East swimmers aim for sixth straight ECIC II crown
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East senior Janelle Munroe qualified for last year's New York State Championships in the 100-yard butterfly, 100 backstroke and the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. File photo

Williamsville East has won the last five ECIC Division II titles with a 40-0 record. A sixth division title is a big team goal this year, said East coach Mike Doerfler.

Doerfler said one of the big keys to the team's success in the past has been depth but, with only 26 swimmers on the roster, he knows defending the division crown will be a challenge.

Great swimmers have also been another key for past success and Doerfler returns some good ones, led by senior Janelle Munroe.

Last year, Munroe qualified for the New York State Championships in the 100-yard backstroke (first, school record 101.15) and 100 butterfly (second). Munroe also qualified for states as a member of the team's 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Munroe qualified for states in the 100 fly as a sophomore.

Munroe is off to a great start, winning the 100 back (1:02.24) and 100 fly (1:00.40), as well as swimming the third leg of the team's winning 200 medley relay (1:55.47) last Saturday at the Clarence Invitational.

"She's right where we want her to be," said Doerfler.

Other returning seniors are Kelsey Bradbury (200 IM, 500 free); Tori Mayer (200, 500 free; swam 400 free relay at states last year), Kelsey Crawford (100 back), Jordan Frank (100 free, 100 back), Kimme Gergelis (100 breast), Anna Mitchell (100 free, 100 back) and Arielle Snyder (50, 100 free). All have been on the varsity team for at least three years.

Returning juniors include Emily Bradley (100 breast), Cari Cardinale (100 free, 100 back), Kristen Ostanski (50 free, 100 breast) and Emilie Schachtner (200, 500 free). Ostanski also swam a leg on last year's 200 medley relay.

Junior Britany O'Dea makes her debut in the 50 and 100 free.

Returning sophomores include Jessica McNulty (diver), Paige Pautler (100 free, 100 back), Brianne Reinecke (100 fly, 100 back) and Bailey Woodling (200 IM, 100 fly, 100 back).

Woodling qualified for states as a freshman in the 100 fly and as a member of the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Woodling won the 100 free at Clarence on Saturday in 55.57. She also joined forces with Ostanski, Munroe and O'Dea to win the 200 medley relay in 1:55.47.

Freshman diver Taylor Castle also returns. New to the team are freshman Julie Hsieh (200 IM, 100 back), Angela Rego (100, 200 free) and Sara Rogers (200 IM, 100 back).

Rounding out the team are freshman Ryann Aery and Arshia Sethi, sophomore Diane Mattar and juniors Laura Tirabasi and Marie Coignet.

Team goals, besides trying to repeat as ECIC II champions, are to qualify swimmers for ECICs sectionals and the relays for the state meet.

East swam at Cheektowaga on Tuesday, but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They swim at Maryvale on Friday.

East's home pool at Transit Middle School is undergoing construction and may not be usable until the end of September.
East 2007 Schedule
9-21 at Maryvale ............... 5 p.m.
9-25 Lake Shore................ 6 p.m.
9-28 at Iroquois............ 4:30 p.m.
10-2 W.S. East ................... 6 p.m.
10-9 at Clarence................ 5 p.m.

10-12 at Amherst (Sweet Home)
......................................... 4:30 p.m.
10-16 Starpoint.................. 6 p.m.
10-18 South........................ 6 p.m.
10-19 at Pioneer........... 4:30 p.m.
10-25 ECIC swim prelims (Sweet
Home).................................... TBA
10-26 ECIC diving (Sweet Home)
.................................................. TBA
10-27 ECIC swim finals (Sweet
Home).................................... TBA
11-8 Section VI Championships
swim prelims (ECC-City) .... TBA
11-9 Section VI Championships
diving (Fredonia State College)
.................................................. TBA
11-10 Section VI Championships
swim finals (ECC-City) ....... TBA
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com