2011-12 Olivet Men's Swimming Preview

Despite the graduation of the best backstroker in school history, the Olivet College men's swimming team is ready to build on its past achievements in 2011-12.

While the success of four-time All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) performer Kellen Beckwith will be nearly impossible to replace, the Comets' 23-man roster is full of talent and experience. These 23 swimmers hope to keep Olivet's string of success going. Olivet has not finished lower than third at each of the last seven MIAA championships.

This year's team will be led by seniors Zach Burgess (Dimondale/Holt), Mike Harden (St. Johns), Matt Marquette (Kalamazoo/Loy Norrix) and Austin Munn (Pinckney).

Burgess qualified for the consolation finals in each of his three individual events at the 2011 MIAA Championships, finishing as high as ninth in the 400 individual medley.

Harden holds the school record in the 50 freestyle and the second-best time in the 100 freestyle. He was fifth in both events and also swam on three relays at the MIAA championships in 2010.

Marquette excels in the breaststroke events, holding the all-time fourth-fastest time in the 100 and fifth-fastest in the 200. He has qualified for the finals in both events in each of the last three MIAA championships. Marquette's best finish was seventh in both last year.

Munn has scored points for Olivet in the freestyle events at the league championships. He placed sixth in the 100, seventh in the 200 and 12th in the 50. Munn also swam legs of the second-place 400 freestyle, and third-place 200 and 800 freestyle relays.

The junior class of Nick Edgar (Lansing/Everett), Brock Jackson (Sturgis), Joel Knight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) and Josh Mauk (Battle Creek/Lakeview) add depth at each stroke.

Along with holding the school record time in the 200 freestyle, Jackson has the third-fastest time in the 50 freestyle and fifth-fastest time in the 100 freestyle. Edgar is in the top five in the two backstroke events, second in the 100 and fifth in the 200 backstroke. Knight has the school record in the 100 butterfly and the second-quickest time in the 200 butterfly. Mauk has posted all-time top five swims in the 100 and 200 breaststroke.

The sophomore class features seven swimmers, Ben Aldrich (DeWitt/St. Johns), Nick Aldrich (DeWitt/St. Johns), Brad Ardelean (Owosso), Brian Fiorillo (Southgate/Anderson), Korey Mervenne (Jenison), Adam Rhein (Leonard/Romeo) and Tyler Russell (Bay City/Central).

Ben Aldrich finished in the top 16 in his three events at his first league championships, with the best finish being seventh in the 400 individual medley. Nick Aldrich and Russell scored consolation points in two events. Fiorillo scored points in his three individual freestyle events, finishing as high as third in the 100. He also swam on the 200 and 400 relays. Mervenne was eighth in the 1,650 freestyle, and qualified for the consolation finals of his two other events.

Seven freshmen, George Anos (Barquisimeto, Venezuela/Unidad Educativa Colegio), Phil Barone, Jr. (Perrysburg, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales), Andrew Benkovsky (Eaton Rapids), Phil Bielak (Brownstown/Woodhaven), Jimmy DeRupa (Trenton), Brandon McShane (Southgate/Anderson) and Alec Thurston (Kingsford), add depth to the roster.

The Comets will start the 2011-12 season Saturday, Oct. 22, when they compete at the MIAA Relays at the Holland Aquatic Center.