Mike Switalski , BSC men and women's head coach, said he was very pleased with his teams' outcome. The men's team finished in sixth place and the women's team finished ninth . The BSC swim team was the smallest in the conference with seven men and seven women competing. At the championship, 95 percent of the team had their best times, while one freshman on the women's side had a day to celebrate.

“Usually a team has around 21 men and women going into the conference while we had 14. Even though we had a small team, we still beat three teams,” said Switalski. “I absolutely thought we were going to do better. We have the talent , just a small, inexperienced, young team at the competition.”

Overall, the women's team was one of only three women's teams that had all swimmers finish in the top 13 in the 1,650 yard freestyle. Freshman Mindy Wood placed fifth with a time of 18:49.16, beating the BSC record by over one second. Megan Woods, the previous record holder was there to congratulate Wood on her success. Wood also broke the BSC record in the 1,000 yard freestyle with a time of 11:17.16 by over eight seconds.

“It was so surreal,” said Wood. “It was really weird that I broke her record and didn't even know it. It was so exciting and unbelievable, it was so fun.”

This year the men's team will be losing two seniors: Tom Schilke, the only diver, and Mark Manka. Schilke finished his college diving career placing fifth in the 3-meter dive with a score of 368.05 . Schilke also scored a 349.25 in the 1-meter dive, finishing fourth. Manka ended the season and career finishing 12 th in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.20 . Rich Gaczewski placed eighth in the 1,650 yard freestyle with a time of 17:53.45 . He was one of two swimmers to score points in three individual events.

“Even though we were an inexperienced team this year, the team performed well at the conference championship. I look forward to performing well academically and athletically next year. I hope to increase the number of members on the team, not talent because we already have so much of that,” said Switalski.

“Everyone did really well at the SUNYAC Championship. And I am looking forward in competing next year and breaking more records, hopefully, the 500 yard freestyle,” said Wood.

As Switalski will be recruiting new talent for next year, he looks to his current team for leadership. Switalski hopes to increase the number of swimmers and divers on both sides next season to make for a more competitive team at the SUNYAC Championship.

2004 SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• 12 of 14 competitors scored points at the meet
• 10 of the 12 will be back next year
• 95 percent of the team had their own PR's (personal records) broken
• Mindy Wood beat two BSC records in the 1,650 free and 1,000 free