Behrend Swimming & Diving Geared Up For AMCC Championships

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's and women's swimming and diving teams are geared up for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships this weekend hosted by Grove City in conjunction with the James E. Longnecker Invitational.

The meet features a trials and finals session each day, beginning Wednesday night with diving at 7:30 p.m. The preliminaries for swimming events begin on Thursday at 10 a.m. The meet will conclude with finals on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

The men's team has nine returning champions to the pool this weekend en route to capturing their seventh straight AMCC title. Leading the way for the Lions will be Clay Altemose (Apollo, PA/Apollo-Ridge), Dan Simon (Harrison City, PA/Penn-Trafford), Javier Solivan (San Juan, Puerto Rico/UHS) and Brian Mong (Franklin, PA/Franklin).

Altemose currently holds the fastest time in the conference in the 100 butterfly (51.70) and will look to repeat as champion in this event.  Altemose will also be competing in the 100 backstroke and 200 butterfly, while getting a chance to break his records in four relay events.

Simon is Behrend's top swimmer and AMCC open record holder in the 100 and 200 backstroke. This weekend he will try to repeat as champion in both events, while competing in the 50 free in which he holds the fastest AMCC time entering the meet.  In addition, he will join Altemose in numerous relays.

Leading the way in the freestyle events will be Solivan. He is swimming to defend his title in the 200 free, while also participating in the 100 freestyle, 200 IM along with the 400 free relay. Solivan is the AMCC open record holder in the 200 freestyle.  Eric Peirce (Harmony, PA/Seneca Valley) will be alongside Solivan in the 200 IM and lead the Lions in the 400 IM.

Brian Mong will join Peirce in the 400 IM, but also be the point getter in the 500 free. The 1650 freestyle champion a year ago, the senior will try to make it three in a row in the distance event.

In the diving competition, Andrew Neder (Erie, PA/Fairview) is seeded first in the one-meter (419.90) and in the three-meter (459.70).

The women's swimming and diving team is also going for their unprecedented seventh consecutive AMCC Championship.  MaryEllen Spooner (Lockhaven, PA/West Springfield) returns to dominate the 100 and 200 backstroke events. Last year, she took first place and set records in each event. The senior will also lead the way in the 50 free.

Meghan Wade (Berea, OH/Berea) proved all season why she should repeat as Diver of the Year. The sophomore has hit the qualifying mark for both the one-meter and three-meter boards on numerous occasions and has the top score entering the weekend. Wade's three-meter score of 456.25 and one-meter total of 491.80 are the marks to beat, even by her.

Alex Isaacson (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) will provide points in the IM events, while Lauren Rosato (Pittsburgh, PA/Chartiers Valley) is geared to help Spooner in the sprint and relay events. Georgie Hatch (Middletown, PA/Middletown) will focus on the freestyle events, specifically the 200 and the 500, and Meagan Daily (Pittsburgh, PA/Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) is entered to swim the 100 and 200 butterfly along with the 100 freestyle.