* Championship Central
* G-MAC/MEC Championship Psych Sheet (PDF)

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Davis & Elkins, Fairmont State, Frostburg State, Notre Dame, UNC Pembroke, Urbana and West Virginia Wesleyan will represent the Mountain East Conference this week at the 2020 GMAC/MEC Swimming and Diving Championships at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio.
 

The MEC and the GMAC will stream all four days of the swimming and diving championships. Get links for all the broadcasts on the Championship Central page.

The seven schools from the MEC will be competing against GMAC members Alderson Broaddus, Findlay, Hillsdale, Malone, Tiffin and Ursuline for the championship. (UNC Pembroke, Hillsdale and Ursuline have only women's programs). Twenty four places will be scored per each event. Teams point totals will be totaled with a team champion being recognized jointly as the GMAC/MEC Champion. Findlay is the two-time defending champion on both the men's and women's side.

The top eight finishers in each event will be recognized on the podium at the conclusion of each day. (All-MEC performers will be the top three finishers in each event among only MEC competition. The all-conference honorees will be recognized at the conclusion of each night and later with certificates.) 

The championship will start Wednesday, Feb. 12, and conclude on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Davis & Elkins, a former member of the GMAC, moves over as a member of the MEC this year. The Senators posted a strong dual meet record going 6-1 overall on the women's side (3-1 vs. MEC schools), and 5-1 in men's competition (3-1 vs. MEC). Mia Ellison will be counted on for points in distance free and the 400 individual medley, and Barbie Bernal will look to contribute in the 100 and 200 fly. On the men's side, Ryan Clement is seeded among the top eight in three different events: 1,000 free (6th), 500 free (7th) and 1,650 free (4th). Geoff Dixon will look to make the 'A' final in the 100 back (seeded 8th) and 200 back (seeded 6th). Viggy Muley and Jiwh Santos, each of whom earned MEC Swimmer of the Week honors this year, will also be counted on for points. 

Fairmont State, the MEC's top finisher in the meet on the women's side two years ago, has eight different swimmers (four men, four women) seeded in the top eight heading into the championship, with several posting top times in the league so far this year. Zsofi Bevardi has the top time in the league in the 1,650 free heading into this week's championship, along with the second-fastest times in the 500 and 1,000 free. She is also seeded third in the 400 IM and fifth in the 200 free. Courtney Deem, the two-time defending GMAC/MEC Swimmer of the Meet, will look to add points in the mid-distance/distance free events. Emily Gersper is seeded second in both breaststroke events, and Monique Dias will contribute points in the individual medley events. 

On the men's side for the Falcons, Pedro Gaspar is in the mix in several distance free events, including the 500 free where he has the top time coming into this week. Ricard Castan is fifth in the 1,000 free, and Josep Castan will look to contribute in the 100 fly. Majester Abdul-Jalil is seeded second in the 100 breaststroke, and will look to defend his title in the 200 breaststroke this week. 

Newcomer Frostburg State will be led by Anthony Giuseppetti. Giuseppetti is in the top eight in four different events: 200 free (5th), 500 free (4th), 100 free (8th) and 200 backstroke (5th). Teammate Sawyer Conklin will come into the week seeded seventh in the 1,650 free. Gabby Thompson will lead the Bobcat women in the individual medley events and fly. Rayna Cicen and Megan Culbertson will also be looked upon to contribute to the Frostburg point total. 

Notre Dame will have depth on the men's side as the Falcons have five different swimmers with top-eight times this season. David Alvarez has three top times coming into this weekend in the 1,000 free (6th), 500 free (6th) 1,650 free (8th). Garrett Warren will look to make the 'A' final in the 200 free, as well as the 100 and 200 backstroke. Cam Fisher will be counted on for points in the individual medley and fly events, along with Roan Kellher in the 50 free and Adonis Thomas in the fly. 

For NDC's women, Hannah Berlin's prowess in the distance free will be key for points. She's seeded sixth in the 1,000 free, seventh in the 500 free and eighth in the 1,650. Brooke Dobrzanski, the school record holder in the 200 free, will also be a key factor for the Falcons this week.

Jaybreona Foster will once again be the leader for Urbana in the water at this year's championship. The two-time MEC Swimmer of the Week will look to provide scoring for the Blue Knights in the breaststroke events and 400 individual medley. On the men's side, Jacob Voisinet and Tomas Olivos have a chance to play a large factor in scoring this week for Urbana -- Voisinet in the breaststroke events and Olivos in the fly. 

UNC Pembroke, an affiliate member of the MEC in women's swimming, will compete in its first GMAC/MEC Swimming and Diving Championship this week. Nathalia Silva has posted strong times in the mid-distance freestyle events and will be seeded seventh in the 200 free and third in the 1,000. Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos will look to add points in the 200 fly. Additionally, the Braves will get a boost Mariel Mencia Martinez, who recently became eligible and competes for her native Dominican Republic.

West Virginia Wesleyan scored the most points among MEC programs at last year's championship on both the men's and women's side to win MEC titles. For the men's the Bobcats will lean on Arthur Assfeld, the defending champion in the 50 free, who is ranked in the top three in that event this year again. He will also compete in the 100 free and 100 back, where he is also in the mix to compete for those event titles. Michael McAlpine will add points in several events for WVWC, including the 500 free where he's seeded fifth and the 100 fly where his time is eighth-fastest.

Kay Lange will lead the way for the Bobcat women. She is projected to score points in all four of the events she's entered, including the 200 breaststroke where she's seeded fifth. Amanda Schlor will also be counted on for significant points in both backstroke and both individual medley events. WVWC's depth includes Alyssa Serrano, Kylee Savage and Gigi Fusco.