Feb. 18, 2014
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ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy's Lejeune Hall will be the site of this week's Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championship, with the Mids attempting to sweep the team titles for the third-straight year and the fourth time in five years.
The four-day championship begins Wednesday with a session of diving trials beginning at 2 p.m. and an abbreviated session of finals starting at 6 p.m. There will then be swimming trials beginning at 10:30 a.m., diving trials at 1 p.m. and a session of finals at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Navy Ticket Office either by phone at 1-800-US4-NAVY (1-800-874-6289) or online at NavySports.com, as well as at the Lejeune Hall doors prior to the start of a session. An all-session pass is $40, a ticket to attend a trial heat session is $10 and a ticket for an individual session of finals is $12. The seating capacity for Lejeune Hall is 1,000, and nearly 500 all-session passes have already been sold.
For those attending the meet, only those vehicles driven by a person with a valid Department of Defense identification card will be allowed onto the USNA grounds. All other fans must either park outside of the Naval Academy and walk through the security center at gate one, or else park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium ($5. per vehicle) and ride the free shuttle bus to-and-from The Yard. A photo identification card, such as a drivers license, for everyone ages 16 and older must be displayed prior to either walking through the security center or riding the shuttle bus.
Live results from each of the sessions involving swimming events will be available at NavySports.com. Additionally, a free, live video stream from each session starting with the Wednesday night finals also can be accessed at NavySports.com.
Navy's youthful women's team returns only two swimmers who have won an individual event title at the Patriot League Championship. Rheanna Vaughn (Sr., Aliso Viejo, Calif.) won the 200 fly title at the 2011 and `13 league meets, while Rachael Dudley (So., Hoschton, Ga.) won the 500 freestyle final during last year's championship.
Also returning for the Mids are Emily Brown (So., Gainesville, Fla.), Cat Cortesio (Sr., Downers Grove, Ill.) and Maddi Thompson (So., Jersey Shore, Pa.) who have each won one relay title at the meet.
"It is always a lot of fun to compete in a conference championship meet, especially when it is held here in Lejeune Hall," said Navy women's swimming head coach John Morrison. "We have a big challenge ahead of ourselves this week, but we are anxious to get started and see how our training and preparation for the meet has gone."
On the men's side, the Mids return six swimmers who have claimed an individual event title at the league championship. Hugh Davison (Sr., Towson, Md.), leads the way with three event victories, Luke Hoffer (Sr., Chapel Hill, N.C.), Sean Murphy (Sr., Hudson, Ohio) and Conor Campbell (Sr., Manassas, Va.) all have won a pair of titles, while Brendan Walsh (Jr., Annapolis, Md.) and Ben Grove (Sr., Winchester, Va.) each have one title to their credit.
Eight members of the Navy men's team also have won at least one relay event title in their respective careers. Davison leads the way with five relay victories, Murphy has won four titles, and the trio of Hoffer, Walsh and Dain Bomberger (Jr., Lititz, Pa.) have each won two titles. Dan Bowden (Jr., Charlotte, N.C.), Tom Duvall (So., Durham, N.H.) and Riley Mita (Jr., Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) have each been a part of one relay victory at the meet.
"Conference championship time is one of the most exciting events on our schedule each year," said Navy men's swimming head coach Bill Roberts. "Each team member makes a commitment a long time ago with this meet in mind. We as coaches are proud and honored to be part of the process of preparation for our athletes and look forward to each one of them going after what they set out to do."
