2018 – 19 Season Preview
Head coach – Tim O’Connor (16th season)
Assistants – Doug Cornish, Seth Urffer, Kevin Remaly, Cody Wimmer, Frank Donnely (diving)
Last season – 12-1 overall, 11-0 EPC; won 14th straight league title and 11 straight District XI championship
Swimmers lost to graduation – Ricky Thomas (Team MVP, Monmouth), Michael Brennan, Cole Connolly, Colby Kocon, Pat McAllister (Monmouth)
Returnees – Sr Evan Bova (3rd Team EPC – 100 Breast), Sr. Matt Gertner, Sr Patrick Kuzdzal, Sr. Jake Young, Sr. James Mont (Diver), Sr. Drew Stenger (Diver); Jr. Devin Metzer, Jr. Jack Sharp, Jr. Brendan McCourt (Diver, 1st Team EPC), Jr. Gio Germano (Most Improved), Jr. Cooper Kocon, Jr. Paul Petre, Jr. Kyle Durrwachter; Soph. Michael Iacobelli (1st Team EPC – 200 IM), Soph. Connor Shriver, Soph. Nick Soares (2nd Team EPC – 200 Free/3rd Team EPC – 100 Back), Soph. Owen Mont, Soph. Greg Navarre (D), Soph. Luke Rautzhan, Soph. Kyle Ryan (D), Soph. Dylan Strella
Newcomers – Fresh. AJ Lamack, fresh. Alex Magditch, fresh. James Manley, fresh. Bobby Perose, fresh. Jai Puri
Season opens – Saturday, Dec. 8 Cedar Crest Invitational at Parkland HS (10 a.m.)
First league meet – Dec. 11 at Whitehall (4 p.m.)
Follow the team on social media (Twitter): @Emmaussports, @ehsmenswim
Coach O’Connor: “We’ve been very fortunate on the boys side that over the years we haven’t been in a rebuilding mode, it’s more like a reloading situation. Looking at this year’s senior year class, Evan (Bova) has been solid for us. Matt (Gertner), Patti (Kuzdzal) and Jake (Young) all have experience at the district meet.”
“Behind them, our juniors and sophomores have had time to develop. Jack (Sharp) did great for us at the end of last year and is a high-development kid. Paul (Petre) is a great runner who has translated that skill very well into the water. Devin (Metzger) has been working better than I’ve seen him work the last two years and Cooper (Kocon) has been doing a fantastic job along with Gio (Germano) and Kyle (Durrwachter) who has improved in so many areas.”
“Our sophomore class did a great job a year ago as freshmen. Michael (Iacobelli), Luke (Rautzhan), Nick (Soares) and Connor (Shriver), we love what they’ve been doing in the off-season in addition to Davin (Glynn) and Owen (Mont) who have been doing fantastic work. We also have some very talented freshmen.”