Miami University's men's swimming and diving team enters the 2000-01 season with one thing on its mind -- recapturing the Mid American Conference Championship. The RedHawks fell short in their bid to win the 1999-2000 title, falling to Eastern Michigan by 14 points (764-750) at Bowling Green last season.

Coach Pete Lindsay's squad hung toe-to-toe with the Eagles, but the RedHawks were penalized for a false-start during the 400 medley relay.

While Lindsay was pleased with his team's performance, he realized how important it is to maintain concentration throughout a competition.

"We swam a good meet, but relay disqualifications are like fumbles in football," he said.

For the eight seniors that graduated last year, the loss was a little more difficult to swallow since they had won the MAC Championship two of the past three years.

"Certainly, the seniors took it hard because we swam well enough to win the meet," Lindsay said. "We just came up a little short."

"The juniors and seniors are pretty hungry again, and they are excited about hosting the MAC Championships here," Lindsay said. "It's a fast pool, so we expect to see quite a few records broken."

Junior diver Dylan Nichols will return to defend his MAC Championships on the one- and three-meter diving board. Nichols edged out teammate and then-senior Andrew Campbell on both boards. This is the second consecutive year the 'Hawks have taken home championships on both boards. Miami's Brian Green won both events back in 1999.

Lindsay also returns the top three swimmers in the 500 freestyle. Juniors Kevin Mulgrew, John Carroll and Mark Piersma finished one, two and three at the 1999 MAC Championships, respectively. Carroll will look to defend his title in the 400 individual medley and 200 butterfly, and Miami will also be defending its championship in the 800 freestyle relay.

"We didn't graduate any conference champions, but we graduated a great deal of depth," said Lindsay. "Eastern Michigan lost a few less swimmers and a few less points, but we feel good about our incoming class."

With the loss of eight seniors from last year's squad, Lindsay needs freshmen to step in and take over in several events. The nine-member freshman class is very strong -- six of them were All-Americans in high school.

"It is a good freshman class, with more All-Americans than we have had in any incoming class," Lindsay said.

Brad Bartel is one of the top recruits for the RedHawks this season. He earned All-American honors nine times in his prep career, and Lindsay expects Bartel to be one of Miami's top individual medley swimmers.

David Fraas was named All-American nine times also during his high school career in the 50 ('98-00), 100 ('99-00) and 200 freestyle ('99-00) and the 400 freestyle ('99-00) relay.

Andrew Keefe was an honorable-mention All-America in the 100 backstroke and 4X100 freestyle relay, while William Pater was an All American in the 200 individual medley,100 breaststroke and the 200 freestyle relay.

With several strong returning swimmers and divers and a great recruiting class, Lindsay put together a challenging dual meet schedule that includes Big Ten powers Purdue and Penn State.

If the RedHawks want to bring home another conference championship, they will have to get by defending champion Eastern Michigan and several other promising teams in the MAC. Lindsay is aware of how tough the conference is, but feels Miami and EMU will be at the top when its over.

"It looks like Eastern Michigan and us will be the top two teams again at the MAC Championships," Lindsay said. "We have been the top two teams the last five or six years, and I don't see how that is going to change that much."

Miami University's men's swimming and diving team enters the 2000-01 season with one thing on its mind -- recapturing the Mid American Conference Championship. The RedHawks fell short in their bid to win the 1999-2000 title, falling to Eastern Michigan by 14 points (764-750) at Bowling Green last season.

Coach Pete Lindsay's squad hung toe-to-toe with the Eagles, but the RedHawks were penalized for a false-start during the 400 medley relay.

While Lindsay was pleased with his team's performance, he realized how important it is to maintain concentration throughout a competition.