Feb. 25, 2003

Chicago, Ill. - Improvement and the element of surprise are on the agenda for UIC head swimming and diving coach Paul Moniak this weekend, as the Flames travel to Cleveland, Ohio for the 2003 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships beginning Wednesday lasting through Saturday.

"Last we year we proved that on both sides we can surprise some people," said Moniak. "With the training we have done this year, we feel we can continue to surprise the competition."

Last season's league championships were hosted by UIC, and Moniak took home league coach of the year honors on the women's side after leading that team to a fourth-place finish with 461 points.

The men's team took fifth with 349 points.

Improving those two finishes and point totals are atop the to-do list at Cleveland State this weekend.

"Well, our goals going into this weekend are to improve on our team finishes from last year and increase our point totals," Moniak said.

On the women's side, Moniak is turning to some awfully young athletes to pace his team. Newcomers Aisha Williams and Laura Martensen, along with sophomore diver Caitlin Carey, are among those with great expectations.

"We have to rely on our top people to score high and our relays to come through for us in order for us to be successful," Moniak added.

Swimmers Jamie Redway, Christine Hare, Alicia Perry, Vanessa Segovia, Stephanie Donovan, Kim Jagodzinski and divers Jamie Morris and Tara Goodwin are also expected to make big contributions for the Flames.

On the men's side, diving captain Michael Magee is looking to grab attention like he did at the 2001 league championships where he was named Outstanding Diver of the Meet.

"He can do it," said diving coach Larry Barcheski. "Right now, he's throwing big dives and his degree of difficulty is the hardest in the conference."

Depth was the biggest issue at the 2002 championships for men's team, and this year that aspect has improved greatly with the addition of several contributing freshmen.

"We have several athletes who are flying under the radar, so-to-speak," Moniak said. "Our depth is a lot better than it was last year at this time."

Jose Lopez-Lago, Adan Jimenez, LeRoy Stevens and Ari Bernstein are the four newcomers who have deepened the squad.

Veteran Enric Claret will also be relied on, after a season of recovery following off-season shoulder surgery.

"Enric has been to slow to comeback after the surgery, but we expect him to be ready, and he has exceeded our expectations so far," Moniak added.

Joe Scharnak will also aid the Flames in the diving events, along with Brian Kroes, Alexander Marinof and Chris Kaczor in the pool.

"We have been training for this weekend for a long time, and we are excited to get in the pool and accomplish our goals," Moniak concluded.