ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's and women's swimming and diving team will travel to Webster, NY for the 2022 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC)-Empire 8 Championships on Wednesday, February 16 through Saturday, February 19 at the Webster Aquatic Center.
In conjunction, the four Empire 8 institutions (Nazareth, Hartwick, Utica, Alfred) will join forces with the AMCC (Penn State Behrend, Penn State Altoona, Wells, Medaille, Pitt-Bradford, Alfred State) for the second Allegheny Empire Championships. At the conclusion of the meet, an Allegheny Empire Women's and Men's Champion will be crowned as well as a Male and Female Swimmer and Diver of the Meet. The top three finishers in each event will also be recognized.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Diving: 1 p.m. (Video)
Finals: 5 p.m. (Video)
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Prelims: 10 a.m. (Video)
Diving: 11:30 a.m. (Video)
Finals: 5 p.m. (Video)
Friday, February 18, 2022
Prelims: 10 a.m. (Video)
Diving: 11:30 a.m. (Video)
Finals: 5 p.m. (Video)
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Prelims: 10 a.m. (Video)
Diving: 11:30 a.m. (Video)
Finals: 5 p.m. (Video)
Tickets
$30 All-Session Pass
$5 Per-Session Pass
Location
Webster High School Pool
875 Ridge Road
Webster, NY 14580
Penn State Behrend News & Notes
Men
* The Behrend Lions are preparing for their 15th straight title after a one-year hiatus due to Covid-19
* The Lions feature five AMCC individual and relay champions from the 2019-20 championship team
* Graduate student Jake Schmidt (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) returns after being a four-time AMCC Champion two seasons ago
* Schmidt is seeded first in the 200 and 1650 freestyle events
* Freshman Tim Compton (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) holds the fastest time in the AMCC in the 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 200 butterfly and the 400 IM
* Junior Jacob Eshelman (Franklin, PA/Franklin) is seeded first in the 200 breaststroke with a regular-season time of 2:09.29
* Other AMCC champions from 2019-20 include James Connolly (Allentown, PA/Parkland), Matt Karenbauer (Butler, PA/Knoch) and Justin Heller (Franklin, PA/Rocky Grove)
Women
* The women are looking to capture their 12th overall AMCC Crown and first since the 2018-19 season
* Behrend currently holds the top time in 11 of the 18 AMCC individual events
* Senior Marcella Puglia (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk) is a four-time returning champion from 2019-20
* Puglia set the AMCC meet and open record in the 1650 freestyle
* Puglia holds the fastest times in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle and the 50 breaststroke
* Senior Barbie Cessar (Slippery Rock, PA/Slippery Rock) is the other returning champion, winning the 200 breaststroke two years ago
* Sophomore Emma Webster (Bradford, PA/Bradford) is seeded first in the 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke