Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving

Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Paul E. Phillips, Clark’s men's and women’s swim and dive team has resurfaced as one of the emerging programs in New England. The women look to build on a successful season in which they celebrated their best finish since 2001 at the NEWMAC conference championships, moving up three spots from the previous year. The up-and-coming Cougar squad also produced two school records, 15 all-time top-five performances, and Clark’s best dual meet record in five years.

The men's team look to build on a successful season in which they finished sixth at the NEWMAC championships - 26 points behind fifth place - closing a gap of more than 130 points from the previous year. The young Cougar squad produced two school records, 11 all-time top-five performances, and an impressive 75 career-best marks. Season highlights also included a live web cast of the final home men's and women's dual-meet.

The swimming and diving program at Clark is designed to provide a platform for success without minimizing the student-athlete experience. “Our goal is for swimmers and divers to excel in the pool and appreciate the unique elements of college life,” states Coach Phillips. “We strive to provide the best of both worlds – the opportunity to compete at the highest level of Division III, and a well-rounded experience in a supportive, family atmosphere.”

Accomplished athletes, Cougar swimmers and divers are also among the University’s leading scholars. Last year, Clark once again earned the College Swim Coaches Association’s Team Academic All-America Award for the fall (3.25) and spring (3.27) semesters. Five women were named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team, and more than half (14) were recognized as Clark Scholar Athletes (3.5 semester GPA and/or cumulative).

Swimmers train 5-8 times per week, taking advantage of 10 workouts to design individual practice schedules that are conducive to their academic achievement and personal swimming goals. Clark’s diving coaches offer six practices per week, and both groups utilize dry-land and video. All practices emphasize personal attention in an interactive team-oriented environment. The Cougars have traveled to Puerto Rico, Florida, and Southern California in recent years for training during the semester break.

Facility

The Kneller Pool, renovated during the summer of 2004, is a six-lane 25- yard facility with 1 and 3-Meter Duraflex diving boards, Colorado Timing, non-turbulent Competitor lane lines and seating for 200 spectators.

Clark Swimming & Diving History

• 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.
• In 2002, Jaime Armstrong ’03 won the 100 Fly at NEWMAC Championships, earning all-conference honors and establishing new school and conference records. Katie Calabrese ’02 finished third in the 100 Breast, and fourth in the 200 Breast at NEWMAC’s, establishing school records in both events.
• At the 2001 NCAA Championships, L. Parker Barnum ’04 earned All-America Honors after finishing fourth in the 100 Breast. His prelim time of 57.50 broke his own school record, and established a NEWMAC Conference Open record. At the NEWMAC Championships, Barnum earned all-conference honors by winning both the 100 and 200-yard Breaststroke events. He also represented Clark at the Division I Husky Invitational where he won the 100 Breast.
• At the 2001 NEWMAC Championships Jaime Armstrong ’03 placed second in the 100 Fly, and set a new school record with her Backstroke leg on the 200 medley relay team that finished sixth.
• Doug Shea ’00 earned NEWMAC all-conference honors in 1999 and 2000 by winning the 200 Back and 200 IM at the 1999 Conference Championships, and the 400 IM at the at the 2000 NEWMAC Championships. He also finished second in the 200 Back and third in the 200 IM in 2000.
• In 1999 Katie Calabrese ’02 earned All-Conference honors, winning the 100 Breast at NEWMAC Championships.
• In 1998 Megan Farmer ‘98 competed in the NCAA Division III Diving Championships in Atlanta, GA, placing 21st in the three-meter event and 34th in the one-meter event, to finish 24th overall.
• At the 1995 New England Championships, Charlene Wilk earned Clark’s highest finish (5th in the 100 Fly).
• In 1988, diver Beth Ferraro ’88, was the one-meter board runner-up at the NCAA Division III Championships. Ferraro was a four-time All-America selection, who twice finished among the top 10 at the National Championship Diving Meet.
• In 1986 Peter Locke ’88 and Rob Carr ’88 became Clark’s first male swimmers to compete in the NCAA Championships. Locke was an All-American in 1988 and was inducted into Clark’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Carr was inducted into the Clark Hall of Fame in in 2002.
• Catherine Desrosiers '82 was Clark's first four-time All-America athlete, and she was the 1982 NCAA National runner-up in the 200 Breaststroke. She was inducted into Clark's Athletic Hall of Fame in the University's inaugural induction in 1994.