×

JCC Swimmers To Compete At Nationals At Flickinger Center

Jamestown Community College’s Matthew Caldwell was the winner of the 200-yard breaststroke during the NJCAA Region 3/Northeast District Championships earlier this month. P-J file photo

Mike Giambruno has been the swimming and diving coach at Jamestown Community College for 11 years. In 10 of those years, he’s helped members of his team earn a berth in the NJCAA championships.

He and the Jayhawks will be making another road trip this week.

By successfully meeting the qualifying standard during the season, members of Jamestown CC’s men’s and women’s teams will compete in the nationals Wednesday through Saturday at Erie CC’s Burt Flickinger Center in downtown Buffalo.

”Any competent swimmer could probably achieve the time to get into the nationals,” Giambruno said last week. ”I tell the kids that just gets you on the blocks. That doesn’t put a medal around your neck.”

To do that, an individual has to finish in the top eight.

Giambruno believes that is possible for several of his swimmers, based on their performances during the regular season and the Region 3/Northeast District Championships, which were held two weeks ago at Monroe CC in Rochester.

Leading that group are sophomore Matthew Caldwell (Jamestown) and freshman Christine Kuzminski (Russell, Pennsylvania).

Caldwell won the 200-yard breaststroke at the regionals with a time of 2:27.41 and was second in the 400-yard individual medley (4:32.97) and third in the 100-yard breastroke (1:04.70).

Meanwhile, Giambruno expects strong efforts from nationally ranked diver Kuzminski, who was second at the regionals on the 1-meter board (365.50), and the men’s 400 freestyle relay team of sophomore Alex Beckerink (Lakewood), sophomore Konnor Bryant (Jamestown), Caldwell and freshman Charlie Simons (Jamestown). Jessica Schneggenberger, a freshman from Franklinville, could also finish in the top 16, according to Giambruno.

”There’s a good core,” said Giambruno a former U.S. Marine and a 1979 Southwestern Central School graduate.

During his tenure at the college, the former triathlete has guided the program not only to success in the pool, but also has seen his swimmers excel in the classroom, confirmed by the acadmic All-American banners that hang on a pool wall.

”Family is first, academics are second and swimming is a distant third,” Giambruno said. ”I’d like to put another 10 of those banners on the wall. I think that’s kind of cool.”

Other members of the team this season are sophomore Chris Bradshaw (Jamestown), freshman Karsen Terry (Jamestown), freshman Autumn Ridout (Frewsburg), sophomore Taylor White (Brooklyn), sophomore Rachel Moller (Frewsburg) and freshman Allie Miles (Jamestown).

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today