 58.35 time and earned All-America
Honorable Mention honors. He swam a personal best time of 21.10 in the 50 freestyle trials and in
the 100 breast trials he swam a personal best time of 57.50. Freshman Ben Thein and Roy Barnum both
had solid first-years at Clark. Thein finished third in the 500 yard freestyle, 400 individual medley,
and 1650 freestyle. Roy finished in the top ten in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke
events at the championship. Freshman Jeff Rivkin also had an impressive season, earning NEWMAC Diver
of the Year honors He won the 1-meter diving event at the NEWMAC Championship and finished third in
the 3-meter event. Rivkin won 9-out-of-10 1-meter dual events and 6-out-8 3-meter dual events
throughout the year.
2000-01
L. Parker Barnum '04 was the first male swimmer in 13 years to earn All-America honors. Barnum
finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Championhip. He also earned 2001 NEWMAC All-Conference
honors after winning the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke. Barnum broke the school and NEWMAC
records in both events as well as the school record in the 50 breaststroke.
1999-2000
Clark swimmer Doug Shea '00 earned 1999 NEWMAC All-Conference honors at the inaugural conference
championship. He won the 400 individual medley and 200 backstroke. Shea defended his 400 IM title
at the 2000 NEWMAC Championship while also placing second in the 200 backstroke and third in the
200 IM.
1997-98
The 1997-98 season saw seven school records fall for the men's squad, five of which were ten
years old.
1995-96
John Trautner '96 closed out a superb career in the 1995-96 season as he broke three of his
own school records with Top 12 finishes at New Englands. Trautner was fourth in the 1650 free,
fifth in the 500 free, and 12th in the 400 IM. He also broke the school mark in the 1000 freestyle
and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships in the 1650 free. Trautner was the team's
high point scorer in all four of his seasons, and he was voted the team's Outstanding Swimmer in
1993, 1995, and 1996.
For more information about Clark University Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving, please contact head coach Paul E. Phillips
at (508) 793-7170 or by email at pephillips@clarku.edu
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Additional Resources
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Worcester City Championship Highlight
| Recent Results |
| Nov 18 |
MSD at Bridgewater State
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W, 153-53
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| Nov 18 |
WSD at Bridgewater State
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W, 136-74
Recap
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| Nov 14 |
WSD vs Roger Williams
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W, 153.50-86.50
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| Nov 14 |
WSD vs Wellesley
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W, 137.50-105.50
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| Upcoming Schedule | Full Schedule |
| Dec 5 |
WSD at Cardinal Invitational
Wesleyan University
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11:00 AM
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| Dec 5 |
MSD at Cardinal Invitational
Wesleyan University
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11:00 AM
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| Dec 6 |
MSD at Cardinal Invitational
Wesleyan University
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9:00 AM
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| Dec 6 |
WSD at Cardinal Invitational
Wesleyan University
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9:00 AM
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