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New Tigers' coach adds dryland routine
New Tigers head coach Matt Koeppel, an assistant with the team for the last three years, returns a long distance training workout in practice designed to emphasis quality strokes. The team usually swims about 7 to 8,000 yards per practice. "I'll work them hard in the first half of the season and towards the end of the year, cut down the yardage and expect them to bring the quality of their workouts up," said Matt Koeppel. "There has been a lot of improvement in past seasons." Long distance training has worked wonders for Amherst in recent years, especially in the postseason. Two years ago, Amherst took four swimmers to ECICs and the Section VI Championships and took fifth and 10th overall, respectively. Last year, the Tigers, again with a small roster, took fifth at ECICs and placed seven swimmers in the top 16. In addition to long distance training, Tiger swimmers three times a week will utilize a new dryland core workout in the weight room emphasizing abdominals, shoulders and legs. It will be run by Koeppel's assistant and sister, Jenny, an Amherst graduate who ran for the University at Buffalo. On the days they are doing the core workout, swimmers will be long distance training for 5,000 yards. "I think we're going to see big results come ECICs," said Matt Koeppel. "With my sister on the team, the team has improved mentally and physically." The Tigers return 12 swimmers and add three more to its roster of 15. Ten of the 15 swimmers are sophomores, led by Paul Timmel, who has swum with Amherst since seventh grade. Matt Koeppel said Timmel deserves all of the credit for getting other students to try out for the team. "He's lived for this sport his whole life," he said. "He's a very strong leader. I would be lost without him. I couldn't ask for a better captain (other captain is senior Harrison Singer)." Timmel's main swims are the 500-yard freestyle and 200 individual medley but he can swim any event. At last year's Section VI Championships, Timmel set personal best times in the 200 IM (2:10.03, 10th) and 500 free (5:11.38, ninth). He was also third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 500 free at ECICs. Timmel also swims for STAR swimming. "He has the best work ethic on the team," said Matt Koeppel. "He leads by example in the pool. When he's out of the pool, he's always encouraging his teammates." Singer, a three-year varsity member, is one of three seniors on the team that provides maturity. "Besides Paul, he's the hardest working kid in the pool," said Matt Koeppel. "He's always asking, 'what else can I do to improve myself?' Even after a tough workout, he wants to do more." Singer swims mid-distance and sprinting events. Singer qualified for sectionals last year as a member of the 200 free relay and 400 free relay. Another returning senior is Steve Arlington, a breaststroker and sprinter. He was one one-hundredth out of placing in the 100 breast at ECICs. Also returning is eighth-grader Jacob Hofmar-Glennon and junior Marshall Davis. Hofmar-Glennon, who swims club with the Tonawanda Titans, had a fantastic year as a seventh-grader, qualifying for sectionals in the 200 IM and 100 back. He took fourth in the 100 back at ECICs. "He's the secret weapon that everyone knows about," said Matt Koeppel. "He's an invaluable member of the team." Matt Koeppel said Hofmar Glennon is talented in the backstroke but also swims good times in the IM. He said Davis swims all distance events and is strong in freestyle events. Matt Koeppel said the small schools to beat in ECIC III are East Aurora (face on Jan. 15) and Starpoint (lost 111-57 last Friday). For Amherst to compete in ECIC III, he said his distance swimmers will have to come through and his relay teams have to pick up second and third place points. Amherst, 8-4-1 last year, opened its season on Nov. 30, defeating Eden, 54-40. The meet was tied three times before Davis and sophomore Allen Dengler went 1-2 in the 500 free to give the Tigers the lead for good. Hofmar Glennon secured the win with a first in the 100 back.
Buffalo State College junior Mike Giancarlo joins the staff as a volunteer assistant. He works five days a week, especially with the breaststrokers and sprinters. |
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