Teams: Women's Swimming & Diving: Press Releases

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

NINE JUMBOS SECURE ALL-NESCAC HONORS WITH CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCES

Senior quad-captain Andrew Shields was All-NESCAC in five events

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University men's swimming & diving team finished second at the 11-team New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship meet for the third time in the last four years at Wesleyan University last weekend (Feb. 27 to Mar. 1). They did so behind the efforts of eight swimmers and a diver whose individual and relay finishes at the meet have earned them All-NESCAC status, announced today by the conference office.

The top three finishers in each event at the 2009 NESCAC Championship received All-Conference recognition. For Tufts, that group includes sophomore Andrew Altman (New Fairfield, CT), sophomore Gordy Jenkins (Kansas City, MO), senior quad-captain James Longhurst (Swampscott, MA), junior diver Rob Matera (Trumbull, CT), sophomore David Meyer (Clarendon Hills, IL), freshman Owen Rood (Branford, CT), senior quad-captain Andrew Shields (Norwalk, CT), freshman E.J. Testa (Cheshire, CT) and sophomore Chris Vorlicek (Del Mar, CA).

Shields and Matera both earned the third All-NESCAC honor of their careers. Shields had top three finishes in 2006 and in 2007, while Matera is All-NESCAC for the third consecutive year following honors in 2007 and 2008. Vorlicek has gained the honor in back-to-back years including last season.

This season, Shields was among the conference's top three in five events. He won with the 200 medley relay, was second with the 200 freestyle relay and placed third in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and with the 400 freestyle relay. Longhurst was All-NESCAC in three events, including two victories (50 breaststroke, 200 medley relay) and a third in the 100 breaststroke. Rood also swam All-NESCAC times in three events, helping the 200 medley relay to victory and finishing as the runner-up in the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay.

Matera, who was second in the 1- and 3-meter diving events, was one of three Jumbos who garnered double All-Conference accolades. Jenkins also did so with the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Testa was third in the 50 backstroke and was a part of the victorious 200 medley relay. Altman (400 free relay), Meyer (200 free relay) and Vorlicek (third in the 400 IM) had one All-NESCAC performance each.

The Jumbos broke 15 school records at the meet. The 200 medley relay foursome of Testa, Longhurst, Shields and Rood swam an NCAA A-cut time of 1:31.04, automatically qualifying for the NCAA meet. Others who swam B-cut qualifying times and Matera in the diving events must await word on whether they will make the cut for Nationals.

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►2008-09 NESCAC Men's Swimming & Diving All-Conference Teams